Renil Mountain Baiguan Ptarmigan finally got the name of the “threat” species-the status of the earth

In July, according to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (ESA), the PTARMIGAN PTARMIGAN was officially listed as the threat of the American Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). 14 years after the center. The name is designed to help protect the bird, and its survival depends on the glaciers of the Kaskat Mountains in Washington and British Columbia. It also reflects the complex challenges faced by the birds adapted to the warm world.

With its feathers and feet like snow shoes, it can walk on the mountain terrain. Seasonal feathers provide camouflage throughout the year. The white -tailed PTARMIGANS of Renier adapts to the high altitude area above TRELINE. They are often found in areas of mixed rocks, snow and alpine plants. Their diet consists of the branches, leaves, buds, and seeds of alpine moss plants. These branches, leaves and seeds are only growing in cold and dry mountainous areas. These areas have gained key moisture from spring snow and summer glacial runoff.

The warm temperature is accelerating the static repair of the glacier and endangering the habitat of the birds: the Glacier of the Northern Class has shrunk by 56 % between 1900 and 2009. Near Baker Mountain. In a study, Pelto found that 7 of the 13 glaciers along these ridges have disappeared since the mid -1980s. The risk of retreat will reduce the utilization of soil water to reduce the loss of long -term habitats related to warm temperature related to warm temperature.

How to protect a species in the ESA list

Under ESA, a species can be listed as threatened or endangered species. Jessica Wentz, a senior researcher at the Columbia Sabin Climate Change Law Center, said ESA provided “quite powerful protection”. As a list of species, in the face of the projects of the private sector and the public sector, PTARMIGAN PTARMIGAN is protected by ESA. Wimble explained that public projects authorized or implemented by the federal government must evaluate the impact of its projects on species. Therefore, federal agencies must consult FWS to ensure that their actions are unlikely to threaten continuous species or adversely modify their designated key habitats.

Wimble said that the key habitat is “in order to keep the species from survive and may restore previous numbers, which is necessary.” This decision must be based on the best science. When species are listed as threatening or endangered species, the process of specified key habitats starts.

Frequent hope for the future

The long -term delay of the ESA list is common. A study of Erich Eberhard, the University of Columbia’s ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, found that the lack of funds for ESA list activities have always been delayed. Eberhard told GlacierHub: “We are very slowly providing the species of protection measures, usually when they are extremely rare, thereby risk of extinction.” Seven times, the white tail PTARMIGAN in Renil Hill overcomes its first challenge.

However, this bird is facing more challenges. First of all, FWS found that the key habitat name of Leimil Mountain’s PTARMIGAN PTARMIGAN is “not prudent” and still “uncertain”. This determination is being evaluated. In an interview with GECIERHUB at NOAH Greenwald, the endangered species of the biological diversity center, they were considering questioning the decision.

“I think it is obvious [the Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan is] Greenwald said the reason was to reduce glaciers, reduce snow coverage and rise lines. Greenwald regards key habitat as “an opportunity to determine that the species may find a shelter in a warm world in his work.”

Greenhouse trouble

Greenwal explained that people have a greater understanding of the impact of climate change on mountain ecosystems, but he warns: “If we do not do something about emissions, we will face some real serious consequences Affects all of us “The greenhouse gas threatens the habitat of the mountain and the survival of PTARMIGAN PTARMIGAN, but has a complex status under ESA.

ESA was established before climate change was the main theme of the discussion, so it does not include clear regulations that allow institutions to consider the impact of greenhouse gas on species. The interpretation of ESA language and agents can regard greenhouse gas as a lawsuit within the scope of regulations.

A challenge is a causal relationship between greenhouse gas emissions that prove a specific action and the needs of a species or specified or specified a key habitat. Researchers like weez are studying climate attribution science (cause of climate conditions) how to support ESA listing and management decisions.

Wentz explained that for projects involving fossil fuel development and a large amount of emissions, test attribution can be used to “evaluate the impact of climate change may be attributed to the climate change of a given project.” She added that after all, because uncertainty or uncertain data indicates that species may be threatened, agents cannot ignore attribution research.

Indeed, for the survival of the Lenne Mountain white -tailed PTARMIGAN and other species that rely on glaciers or alpine habitats, the insights attributed to climate change and predictive changes may play an important role in supporting ESA protection. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether the court agrees whether the federal government should consider the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the species listed. “There is a suspended problem,” Wenzi said.