Top Banner
Prepared by: University of Washington Climate Impacts Group December 2017 Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
88

Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

Dec 03, 2021

Download

Documents

dariahiddleston
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

Prepared by:University of Washington Climate Impacts GroupDecember 2017

Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

Page 2: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|2

RecommendedCitationMorgan,H.,andM.Krosby.2017.NooksackIndianTribeNaturalResourcesClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment.ClimateImpactsGroup,UniversityofWashington. Coverpageimagecredit:NooksackRiverbyOERTraining,usedunderCCBY-NC-ND2.0

Page 3: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|3

TableofContents

Introduction................................................................................................4

AssessmentApproach................................................................................4ApproachOverview......................................................................................................................................4SpeciesandHabitatSelection......................................................................................................................5AssessmentArea..........................................................................................................................................7QuantitativeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment..............................................................................8QualitativeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment..............................................................................13AdditionalClimateVariablesNotIncludedintheCCVI..............................................................................14

Results.......................................................................................................15MoistureMetricandTemperatureProjections.........................................................................................15CCVIAnalysisResults..................................................................................................................................18ResultsofQualitativeVulnerabilityAssessment........................................................................................25

KeyFindings..............................................................................................27CCVIforthe2050sand2080s....................................................................................................................27KeyFindingsforHabitats............................................................................................................................29

Discussion.................................................................................................29ComparingResultswithotherAssessments..............................................................................................30Limitationsoftheassessment....................................................................................................................30

FutureResearchNeeds............................................................................31

NextSteps.................................................................................................32

References................................................................................................32

Appendix1................................................................................................34NatureServeClimateChangeVulnerabilityIndex(CCVI):OverallRankingsandIndirectClimateExposure,Sensitivity,andAdaptiveCapacitySub-Scores...........................................................................................34

Appendix2................................................................................................36InformationGapsforAssessedSpecies.....................................................................................................36

Appendix3................................................................................................38SpeciesandHabitatsFactSheets...............................................................................................................38FactSheetReferences................................................................................................................................83

Appendix4................................................................................................87SummaryReportofWorkshopsandWebinars..........................................................................................87

Page 4: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|4

IntroductionTheclimateoftheNooksackRiverwatershedischanging,andisprojectedtocontinuetochangethroughoutthe21stcentury.Inadditiontorisingtemperaturesandexaggeratedpatternsofseasonalprecipitation,thewatershedislikelytoexperiencegreaterwildfirerisk,moreseverewinterflooding,risingsealevels,andincreasingoceanacidification.Thesechangeswillhaveprofoundimpactsonthewatershed’splants,animals,andecosystems,includingchangesinspeciesdistributions,abundances,andproductivity;shiftsinthetimingoflifecycleeventssuchasflowering,breeding,andmigration;andchangesinthedistributionandcompositionofecologicalcommunities.Understandingwhichspeciesandhabitatsareexpectedtobevulnerabletoclimatechange,andwhy,isacriticalfirststeptowardidentifyingstrategiesandactionsformaintainingpriorityspeciesandhabitatsinthefaceofchange.TheUniversityofWashingtonClimateImpactsGroupworkedcollaborativelywiththeNooksackIndianTribe’sNaturalResourceDepartmenttoevaluatetheclimatechangevulnerabilityofpriorityspeciesandhabitatsfortheTribe.Thisreportdescribestheapproachtakentoassessvulnerabilityandsummarizeskeyfindingsfromtheassessment’sresults.Thereportalsoincludesanappendixoffactsheetsdescribingindividualassessmentdetailsforeachofthespeciesandhabitattypesevaluated(Appendix3);thesefactsheetshighlighteachspecies’keyclimatesensitivitiesaswellasdatagapsofimportanceforunderstandingtheirvulnerability.Together,theinformationprovidedinthisassessmentoffersarigorousfoundationforfutureclimateadaptationeffortsaimedataddressingclimateriskstotheNooksackTribe’spriorityspeciesandhabitats.

