Many populations of carnivores have been declining on account of a variety of stressors. Climate change poses particular risks to alpine and subalpine ecosystems. Research into the impacts of climate change is frequently focused on single species, thus there is a lack of information about alpine and subalpine community dynamics in the face of climate change.
We are collaborating with Yosemite National Park to model the occupancy patterns and diet composition of members of the alpine and subalpine community within the park. We are using a combination of remote cameras to photograph species and scat-detection dogs to find scat to identify to species. Our research will provide additional insights to the carnivore community dynamics in these high-elevation areas that are expected to experience some of the most dramatic changes due to climate change.