Yellowstone National Park Lecture Notes

Introduction to Yellowstone National Park

• Founded: 1872
• Significance: First national park in the world
• Role: Saved many great mammal species
• Challenges: Can't protect itself from external global environmental changes

Key Individuals

• Sean Carroll: Visitor to Yellowstone
• Liz Hadley: Has studied Yellowstone's biodiversity for 30 years

Exploration and Observations

White Bark Pine Trees

• Healthy Tree Characteristics: Recognizable by its white bark
• Bear Interaction:
  • Bears visit to feed on high-nutrient seeds before hibernation
  • Nutrient seeds crucial for bear's overwinter survival
  • Grizzly bears depend on red squirrels to access seeds
• Food Web: Involves the tree, squirrel, and bear
  • Evidence of grizzly bears scavenging for seeds from squirrel middens

Threats to White Bark Pines

• Mountain Pine Beetle:
  • Infests and kills trees within days
  • Beetles' reach extended due to warming climates
  • Beetles survive longer at higher, previously colder elevations
• Impact: Detrimental to tree longevity and ecosystem stability

Climate Change Effects on Water Bodies

• Pond Observations:
  • Some ponds drying up
  • Reduced rainfall and increased temperatures leading to less water retention
  • Drying ponds affect wildlife, particularly amphibians
• Amphibian Population:
  • Decline in species diversity and population
  • Habitats for amphibians degraded by climate change

Larger Implications

• Yellowstone's Role:
  • Example of protecting species at risk of extinction
  • Important to preserve biodiversity
• Global Threats:
  • Climate change, invasive species, and population growth pose risks
• Conclusion: Continued efforts are essential to protect Yellowstone's unique ecosystem and biodiversity.