New Mexico Highlands University faculty and a graduate student contributed to plant monitoring on the Truchas Peaks this summer as part of an international research effort examining how alpine ecosystems are changing as the climate warms.
Dr. Michael Remke of Forestry, Lauren Bansbach of Biology and graduate student Audrey Garrett participated in fieldwork in the Pecos Wilderness through the Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments, known as GLORIA. The initiative connects research in northern New Mexico with a worldwide network of permanent summit monitoring plots on six continents.
Researchers use standardized methods to identify plant species, measure their abundance and monitor changes in soil temperatures and snow cover. Sites are surveyed every five years, creating a long-term record that helps scientists understand how mountain plant communities change over time.
These shared methods allow findings from the Truchas Peaks to be compared directly with data from alpine summits in the Alps, the Andes, Scandinavia and other regions. Together, the records help researchers measure changes in alpine biodiversity and inform conservation strategies for these sensitive ecosystems.
Sunrise over the Truchas Peaks as the research team heads out to sample alpine plant communities.
The summer fieldwork brought together collaborators from NMHU, the Albuquerque BioPark, GLORIA Great Basin, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the University of New Mexico. Volunteers from across the country also assisted with sampling.
Volunteer participation supports both research and stewardship, giving participants an active role in documenting and understanding changes in New Mexico’s alpine environments.
The project reflects Highlands’ commitment to hands-on, field-based learning. Students gain experience in rigorous scientific methods while contributing to research with global reach in the mountains of northern New Mexico.
More information about GLORIA is available at http://gloria.ac.at.