Species worldwide are being displaced from their natural environments due to sudden dramatic changes of the habitat they have historically lived within. Climate change is altering ecosystems and warming the planet faster than ever before. The planet is warming and species are moving towards the poles, living at deeper cooler depths in water, or moving up mountains in altitude to escape their warming ecosystems (Pecl et al. 2017). These changes and shifts of ranges bring on new interactions and competition between species that have not interacted before. These new interactions are bringing on new complicated changes with unpredictable outcomes. Plants do not have the ability to actively move to a new environment so they are facing the challenges of adapting to their new habitat conditions. Many species of plants seasonal patterns, phenology, and growth are being altered by global warming, especially in alpine habitats. The reproduction of mammals and birds that reside in the alpine are directly connected to seasonality therefore change in plant phenology could have strong consequences on the future animal populations that depend on alpine habitat (Pettorelli et al. 2007). These new, unpredictable conflicts are challenging researchers and conservationists on how to approach management strategies to ensure long term healthy ecosystems and species.

Mountain Goats, Oreamnos Americanus, can be found in alpine and subalpine environments throughout the Rocky Mountains of North America. The high elevations in the Rocky Mountains protect Mountain Goats from predators and provide a specialized niche for these animals to live. Mountain Goats are highly sensitive to harvest and disturbance which has impacted populations negatively (Slabach et al. 2015). There are many different speculations regarding the cause of Mountain goat population decline which include habitat change, predation, disease, parasites, recreation impacts, and excessive harvest (Rice and Gay 2010). Climate change could be a key factor to the decline in populations of Mountain Goats due to the change of timing of vegetation onset (Pettorelli et al. 2007). The phenological mismatch between Mountain Goat offspring and net primary production of vegetation could lead to decreased survival and recruitment. The decline in survival could be caused by young offspring and juveniles decreased tolerances to poor habitat conditions, smaller reserves of energy, and not being able to seek out new resources (Miller-Rushing et al. 2010). The cause of decline in Mountain Goat populations is still under study and will not be thoroughly understood without an intensive study of plant phenology in the alpine as well as, the study of Mountain Goats behavioral changes to its environment.

A study taken place in Italy revealed a sudden body mass decrease on an animal similar to the Mountain goat living in alpine habitat. The study was conducted in the Italian Alps on Alpine Chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra, it showed a dramatic decline in body size. Over the last 30 years juvenile Alpine Chamois average body weight has declined by 25%. In the same period of time the temperature in the alpine areas of the Italian Alps had risen 3-4 degrees Celsius. Satellite evidence showed no decline or dramatic changes in vegetation in the Italian Alps (Mason et al. 2014). The scientists conducting this study were left with the question of why exactly these animals were shrinking so dramatically. Their results showed strong evidence that increasing population density and warming temperatures in spring and summer were linked to the body size declines. The conclusion stated that it was not just the environment affecting the body size but the behavioral changes to the warmer climate as well (Mason et al. 2014). The results of this study show that it is much more complicated than just a warming climate when it comes to the management and conservation of Mountain Goats.

Size is an important indicator to large ungulate survival. It influences life span, reproduction success, and ability to survive a food shortage or drought (Rice and Gay 2010). The Alpine Chamois study suggests that shrinking in body size has resulted from changes in modifying resource availability, quality, and timing. This is in turn affecting the ability of the animals to acquire resources and grow (Mason et al. 2014). The most effective way to study large ungulates is with long term studies because of their longevity and complex population dynamics (Festa-Bianchet and Côté 2012). Different management strategies could be revealed from the information obtained from these long term studies. For example, the management on the Alpine Chamois after its long term study concluded that an increase in harvesting was the best way to ensure stable populations. This strategy was meant to counteract the impacts of climate change on their body mass (Mason et al. 2014).

In order to manage these mammals to keep stable, healthy populations throughout North America it will require a deeper understanding of the factors causing these population declines. The study will need to focus on the social behaviors and population dynamics of the Mountain Goats as well as the phenological mismatch with the environment to attempt to find any data that aligns with the current trend of declining populations.

Mountain Goats in particular are an important species to study because conservation efforts towards this mountain dwelling ungulate will also contribute to the conservation of alpine areas. The protection and conservation of Mountain goats is important to many people as they are a rare species residing only in the high alpine within the Rocky Mountains of North America. A thorough, long-term study could reveal how changes in behavior and changing habitat phenology is affecting body size and mass, as well as the effects of climate change on the sensitive alpine environment.

Works Cited

Mason, T. H., M. Apollonio, R. Chirichella, S. G. Willis, and P. A. J. F. i. z. Stephens. 2014. Environmental change and long-term body mass declines in an alpine mammal. 11:69.

Miller-Rushing, A. J., T. T. Høye, D. W. Inouye, and E. J. P. T. o. t. R. S. o. L. B. B. S. Post. 2010. The effects of phenological mismatches on demography. 365:3177-3186.

Pecl, G. T., M. B. Araújo, J. D. Bell, J. Blanchard, T. C. Bonebrake, I.-C. Chen, T. D. Clark, R. K. Colwell, F. Danielsen, and B. J. S. Evengård. 2017. Biodiversity redistribution under climate change: Impacts on ecosystems and human well-being. 355:eaai9214.

Pettorelli, N., F. Pelletier, A. von Hardenberg, M. Festa-Bianchet, and S. D. J. E. Côté. 2007. Early onset of vegetation growth vs. rapid green?up: impacts on juvenile mountain ungulates. 88:381-390.

Rice, C. G., and D. J. N. N. Gay. 2010. Effects of mountain goat harvest on historic and contemporary populations.40-57.

Slabach, B., T. Corey, J. Aprille, P. Starks, and B. J. C. J. o. Z. Dane. 2015. Geophagic behavior in the mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus): support for meeting metabolic demands. 93:599-604.

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