Distinctly Montana Magazine

W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A . C O M 13 tion throughout these areas, though, and there are only about 23 known occurrences of the pygmy poppy, with all occurrences being in the Waterton- Glacier area of the Rocky Mountains, most com- monly east of the Continental Divide. The pygmy poppy, most commonly found grow- ing on rocky terrain such as scree or talus fi elds, is fairly small, with blue-green leaves growing up to fi ve centimeters long. The fl ower, often orange- pink, can be about two centimeters wide. The pygmy poppy blooms in July and August. The pygmy poppy has a G3 conservation status, meaning it is classifi ed as "at risk" and "vulner- able," because of its narrow distribution. Alpine plants such as the pygmy poppy and the glacier lily serve as indicators of ecological change in alpine areas, because of their habitat on scree slopes in alpine regions. As snowfi elds recede and invasive species take over the delicate habitat of these plants, rare species such as these will disappear. But why do we care about the disappearance of alpine habitat? The answer is simple—disappear- ance of the rocky ecosystem above treeline will not only result in the extinction of sensitive rare plants, but also of animal species such as the pika. A heat-sensitive chinchilla-like animal that lives in crevices of the rocky talus on high mountain peaks, the pika (genus Ochotona) is a small mammal that has short limbs and small rounded ears. In recent years, activists have pushed to recognize the pika as threatened, to no avail. Pikas were once widespread across North Amer- ica. Over the last 12,000 years, however, popula- tions have been retreating upslope and residing in alpine habitats. Because pikas have thick fur and round bodies designed to conserve heat, they are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature— they can die when exposed to temperatures greater than 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Small mammals in alpine environments such as the pika are at the top of the list as among the fi rst to go extinct due to climactic change. Unlike lower altitude species that are able to retreat to higher elevations when summer temperatures soar, the pika has nowhere else to go. With rapidly shrinking snowpack, the pika's high mountain home in alpine zones—which already makes up just fi ve percent of the planet's surface—has the potential to completely disappear over time, taking the pika with it. Already, North America is saying goodbye to the endearing furballs whose cute and characteristic chirp-like calls entertain moun- tain trekkers around the world. In the Great Basin area, pikas have already disappeared from 8 of 25 mountainous locations where they were previously documented. In addition, the majority of pika absences in formerly known habitat areas have been recorded at the warmer, southern end of the animals' range, supporting the claim that pikas are retreating to high mountain peaks as tempera- tures soar. Cracker Lake gets its blue color from "rock fl our" ground up by the glacier and deposited into the water below. The disappearance of glacial lakes' intense blue color is a primary indicator for scientists that the glacier has stopped moving. C I E R lower altitude species that are able to retreat to higher elevations when summer temperatures soar, the pika has nowhere else to go. With rapidly shrinking snowpack, the pika's high mountain home in alpine zones—which already makes up just fi ve percent of the planet's surface—has the potential to completely disappear over time, taking Already, North America is saying goodbye to the endearing furballs whose cute and characteristic chirp-like calls entertain moun- tain trekkers around the world. In the Great Basin area, pikas have already disappeared from 8 of 25 mountainous locations where they were previously documented. In addition, the majority of pika absences in formerly known habitat areas have been recorded at the warmer, southern end of the animals' range, supporting the claim that pikas are retreating to high mountain peaks as tempera- I N A C L I M A T E O F C H A N G E

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