The Highlands Biological Foundation will kick off a new virtual lecture series, Climate Conversations, with Dr. Richard Chandler’s lecture titled “On the edge of a shifting range: Climate change and birds of the southern Appalachian Mountains” at 6 p.m. tonight.
Dr. Chandler is an Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Management at The University of Georgia.
In this webinar, Dr. Chandler will highlight a unique aspect of the southern Appalachian Mountains’ biodiversity – bird species whose southern range limits occur in Western North Carolina. Populations of these species near their southern range limit are often fragmented, genetically distinct from northern populations, and restricted to the highest elevations in the region.
Climate change is predicted to cause the ranges of some species to shift northward and upward in elevation, but the ecological processes involved are unclear. Understanding the factors that play into climate-induced range shifts can aid in conserving these trailing-edge populations. This presentation will cover 15 years of ongoing research about black-throated blue warblers in Macon County and new studies about other species with trailing-edge populations in the region.
Salamanders of the future
Climate Conversations will continue at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 27 with Dr. Meaghan Gade’s lecture titled “Salamanders of the Future: How climate change will impact salamanders of the southern Appalachians.”
Residents, visitors, and devotees of Highlands share the unique opportunity to experience the magnificent diversity of salamanders right below their feet. Yet, as the threat of climate change looms, the fate of these lungless amphibians may be at risk.
In this lecture, Dr. Gade will explore how climate change is predicted to impact salamander diversity, life history, and physiology as well as how these secretive animals might be able to combat and tolerate future climate.
Drawing from research conducted out of Highlands Biological Station over the last 10 years, this lecture will highlight the vital importance of salamanders and the urgent need to promote their conservation.
Dr. Gade recently completed her Ph.D. at The Ohio State University after spending the past four summers conducting research while in residence at HBS. During her residency, she was a recurring recipient of the Foundation’s “Grants-in-Aid of Research” awards, which supported her work to collect long-term population level demographic information on plethodontid (lungless) salamanders. Her research focused specifically on Red-legged salamanders (Plethodon shermani) at Wayah Bald near Franklin. This lecture will delve into her findings.
Registration
All are invited to participate in the free Climate Conversation webinars, which are an opportunity to learn how local research findings suggest climate change may impact our region. HBF’s Climate Conversations lecture series will be held virtually via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Thursday evenings between May 20 and June 3.
Registration is required. To see the full Climate Conversations lecture lineup and to register for each webinar, please visit www.highlandsbiological.org or call 828-526-2623.