Adorable Pika's Future with Climate Change May Not be as Grim as Once Thought

The future for the cute pika may not be as daunting as once thought. Scientists have found that the American pika may just be able to survive, despite warm temperatures.

The pika is a small mammal that is part of the same order that includes rabbits and hares. Looking a bit like a cross between a guinea pig and a rabbit, pikas choose mountains and cold locations in which to make their homes.

In this latest study, the researchers delved into where pikas live and how they move among habitat patches. The researchers used the information to create species distribution models for eight National Park Service areas in the western United States and forecast pika distribution 30, 60 and 90 years into the future, based on expected climate change scenarios.

"If you look at the overall picture, the amount of suitable habitat will decline and temperatures will warm in most of these National Parks," said Donelle Schwalm, one of the researchers, in a news release. "But many of these sites have areas that are colder, higher and sometimes wetter than other areas, and pikas should do quite well there."

Pikas seek out icy pockets in rock fields or lava flows and live near other pikas in small patches of these cool habitats. One key to their survival is maintaining connectivity among different pika patches. However, if you only have a few pikas in an area and the interconnectivity is not as it should be, pikas can disappear relatively rapidly.

"The study is important because it suggests that some parks may be more appropriate areas to focus our resources that others," said Thomas Rodhouse, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Or we could discuss enhancing habitat and creating more connectivity, though you have to examine whether that is something we should be doing in a National Park. But this study allows us to begin having these strategic discussions."

The findings are published in the journal Global Change Biology.

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