Researchers Recruit Hikers To Look For Pikas
DURANGO, Colo. (AP) - Researchers are recruiting hikers to collect data on high-altitude rodents whose populations could offer information about climate change.
Researchers say pikas live in cool mountains and often can't tolerate warmer valleys. The PikaNET project aims to catalog where pikas are living to see if they are seeking habitat at higher elevations.
The Durango Herald reports trained volunteers will be asked to track how many pikas they see when they are in the mountains, plus other data.
PikaNET is a collaborative effort between organizations including the Mountain Studies Insititute, The Denver Zoo, Center for Native Ecosystems, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory at Colorado State University and the San Juan Public Lands Center. It also is linked to research being done at the University of Colorado Boulder.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
