Sep 27 2019
Climate Change can negatively impact Alpine regions by making them more susceptible to invasion by aggressive weeds, which are more successful at out-competing native plants as temperatures increase. This specimen collected from Colorado documents the expanding range of invasive Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) into higher elevations. These altitudinal shifts are a direct threat to native alpine specialists which lose vital territory as cheatgrass takes over. Of even greater concern, cheatgrass dominated landscapes tend to exacerbate the frequency and intensity of wildfires, magnifying the disturbance to natural ecosystems, and causing greater risks for humans.
