Project
An experimental test of the causes of elevation range limits in a mountain-top lichenAs species ranges are shifting to higher elevations due to climate change, the unique biological communities inhabiting mountain summits are threatened. My research will involve a transplant experiment with a high-elevation, niche-limited lichen to test whether humidity drives its upper elevational range limit. I will pair this mechanistic approach with species distribution models exploring the role of humidity in the distributions of three lichens with montane-coastal range patterns. Together, these approaches contribute to a deeper understanding of the processes shaping species range limits and can help inform predictions and conservation decisions for sensitive species.
