Plants and animals living in alpine areas face lower temperatures, greater wind speed, and increased precipitation. Dr. Mike Jones, Beyond Ktaadn, will present an in depth program on wildlife of the eastern alpine zones, focusing on the challenges they face and the adaptations they have evolved to deal with these stressors.
In eastern North America, arctic-alpine ecosystems reach their southernmost extent in New England and New York (where they are rare). North of our region, alpine habitats are widespread in Québec and Labrador, and particularly diverse and extensive in Newfoundland. These ‘eastern’ alpine areas are famously home to dozens (and in some cases, more than one hundred) of specialized arctic and alpine plant species. Less attention has been given the wide range of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates that utilize the windswept eastern alpine tundra. This three-hour presentation will cover common and unusual species, as well as specialists and generalists. The program will also summarize original research and published studies to cover a wide range of the species known to seek out (or survive in spite of) severe alpine conditions.
Dr. Mike Jones is a research biologist with the Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the lead author and editor of the Eastern Alpine Guide. He is the president of Beyond Ktaadn, an alpine research and conservation group. He has led studies of amphibians, plants, and mammals in the alpine areas of New England and eastern Canada.
The Alpine Wildlife program on Thursday, February 23, 6-9pm, is the latest in Tin Mountain’s Adult Nature Course series on Alpine Ecology. You do not need to have attended previous sessions to participate. For more information or reservations, please call 447-6991. There is a course fee of $15/member and $20/non-member.