Focal Resource: BIGHORN SHEEP

Transcription

1 Focal Resource: BIGHORN SHEEP Taxonomy and Related Information: Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis); south Sierra, White and Inyo Mountains, perhaps more on east side. SENSITIVITY RESULTS.7 ADAPTIVE CAPACITY RESULTS 8 EXPOSURE RESULTS 10 LITERATURE CITED. 11 SENSITIVITY QUESTION RANK CONFIDENCE 1. Generalist/Specialist. a. Broadly, where does this species fall on the spectrum of generalist to specialist? (generalist=1; specialist=3) b. Please specific which factors make the species more of a specialist. (Includes: foraging dependency, predator/prey relationship, other dependencies - topography) 2. Physiology. a. What factors (if any) is this species is physiologically sensitive to? (Includes: precipitation, other - soils) b. How sensitive is the species physiology to one or more factors listed above? 3. Sensitive habitats. a. What sensitive habitats (if any) is the species dependent upon? (Includes: grasslands/balds, ecotones, seeps/springs, alpine/subalpine) b. How dependent is the species on one or more of the sensitive habitat types? 4. Life history. a. What is the species reproductive strategy? (R-selection=1, K-selection=3, or mid-range=2) b. Is the species polycyclic, iteroparous, or semelparous? 5. Ecological relationships. a. Which (if any) ecological relationships of this species are sensitive to climate change? (Includes: competition, hydrology, predator/prey, forage, habitat) b. Which types of climate and climate-driven changes in the environment affect these aspects of the species ecology? (Includes: precipitation) c. How sensitive is the species to other effects of climate change on its ecology? 6. Disturbance regimes. a. Which (if any) disturbance regimes is the species sensitive to? (Includes: drought, disease) b. How sensitive is this species to one or more of these disturbance regimes? Generalist In between Iteroparous Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013).

2 7. Interacting non-climatic stressors. a. Which (if any) other stressors make the species more sensitive to climate change? (Includes: agriculture, transportation and service corridors, altered interspecific interactions, human intrusions and disturbance, natural system modifications, invasive and other problematic species, other possibly hunting) b. To what degree do these other stressors currently affect the species? c. To what degree do these non-climate stressors make the species more sensitive to climate change? 8. Other sensitivities. a. Are there other critical factors that have not been addressed that will likely make the species more sensitive to climate change? b. Collectively, to what degree to these factors make the species more sensitive to climate change? 9. Overall user ranking. a. In your opinion, how would you rank the overall sensitivity of this species to climate change? See section Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). 2

3 ADAPTIVE CAPACITY QUESTION RANK CONFIDENCE 1. Dispersal ability. a. What is the maximum annual dispersal distance of the species? b. What is the ability of the species to disperse? c. What general types of barriers to dispersal exist for this species? (Includes: road-highway, geologic features, dams, rivers) d. To what degree do these barriers affect dispersal for the species? e. Is the geography, land use, etc. such that it would be possible for individuals to seek out refugia during times of particular climate stress? 2. Plasticity. a. To what degree is the species able to modify its physiology or behavior to increase the likelihood that it will be better able to respond to climate change? b. Please describe how the species is able to modify its physiology or behavior to better cope with climate changes and its associated effects. 3. Evolutionary potential. a. To what degree might the species be able to adapt evolutionarily to climate change? b. Please describe the characteristics that may allow the species to adapt evolutionarily to climate change. 4. Intraspecific diversity/life history. a. To what degree might the diversity of the species life history strategies confer adaptive capacity? b. Please describe the diversity (if any) of life history strategies for the species. 5. Management potential. a. How much do people value this species? b. How rigid or specific are the rules governing management of the species? c. Are there any use conflicts for this species in specific regions? d. What is the potential for managing or alleviating climate impacts? 6. Other adaptive capacity factors. a. Are there other critical factors that have not been addressed, which may affect the species adaptive capacity? b. Collectively, to what degree do these factors affect the species ability to adapt to climate change? >100 km See section Low See section Low See section Low See section See section Assisted migration Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). 3

4 7. Overall user ranking. a. In your opinion, how would you rank the overall adaptive capacity of the species to climate change? Low- Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). 4

5 EXPOSURE QUESTION RANK CONFIDENCE 1. Elements of exposure. a. What elements of climate exposure are likely to be most relevant or important to consider for the species and in which regions? i. Temperature South, uncertain C/N ii. Precipitation South, uncertain C/N iii. Dominant vegetation type South, uncertain C/N iv. Climatic water deficit South, uncertain C/N v. Snowpack Sierra Nevada wide vi. Runoff Sierra Nevada wide vii. Timing of flows Sierra Nevada wide viii. Low flows Sierra Nevada wide ix. flows Sierra Nevada wide b. For selected elements of exposure, at what time frames and spatial resolution are most relevant? i. Temperature Seasonal ii. Precipitation Seasonal iii. Dominant vegetation type Seasonal iv. Climatic water deficit Seasonal v. Runoff Seasonal vi. Timing of flows Seasonal vii. Low flows Seasonal viii. flows Seasonal Snowpack can influence availability of forage throughout winter range. 2. Expressing exposure. a. How should exposure for the species be expressed? i. Maps comparing existing species or their habitat locations with specific climate variables b. Variables to be combined? i. No answer Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). 5

