Just to the west of Nevada’s boundary are the towering Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The granite peaks themselves tell the story of geologic time, but the forests and creatures that live in those mountains tell us another story, one about survival. In recent decades, the Sierra has faced an increased threat from wildfire, drought, and invasive species — a deadly combo that’s only getting worse with climate change.
To better understand the impact of climate change on the mountains, a team from the University of California, Davis, trekked up some of the highest peaks in the range. Specifically, they were looking for high-altitude Jeffrey pine trees, whose presence can reveal much about our warming planet.
The university's "Unfold" podcast brings us this report. To learn more about the project, visit ucdavis.edu.
Guests: Hugh Safford, forest ecologist, UC Davis; Sachi Srivastava, graduate student, UC Davis; Mike Mahoney, doctoral student, UC Davis; Nick Parker, undergraduate, UC Davis