AssessmentApproachApproachOverviewTheNooksackIndianTribe’sNaturalResourceDepartmentworkedtogetherwithTribalmembers,otherTribaldepartments,andtheUWClimateImpactsGrouptocollaborativelydevelopalistofpriorityspeciesandhabitatsofimportancetotheTribeforinclusioninthevulnerabilityassessment.ForspecieswithsufficientnaturalhistoryinformationandGISrangedata,weassessedclimatechangevulnerabilityquantitativelyusingNatureServe’sClimateChangeVulnerabilityIndex(CCVI).12Forspecieswithinsufficientnaturalhistoryinformationorrangedata,andforallpriorityhabitattypes,weassessedclimatechangevulnerabilityqualitatively.NatureServe’sCCVIcombinesinformationonaspecies’projectedexposuretoclimatechange,sensitivitytoclimatechange,andadaptivecapacity(Figure1),togeneratearelativerankingofvulnerabilitytoclimatechange.WechosetousetheCCVIforthisanalysisbecauseitisanopen-sourcetoolthatisfrequentlyusedandoffersarelativelyhighdegreeoftransparencycomparedwithotheravailabletools.ThewidespreadadoptionofthistoolfacilitatesresultcomparisonwithotherassessmentsbasedontheCCVI.TheCCVI’stransparencyenablesuserstoeasilymakeupdatestoanassessment,suchasaddingadditionalspeciesorincorporatingnewlyavailableinformation.Mostimportantly,theCCVIevaluatesacomprehensivesuiteof

Page 5: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|5

sensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactorsthatmaycontributetoaspecies’climatevulnerability,offeringvaluableinformationforguidingfutureclimatechangeadaptationplanning.Inthisassessment,weevaluatedsensitivityandadaptivecapacityusingtheprimaryliteratureaswellasexistingdatabasesofspeciesnaturalhistorycharacteristicsandotherrelevantinformation.WealsoincorporatedthelocalknowledgeandexpertiseoftheTribe’sNaturalResourcesandCulturalResourcesstaff.Adetaileddescriptionofmethodologyanddatasourcesisprovidedbelow.SpeciesandHabitatSelectionThroughconsultationwithTribalmembers,theNooksackIndianTribeNaturalResourcesDepartment(NNR)compiledaninitiallistofspeciesandhabitatstobeconsideredinthevulnerabilityanalysis.3Duetothelimitedfinancialandtemporalscopeoftheproject,theassessment’sinitialproposedlistofpriorityspeciesandhabitattypeswasdrawnlargelyfromapreviousvulnerabilityassessmentpreparedbytheUWClimateImpactsGroupfortheStillaguamishTribeofIndians.4TheStillaguamishandNooksackwatershedsarelocatedapproximately~50miles(~80kilometers)apart,inwesternWashingtonState(Figure2).Thesewatershedshavecomparablegeographiesandaresimilarinbothhabitatandspeciescomposition,whichenabledustousesensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactorrankingsfromtheStillaguamishassessmentfortheNooksackassessment.TheClimateImpactsGroupandtheNooksackIndianTribe’sNaturalResourcestaffworkedtogetherwithTribalmemberstorefinetheinitiallisttoreachafinallistofspeciesforassessment.InWorkshop1,heldonAugust29th,2017,participantsreceivedatentativelistof28species(drawnpartiallyfromasubsetofspeciesevaluatedintheStillaguamishTribe’svulnerabilityassessment)tobeincludedintheassessment(Table1).Outofthisinitiallist,15specieswerecategorizedbyTribalmembersandstaffasculturaloreconomicprioritiesfortheTribe(Table1).Workshopparticipantschosetokeepthese15species,andaddedanadditional15speciestothelistbasedonculturaloreconomicpriorities(Table2).Thisresultedinalistof30speciesidentifiedasTribalprioritiesforassessment.Because30specieswasbeyondthescopeoftheassessment,theClimateImpactsGroupandtheNooksackNaturalResourceDepartmentfurtherrefinedthelisttoincludeatotalof23species:17specieshadbeenevaluatedpreviouslyintheStillaguamishassessment(asbudget

