Alpine Marmots are currently experiencing a minor impact from climate change, according to a recent study conducted in the Dischma Valley near Davos. The research team, headed by postdoctoral researcher Anne Kempel, found that these rodents experience heat stress at temperatures above 25°C. Even in this rapidly warming climate, the average number of days per year that exceed this threshold is still very low on average. As of today, it’s at nearly six days. Other aspects of the environment could be affecting the marmots even more than increasing heat.
In their study, Kempel and her team closely scrutinized 25 distinct sites across the slopes of the Dischma Valley. With telescopes and binoculars the researchers were able to count the Alpine Marmots. This allowed them to collect unique data on how these animals are adapting to their shifting environment. Instead, over the past 40 years, the average home range for these marmot families has shifted up an astounding 86 meters. They’re happy even at elevations of 2500 m.
Heat Stress and Habitat Shifts
Alpine Marmots would ideally live in a cooler environment and start experiencing heat stress at temperatures above 25°C. This is alarming considering the increasing global temperatures and future predictions that their habitats will see more heat days. The Dischma Valley usually has only six days a year with temperatures above this crucial threshold. NPF scientists are keeping a close eye to see how these conditions evolve in the months and years to come.
From 1982, the absolute upper limit of Alpine Marmot habitats remained constant at 2,700 meters above sea level. The majority of these marmots have retreated up the mountain in search of cooler climes. This upward shift is expressing a behavioral change of residents in adjusting their thermostat down to save their thermal comfort. What about the sustainability of their habitats as seas continue to rise?
Kempel’s findings highlight an important aspect of Alpine Marmot behavior: they regulate their body temperature in winter by utilizing unsaturated fatty acids. This evolution, known as torpor, gives them the ability to survive months of deep sleep. When they go for hours at a time back to their burrows during the day, they’re asking for big trouble. Without purposefully gaining enough fat stores, they may not survive in the fall and winter months.
Impact of Climate Change on Flora and Fauna
Kempel’s research indicates that climate change has only a limited impact on Alpine Marmots today. Even with changes in the altitude of habitat, these developments have not severely threatened the species. Curiously though, it seems that other ecological considerations are much more important when it comes to their survival and adaptation. As climate change leads to significant shifts in plant life within their habitats, that may be one contributory factor. There is some evidence indicating that anthropogenic climate changes pushed plant species in these regions to move their range upward. This transition has changed both the type and distribution of foods available to marmots.
As these herbivores depend heavily on specific vegetation for sustenance, any decline or changes in plant species could directly affect their populations. The research is an important reminder that we must pay attention to what’s happening with the marmots’ plant sidekicks. This approach guarantees a more holistic understanding of the ecosystem dynamics at play.
Alpine Marmots are physically ill-equipped to adjust to more heavily forested landscapes, adding onto their challenges with adapting. As their natural habitats—sea ice, for example—disappear, animals are already being pushed to extremes. They are barred from moving further up into the mountains, leaving them more susceptible to population decline.
Research Methodology and Future Implications
Kempel and her team adopted approaches not unlike those used by researchers back in 1982. Convening this way allowed them to be consistent with data collection. This historical approach allows for a reliable comparison between current observations and past findings, providing insights into long-term trends affecting Alpine Marmots.
The study’s authors stress the importance of implementing long-term tracking, given the unprecedented nature of changing climate effects. Understanding Alpine Marmots’ responses to various ecological pressures will be vital for conservation efforts aimed at preserving this species amid changing environmental conditions.
This large-scale behavioral study on Alpine Marmots has recently been published in the journal Ecology and Evolution. Beyond providing scientific underpinnings to important wildlife biology and climate science, it has piqued public interest.
