The State of Ecological and Earth

Sciences in Mountain Areas

Value of Mountains
Mountains cover about 20% of the Earth’s land surface. Mountains
provide vital physical, biological, cultural and spiritual values on every
continent.
Sponsored by:
Mountains are Global Water Towers, storing and releasing
fresh water for more than half of the world’s population

Mountains support high biodiversity given their diverse
habitats and life conditions for resident and migrant wildlife

Mountains support agricultural, forestry, tourism and
recreational economies
Environment Environnement
Canada Canada

Mountains provide reference sites for ecological and hydrological
monitoring for climate change and air and water quality

Mountains serve increasingly as biotic refuges, as low elevation
Centre for Applied
habitats diminish
Conservation Research
2002 was the International Year of Mountains. These highlights

THE
provide an overview of the science behind our understanding of
UNIVERSITY OF mountain environments .
BRITISH
COLUMBIA

Mountain Water Storage and Release
Species at Risk
Biological Connectivity
Climate Change
Contaminants
Suggested Citation: Martin, K. and D.S. Hik.
2003. The State of Ecological and Earth
Sciences in Mountain Areas. Science High-
lights from Symposium on Ecological and
Earth Sciences in Mountain Areas, September
2002, Banff, Alberta, Canada. 46 pages.
Thanks to Andrea Norris for assistance in production.
Design: Linda Coe Graphic Design Limited.
The State of Ecological and Earth
Sciences in Mountain Areas
Kathy Martin and David S. Hik
1. Water Towers of the World: The Hydrological Significance of Mountains
Daniel Viviroli, Rolf Weingartner, and Bruno Messerli
2. Glacier Retreat in Alpine Areas Shawn Marshall
3. Glacier and Permafrost Changes in High-Mountain Areas Wilfried Haeberli
4. Catastrophic Floods Caused by Sudden Draining of Lakes in High Mountains John J. Clague
5. Floods in the Mountains: Rivers Running Riot Michael Church
6. Freshwaters in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta as Indicators of the Cumulative Impacts
of Climate Change and Human Activities David Schindler
7. Rapid Decline of Whitebark Pine Communities: Ecological Implications Diana F. Tomback
8. Endangered Toads in the Mountains Paul Stephen Corn
9. Borrowing from Burrowers: Conservation Lessons from Alpine-Dwelling Marmots
Tim J. Karels, J. Brashares and A. Bryant
10. Conservation of Mountain Carnivores: Living with Fierce Creatures? David Mattson
11. Staying on Top: Persistence and Connectivity Processes for Birds in Mountain Habitats
Kathy Martin
12. Effect of Rising Treeline on Connectivity of Alpine Meadows for Butterfly Populations
Jens Roland, Nusha Keyghobadi and Steve Matter
13. Landscape-Level Movements of Mountain Ungulates: Carrying Genes and Pathogens
between Populations Marco Festa-Bianchet
14. Using the Participatory Approach to Design Mountain Protected Area Networks: Lessons
from Species, Spaces and People Alejandro Velázquez, A. Pérez, F. Romero and G. Bocco
15. Global Change in High Elevation Ecosystems Christian Körner
16. Mammalian Herbivores in a Dynamic Alpine Environment David S. Hik
17. Effect of Snowmelt Timing on Alpine Plants Gaku Kudo
18. Recent Environmental Changes in the Canadian Rockies Brian Luckman and
Trudy Kavanagh
19. Air Quality Issues in North American Mountains Kathy Tonnessen
20. Accumulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Alpine and Northern Environments
Jules M. Blais
21. Why Do Contaminants Concentrate in the Environment? Robie Macdonald,
Donald Mackay, and Yi-Fan Li
22. Evidence of Airborne Contamination of Western North American Mountain Ecosystems
Dixon Landers, T. Blett, J. Stoddard, D. Muir and C. Shaver
23. Persistant Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Fish and Osprey from High Elevations
John Elliott, D.P. Shaw, S. Lee, M. Wayland, L. Wilson and D. Muir