Climate change links fate of glaciers and an endemic alpine invertebrate

Muhlfeld, Clint; Giersch, J; Hauer, F; Pederson, Gregory; Luikart, Gordon; Peterson, Douglas; Downs, Christopher; Fagre, Daniel

Brief Description: Paper shows a strong linkage between regional climate change and the fundamental niche of a rare aquatic invertebrate—the meltwater stonefly (Lednia tumana)—endemic to Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Canada and USA Full Description: Climate warming in the mid- to high-latitudes and high-elevation mountainousregions is occurring more rapidly than anywhere else on Earth, causingextensive loss of glaciers and snowpack. However, little is known about the effectsof climate change on alpine stream biota, especially invertebrates. Here, we show astrong linkage between regional climate change and the fundamental niche of a rareaquatic invertebrate—themeltwater stonefly Lednia tumana—endemic toWaterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Canada and USA. L. tumana has been petitionedfor listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act due to climate-change-inducedglacier loss, yet little is known on specifically how climate impacts may threatenthis rare species and many other enigmatic alpine aquatic species worldwide. During14 years of research, we documented that L. tumana inhabits a narrow distribution,restricted to short sections (∼500 m) of cold, alpine streams directly below glaciers,permanent snowfields, and springs. Our simulation models suggest that climatechange threatens the potential future distribution of these sensitive habitats and the persistence of L. tumana through the loss of glaciers and snowfields. Mountaintopaquatic invertebrates are ideal early warning indicators of climate warming inmountain ecosystems. Research on alpine invertebrates is urgently needed to avoidextinctions and ecosystem change.

Climate change links fate of glaciers and an endemic alpine invertebrate

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