Meeting Date: 6/9/2016
- 6/9/2016
Location: Webinar
Website: Website
Climate Change in America's National Parks
Effects of Climate on the Haleakala Silversword and Research to Improve Future Mitigation
Thursday, June 9, 2016
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST
Overview: The Haleakala silversword is a highly charismatic giant rosette plant restricted to the top of Haleakala volcano on the island of Maui, Hawaii. It is one of the main draws for the 1-2 million annual visitors to Haleakala National Park, and is an important biological component of its relatively barren alpine ecosystem. I will present an overview of evidence that links recent population declines of silverswords with local climate conditions, which have prompted concerns about future trends in the face of changing climate patterns. I will also discuss recent studies aimed at understanding causes of spatial patterns in plant mortality, which could provide insights into management strategies going forward. Finally, I will share current plans for the next phase of research seeking to ensure the continued survival of this iconic species.
About the Speaker:
Paul Krushelnycky is a research faculty member of the Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Prior to this he worked in association with USGS at Haleakala National Park, on the island of Maui. His research interests are in applied conservation biology and ecology, focusing on invasive ants, native insect conservation, and most recently on the potential impacts of climate change on silverswords.
About the Webinar Series
This monthly climate change webinar series is presented by the NPS Climate Change Response Program. The purpose of the series is to connect NPS employees, volunteers, and partners with scientists and experts in the field of climate change research. The webinar series is a Service-wide forum where researchers can share credible, up-to-date information and research materials about the impacts of changing climate in national parks and provide participants the opportunity to engage with them in discussion.
Presentations begin at 2 PM EST, on the second Thursday of the month, and last about 90 minutes. They are viewed by logging into GoToWebinar on-line at the time of the presentation. Audio is available via a call-in number (toll charges apply) or through your computer’s speakers (free, but may be limited by connection speed).
For more information about this webinar series or to be added to the mailing list, contact .
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