Figure1.Componentsofvulnerability.Theclimatechangevulnerabilityofaspeciesorhabitatisgenerallyunderstoodasbeingaproductof(1)itsexposuretoclimatechange(i.e.,howmuchclimatechangeitwillexperience),(2)itssensitivitytoclimatechange(i.e.,howmuchagivenchangeinclimatewillaffectit),and(3)itsadaptivecapacity(i.e.,itsabilitytoundergochangesthatwoulddecreaseitsexposureorsensitivity).FiguremodifiedfromGlicketal2011.3

Exposure Sensitivity

Potential Impact

Adaptive Capacity

Vulnerability

Page 6: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|6

andtimeconstraintsrequiredleveragingofitsresults),andsixspecies(Americanpika,beakedhazelnut,blackbear,wetlandwapato,shotshrimp,andtheredseaurchin;Table3)hadnotbeenanalyzedpreviously.ItwasdeterminedthatfourofthespeciesthatwerenotanalyzedintheStillaguamishVulnerabilityassessment(beakedhazelnut,wetlandwapato,redseaurchin,andsportshrimp)wouldbeassessedonlyiftimepermitted.Timeconstraintsultimatelypreventedtheanalysisofthewetlandwapatoandinsufficientinformationpreventedtheanalysisoftheredseaurchin,kingcrab,andthespotshrimp.Therefore,atotalof19priorityspecieswereevaluatedinthisassessment(Table4).AcompletelistofspeciesandhabitattypesevaluatedintheassessmentcanbefoundinTable4andTable5,respectively.Thedetailedaccountprovidedofthespeciesselectionprocessmaybeusefuliffutureresourcesallowassessmentofadditionalspeciesorhabitats.Table1.The28speciesinitiallypresentedtoWorkshop1participants.Specieswithanasterisk(*)werenotedasculturaloreconomicprioritiesfortheNooksackTribe.

InitialListofSpeciesConsideredatWorkshop1AmericanPika* OregonSpotted

FrogEvergreenHuckleberry*

AmericanBeaver PileatedWoodpecker

Hazelnut*

BaldEagle Swainson’sThrush LabradorTeaBlack-tailedDeer* TrumpeterSwan* RedElderberryCanadaLynx Wolverine WetlandWapatoGreatBlueHeron* AlaskaCedar* Dyer’sWoadGrizzlyBear Bivalves* SmoothCordgrassMarbledMurrelet BogCranberry* JapaneseKnotweedMountainGoat* BroadleafCattail* MountainLion* Elk*

Table2.The15priorityspeciesaddedbyWorkshop1participants.

SpeciesAddedbyWorkshop1ParticipantsGrouse Geese CrabWesternRedcedar LongfinSmelt WildCarrotBlackBear SeaUrchin BrachenFernDevilsClub SeaCucumber GeoduckDucks Shrimp Blueberries

Page 7: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|7

Table3.Thefinallistof23priorityspeciesfortheNooksackIndianTribe’sClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment.Thistableincludesspeciesthatwerenotassessedduetotimeandinformationavailabilitylimitations.Specieswithanasterisk(*)wereevaluatedpreviouslyintheStillaguamishVulnerabilityAssessment.4

Table4.The19speciesultimatelyassessedintheNooksackIndianTribe'svulnerabilityassessment.Allspeciesbutbilvalves(†)wereassessedquantitativelyusingNatureServe’sCCVI.

Table5.ThesixhabitattypesassessedintheNooksackIndianTribe'svulnerabilityassessment.Allhabitatswereassessedqualitatively.

AssessmentAreaTheNooksackTribeNaturalResourcestaffselectedtheNooksackRiverwatershedastheappropriategeographicscaleforthisassessment.TobeinaccordancewiththeState’swatershedplanningactandtoalignwithpreviousreports,thegeographicextentwasextendedtoincludeallofWaterResourceArea#1(WRIA1),whichincludessomewatershedsthatdonotdrainintotheNooksackRiverbutdischargeintotheSalishSeainareasofimportancetotheTribe.Theextentoftheassessmentarea,WRIA1,wasbasedonaGISlayerdevelopedbytheWashingtonDepartmentofEcology(Figure2).ThoughtheTribe’sUsualandAccustomedAreaextendswellbeyondtheWRIA1area,thesmallerWRIA1areawasdeterminedtobeamoreappropriatescalegiventhetimeandbudgetaryconstraintsofthisassessment.

