Some good news on climate change: High mountain streams act as strongholds for cold-water species

Joy Drohan; Daniel J. Isaak; Charlie H. Luce; Michael K. Young; Dona Horan; David E. Nagel; Sherry P. Wollrab; Gwynne L. Chandler; Scott Barndt; Yvette Converse; Sean Finn; Scott Spaulding; Brian Staab

Treesearch

Some good news on climate change: High mountain streams act as strongholds for cold-water species

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Joy Drohan, Daniel J. Isaak, Charlie H. Luce, Michael K. Young, Dona Horan, David E. Nagel, Sherry P. Wollrab, Gwynne L. Chandler, Scott Barndt, Yvette Converse, Sean Finn, Scott Spaulding, Brian Staab

Year:

2024

Type:

Science Bulletins and Newsletters

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Science You Can Use Bulletin, Issue 65. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 11 p.

Download (PDF 18.52 MB)

Download (PDF 18.52 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/67606.pdf

Abstract

Contrary to broad perceptions, high mountain streams are warming more slowly than low-elevation streams and rivers. Studies by Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) scientists and their collaborators show that they will sustain populations of cold-water species, including fish such as threatened bull trout and cutthroat trout, even as the climate warms. This is also good news for other animals dependent on cold-water systems, including birds such as the American dipper and harlequin duck, mammals such as river otters, and insects such as stone flies and mayflies, which are critical to flyfishing.

Keywords

climate change, multi-agency collaborations, Clean Water Act, ESA, NorWeST

Citation

Drohan, Joy; Isaak, Daniel; Luce, Charlie; Young, Michael K.; Horan, Dona; Nagel, David; Wollrab, Sherry; Chandler, Gwynne; Barndt, Scott; Converse, Yvette; Finn, Sean; Spaulding, Scott; Staab, Brian. 2024. Some good news on climate change: High mountain streams act as strongholds for cold-water species. Science You Can Use Bulletin, Issue 65. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 11 p.