The effects of climate change on the grasshoppers of the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado

  

http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/entomology/hopper/orthoptera_home.htm

SETTING UP THE CONTEXT:

1. Climate change & its effects on organisms

2. Gordon Alexander’s 1958-1960 grasshopper survey along an elevational gradient

3. Grasshoppers and Climate Change Activity

The effects of climate change on the grasshoppers of the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado

Climate Change

Over the last century, global temperatures have increased by 0.74 + 0.18 C0

1.30 + 0.32 F0

Deviations from 1961-1990 average

(IPCC 2007)

Climate Change

Over the last century, global temperatures have increased by 0.74 + 0.18 C0

1.30 + 0.32 F0

(IPCC 2007)

Deviations from 1961-1990 average

The hottest 11 years on record in order (since 1880)

2010 2005 1998 2003 2002 2009 2006 2007 2004 2001/ 2011

Warming temperatures may affect organisms in a variety of ways

i. Phenology (timing of annual biological events)

ii. Distributions

iii. Local Extinctions

Phenology: The timing of annual biological events

For plants: first flush of leaves, first flowering or fruiting dates, when leaves turn in the fall

For animals: breaking of hibernation or diapause, egg-laying dates, timing of migration, when different life stages are reached

Warming temperatures may affect organisms in a variety of ways

i. Phenology (timing of annual biological events)

ii. Distributions

iii. Local Extinctions

Higher elevations: median rate of 11m per decade

Higher latitudes: median rate of 17 km per decade

Chen et al 2011

Warming temperatures may affect organisms in a variety of ways

i. Phenology (timing of annual biological events)

ii. Distributions

iii. Local Extinctions

http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/entomology/hopper/orthoptera_home.htm

SETTING UP THE CONTEXT:

1. Climate change & its effects on organisms

2. Gordon Alexander’s 1958-1960 grasshopper survey along an elevational gradient

3. Grasshoppers and Climate Change Activity

The effects of climate change on the grasshoppers of the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado

1958-1960 Gordon Alexander survey NSF supported project ($25,000) Goal: document species, distributions & phenology of local grasshoppers

Don Van Horn

Don Van Horn

BOULDER

D1 C1 B1 A1

Chautauqua Mesa

N

W

1958-1960 - Surveyed grasshoppers at 8 main sites (weekly basis, March-Sept)

- Valmont Butte to weather station C1 (foothills to subalpine gradient)

- 1,615 m (5,300 ft) to 3,048 m (10,000 ft)

Colorado

1958-1960 Gordon Alexander Grasshopper Survey

Alexander kept extensive fieldnotes for all weekly collectingevents at each site

- species present

- developmental stages

- abundance

Grasshoppers have 5 developmental stages before they become adults

BOULDER

D1 C1 B1 A1

- 4 sites adjacent to weather stations

- A1- D1 Stations set up in the early 1950’s (currently maintained by Niwot LTER)

Chautauqua Mesa

1958-1960 Gordon Alexander survey

Dr. John MarrFounded INSTAARMnt Research station

N

W

Gordon Alexander survey

Allow us to

- examine the effects of climate change on a community level

- examine the effects of climate change at different sites

Provides

- detailed weather station data to correlate with changes in phenology

Single species studies: Most species advancingCommunity level analyses: 25% not advancing Parmesan & Yohe 2003; Parmesan 2007

http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/entomology/hopper/orthoptera_home.htm

SETTING UP THE CONTEXT:

1. Climate change & its effects on organisms

2. Gordon Alexander’s 1958-1960 grasshopper survey along an elevational gradient

3. Grasshoppers and Climate Change Activity

The effects of climate change on the grasshoppers of the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado

http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/entomology/hopper/orthoptera_home.htm

4. Grasshoppers and Climate Change Activity

i) How has climate changed along an elevational gradient in the Rocky Mountains?

ii) How have grasshopper communities responded to warming along the elevational gradient?

iii) How might grasshopper phenology be affected by future estimates of climate change?

The effects of climate change on the grasshoppers of the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado

Students will work in one of four groups-each group will be in charge of a given life zone

Each group will be responsible for processing the sampling data associated each of the four sampling site (life zone)

Chautauqua Mesa - 1752m (5750ft) Plains

Gerald M. Fauske

Group 1

Station A1 - 2195m (7200 ft) Foothills

Gerald M. Fauske

Group 2

Station B1 - 2591m (8500ft) Montane

Gerald M. Fauske

Group 3

Station C1 - 3048m (10000 ft) Subalpine

Gerald M. Fauske

Group 4