6 3. Exposure assessment for different regions. a. Please indicate the overall exposure the species is likely to experience in each of the different regions over the three time periods. i. North ii. Central iii. South Overall user ranking. a. In your opinion, how would you rank the overall exposure of this species to climate change? - Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). 6

7 SENSITIVITY BIGHORN SHEEP 1. Generalist/Specialist. a. Where does species fall on spectrum of generalist to specialist: Generalist i. Participant confidence: b. Factors that make the species more of a specialist: predator/prey relationship, foraging dependency, other dependencies - topography Participant comments to support conclusions: Bighorn sheep migrate elevationally, so they use multiple ecosystems but needs specific forage and lack of visual barriers to escape from predators. 2. Physiology. a. Species physiologically sensitive to one or more factors including: precipitation, other - soils b. Sensitivity of species physiology to one or more factors: i. Participant confidence: Participant comments to support conclusions: Bighorn sheep needs watering, forage, certain mineral needs in their diet from the soils. 3. Sensitive habitats. a. Species dependent on sensitive habitats including: alpine/subalpine, grasslands/balds, ecotones, seeps/springs b. Species dependence on one or more sensitive habitat types: i. Participant confidence: Participant comments to support conclusions: Bighorn sheep have different habitat needs for summer range, winter range, and lambing. 4. Life history. a. Species reproductive strategy: Mid-range i. Participant confidence: b. Species polycyclic, iteroparous, or semelparous: Iteroparous 5. Ecological relationships. a. Sensitivity of species ecological relationships to climate change including: predator/prey relationship, forage, habitat, hydrology, competition b. Types of climate and climate-driven changes that affect these ecological relationships including: precipitation c. Sensitivity of species to other effects of climate change on its ecology: i. Participant confidence: Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). 7

8 6. Disturbance regimes. a. Disturbance regimes to which the species is sensitive include: drought, disease b. Sensitivity of species to one or more disturbance regimes: i. Participant confidence: Participant comments to support conclusions: Sheep lungworm. Wildfire may increase habitat by regenerating forage and increasing openings. 7. Interacting non-climatic stressors. a. Other stressors that make the species more sensitive include: agriculture, transportation and service corridors, altered interspecific interactions, human intrusions and disturbance, natural system modifications, invasive and other problematic species, other possibly hunting b. Current degree to which stressors affect the species: i. Participant confidence: c. Degree to which non-climate stressors make species more sensitive: i. Participant confidence: Participant comments to support conclusions: Domestic sheep are a problematic species, and sheep grazing presents an agricultural stressor. Mountain lion protection may alter the interspecific interactions between bighorn sheep and their predators. Transportation corridors cause mortality and present barriers to travel. Off road vehicles (ORVs) are among human disturbances. Hunting may also present a stressor. 8. Other sensitivities. a. Other critical sensitivities not addressed: None recorded i. Participant confidence: b. Collective degree these factors increase species sensitivity to climate change: Participant comments to support conclusions: Mountain lion protection may influence predation levels on sheep. Domestic sheep lung worm weakens sheep (check this with experts). Trophy hunting may be a problem in some areas (check with experts). 9. Overall user ranking. a. Overall sensitivity of this species to climate change: i. Participant confidence: Participant comments to support conclusions: Bighorn sheep are already a species of concern, and are more at risk with climate change. ADAPTIVE CAPACITY 1. Dispersal ability. a. Maximum annual dispersal distance: >100 km i. Participant confidence: b. Ability of species to disperse: Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). 8

9 i. Participant confidence: c. General types of barriers to dispersal include: road-highway, geologic features, dams, rivers d. Degree barriers affect dispersal for the species: i. Participant confidence: e. Possibility for individuals to seek out refugia: No answer Participant comments to support conclusions: Suitable habitat limited given the connectivity needs of winter and summer range. The most suitable habitat may be occupied. If suitable habitat remains unoccupied, bighorn sheep could be transplanted. 2. Plasticity. a. Ability of species to modify physiology or behavior: Low i. Participant confidence: b. Description of species ability to modify physiology or behavior: Some live in close proximity to traffic and human activity, at other times highly sensitive to intrusion. 3. Evolutionary potential. a. Ability of species to adapt evolutionarily: Low i. Participant confidence: b. Description of characteristics that allow species to adapt evolutionarily: No answer Participant comments to support conclusions: Bighorn sheep are already highly stressed, and their range is limited. 4. Intraspecific diversity/life history. a. Degree of diversity of species life history strategies: Low i. Participant confidence: b. Description of diversity of life history strategies: No answer Participant comments to support conclusions: Unknown 5. Management potential. a. Value level people ascribe to this species: i. Participant confidence: b. Specificity of rules governing management of the species: i. Participant confidence: c. Description of use conflicts: No answer d. Potential for managing or alleviating climate impacts: The potential exists to manage the species, for instance by transplanting, inoculating, and captive breeding. Some limitations on managing habitat in protected areas. Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). 9

10 6. Other adaptive capacity factors. a. Additional factors affecting adaptive capacity: Assisted migration i. Participant confidence: b. Collective degree these factors affect the adaptive capacity of the species: Participant comments to support conclusions: If water availability in times of drought is the limiting factor, bighorn sheep respond to central water facilities (i.e., guzzlers ) provided. 7. Overall user ranking. a. Overall adaptive capacity of the species: Low- i. Participant confidence: EXPOSURE Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). 10

11 LITERATURE CITED Primary sources None identified BIGHORN SHEEP Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). 11