FinalListofPrioritySpeciesfortheNooksackIndianTribeAmericanPika TrumpeterSwan* NorthernPintail* BroadleafCattail* WetlandWapatoBlack-tailedDeer* Elk* SootyGrouse* Evergreen

Huckleberry*RedSeaUrchin

GreatBlueHeron* BlackBear WesternRedcedar*

BeakedHazelnut* SpotShrimp(prawn)

MountainGoat* Bufflehead* BogCranberry* Bivalves* MountainLion* AlaskaCedar* AlaskaBlueberry* KingCrab

SpeciesAssessedinNooksackVulnerabilityAssessmentAmericanPika TrumpeterSwan NorthernPintail BroadleafCattailBlack-tailedDeer Elk SootyGrouse Evergreen

HuckleberryGreatBlueHeron BlackBear WesternRedcedar BeakedHazelnutMountainGoat Bufflehead BogCranberry Bivalves†MountainLion Alaskacedar AlaskaBlueberry

Habitat Types Assessed in Nooksack Vulnerability Assessment ForestWetland:ForestedWetlandMarine:Nearshore,GravelBeachesEstuary:SaltMarsh,Eelgrass,MudFlatRiparianMontane:Alpine,Subalpine,Meadow,Talus

Page 8: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|8

QuantitativeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment

TheNatureServeClimateChangeVulnerabilityIndex(CCVI)WeusedNatureServe’sClimateChangeVulnerabilityIndex(CCVI)itoquantitativelyassessspecies’relativevulnerabilitytoclimatechangewithintheNooksackRiverwatershed.TheCCVIintegratesinformationonaspecies’exposuretoclimatechange(i.e.,howmuchclimatechangeitwillexperience),itssensitivitytoclimatechange(i.e.,howmuchagivenchangeinclimatewillaffectit),anditsadaptivecapacity(i.e.,itsabilitytoundergochangesthatcoulddecreaseitsexposureorsensitivity)togeneratearelativerankingofvulnerabilitytoclimatechange.Descriptionsofthecomponentsofaspecies’vulnerabilitymeasuredbytheCCVIareprovidedbelow:

• Exposuretoclimatechange.TheCCVIusesprojectedchangesinairtemperature,moistureavailability,sealevelrise,andcurrentspeciesrangedatatoestimateaspecies’exposuretoclimatechangeacrossthespeciesrangewithintheNooksackRiverwatershed.

o Directexposuretoclimatechangewasassessedbycalculatingthepercentofeachspecies’rangewithintheNooksackRiverwatershedthatisexposedtodifferentmagnitudesofprojectedchangeinairtemperatureandmoistureavailability.

o Indirectexposuretoclimatechangewasassessedbyevaluatinghowprojectedsealevelrise,anthropogenicbarriers,naturalbarriers,andclimatechangemitigationeffortsmayaffectspeciesevaluatedinthisassessment.

• Sensitivitytoclimatechange.Aspecies’sensitivitytoclimatechangewasassessedbyscoringaspeciesagainstasuiteof14factors(Table6).Examplesofsensitivityfactorsincludeaspecies’dietaryversatility,dependenceoniceorsnow,andsensitivitytocompetition.

iRelease3.0.1

Figure2.Assessmentarea.SpeciesandhabitatswereassessedatthescaleoftheNooksackwatershed(left),locatedinWashingtonStateandBritishColumbia(right).Figure:RobertNorheim.

Page 9: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|9

• Adaptivecapacitytowithstandclimatechange.Aspecies’adaptivecapacitywasassessedbyscoringthespeciesagainstasuiteofsixfactors(Table6).Examplesofadaptivecapacityfactorsincludegeneticvariationwithinapopulation,phenologicalresponsestoclimatechange,anddispersalormovementcapabilities.

