Title: Study to look at effects of climate change on wildlife - Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Headings: Study to look at effects of climate change on wildlife
Study to look at effects of climate change on wildlife
Contact the Park
Tools

Content: This is an unparalleled opportunity to learn how our changing climate has affected wildlife of Death Valley National Park. This information will also provide a new benchmark for comparison of future changes. UC Berkeley research completed similar research in Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Lassen Volcanic National Parks. The re-survey of wildlife in these mountainous national parks revealed many changes in the distributions of mammals and birds after nearly 100 years. In Yosemite, where night-time temperature has increased by 5.4°F (3°C), half of the small mammal species showed significant changes in range, with an average upwards shift of approximately 1,640 feet (500 m) in elevation. Species that lived at low elevations expanded their range upwards. Animals living at higher elevations suffered severe reduction in their range with no place upwards to go. Death Valley holds the world high temperature record: 134°F (56.6°C). The vulnerability of desert parks to climate change makes this work especially important.