Fellow Project: Climate Change Refugia for Appalachian Mammals of Conservation Concern--Identifying High Priority Areas and Creating an Open Access Dashboard for the Management and Integration of Private Land into the Protected Area Network Active
Learn about the research of Lauren Lyon, a 2022 Science to Action Fellow.
Fellow Information
- Lauren Lyon, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Fellowship: 2022 Science to Action Fellow
- Mentor: Toni Lyn Morelli, Northeast CASC
Project Summary
The Appalachian Mountains have a long history of providing refuge to animals in adverse conditions. With warming temperatures and increasing urban growth, we once again look to these mountains for conserving our regional biodiversity. Through my dissertation work, I identified areas within the Appalachians that are estimated to be climatically suitable both now and in the future for the highest number of mammal species of conservation concern. These climatically suitable areas will likely serve as climate change refugia for many taxa. Many of these climate change refugia fall outside of the current network of protected areas, and overlap with privately owned land, making it essential to foster collaborations among researchers, landowners, tribal liaisons, and state agencies. Through this project, I will create resources for landowners, specifically a website that provides free access to information regarding location of possible mammalian climate change refugia, state-by-state and at the county level. Additionally, in collaboration with local state agencies across the 13 Appalachian ecoregion states, several outreach events will be held to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change on local mammals, as well as provide tips for private landowners for creating and maintaining suitable habitat for these threatened species.
Products
Learn about the research of Lauren Lyon, a 2022 Science to Action Fellow.
Fellow Information
- Lauren Lyon, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Fellowship: 2022 Science to Action Fellow
- Mentor: Toni Lyn Morelli, Northeast CASC
Project Summary
The Appalachian Mountains have a long history of providing refuge to animals in adverse conditions. With warming temperatures and increasing urban growth, we once again look to these mountains for conserving our regional biodiversity. Through my dissertation work, I identified areas within the Appalachians that are estimated to be climatically suitable both now and in the future for the highest number of mammal species of conservation concern. These climatically suitable areas will likely serve as climate change refugia for many taxa. Many of these climate change refugia fall outside of the current network of protected areas, and overlap with privately owned land, making it essential to foster collaborations among researchers, landowners, tribal liaisons, and state agencies. Through this project, I will create resources for landowners, specifically a website that provides free access to information regarding location of possible mammalian climate change refugia, state-by-state and at the county level. Additionally, in collaboration with local state agencies across the 13 Appalachian ecoregion states, several outreach events will be held to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change on local mammals, as well as provide tips for private landowners for creating and maintaining suitable habitat for these threatened species.