Table6.Indirectclimateexposureandspecies-specificsensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactors.

Factor DescriptionIndirectClimateExposureFactorsSeaLevelRise Effectsofsealevelriseonspecieshabitat

NaturalBarriers Geographicfeaturesofthelandscapethatmayrestrictaspeciesfromnaturallydispersingtonewareas

AnthropogenicBarriers Featuresofhuman-alteredlandscapes(urbanoragriculturalareas,roads,dams,culverts)thatmayhinderdispersalforterrestrialandaquaticspecies

ClimateChangeMitigation Effectsoflandusechangesresultingfromhumanresponsestoclimatechange(seawalldevelopment,windfarm,biofuelproduction)

SpeciesSensitivityandAdaptiveCapacityFactors

Dispersal/Movement Abilityofspeciestodisperseormigrateacrossthelandscapetonewlocationsasconditionschangeovertime

HistoricalThermalNiche Exposuretotemperaturevariationoverthepast30years

PhysiologicalThermalNiche Dependenceoncoolorcoldhabitatswithintheassessmentarea

HistoricalHydrologicalNiche Exposuretoprecipitationvariationoverthepast30years

PhysiologicalHydrologicalNiche Dependenceonaspecificprecipitationorhydrologicregime

Disturbance Dependenceonaspecificdisturbanceregimelikelytobeimpactedbyclimatechange

DependenceonIce/Snow Dependenceonice,ice-edge,orsnow-coverhabitats

RestrictiontoUncommonGeologicFeatures

Dependenceonspecificsubstrates,soils,orphysicalfeaturessuchascaves,cliffs,orsanddunes

HabitatCreation Dependenceonanotherspeciestogeneratehabitat

DietaryVersatility Breadthoffoodtypesconsumed;dietaryspecialistsvs.generalists(animalsonly)

PollinatorVersatility Numberofpollinatorspecies(plantsonly)

PropaguleDispersal Dependenceonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal

SensitivitytoPathogensorNaturalEnemies

Pathogensandnaturalenemies(e.g.,predators,parasitoids,herbivores,andparasitevectors)thatcanincreaseorbecomemorepathogenicduetoclimatechange

Sensitivitytocompetitionfromnativeornon-nativespecies Speciesmaysufferwhencompetitorsarefavoredbychangingclimates

InterspecificInteractions Otherinterspecificinteractionsnotincludingdiet,pollination,andhabitatcreation

GeneticVariation Measuredgeneticvariation(high,medium,low)

GeneticBottlenecks Occurrenceofbottlenecksinrecentevolutionaryhistory

ReproductiveSystem Aplant’sreproductivesystemmayserveasaproxyforaspecies’geneticvariationorcapacitytoadapttonovelclimaticconditions(plantsonly)

PhenologicalResponse Adocumentedphenologicalresponsetochangingseasonaltemperatureandprecipitationdynamics.

DocumentedResponse Thisfactorpertainstothedegreetowhichaspeciesisknowntohaverespondedtorecentclimatechange(e.g.,rangecontraction,phenology).

Page 10: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|10

Thesuiteofsensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactors(Table6)wereevaluatedindependentlyforeachspeciesandwereassignedacategoricalrankingclassificationdefinedbyNatureServe’sCCVIguidelines(Youngetal.2015).1Thefivecategoricalrankingclassificationsinclude:

1. GreatlyIncreaseVulnerability2. IncreaseVulnerability3. SomewhatIncreaseVulnerability4. Neutral5. Unknown

Morethanoneofthesecategoricalrankingclassificationscanbeselectedtoindicateintermediateclassificationortocaptureuncertaintysurroundingaspecies’indirectexposure,sensitivity,oradaptivecapacity.Inaddition,notallsensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactorsareabletoreceivethefullrangeofcategoricalresponses,astheydonotallequallyaffectoverallspeciesvulnerability.Forexample,scoresfortheadaptivecapacityfactor“GeneticVariation”rangeonlyfromNeutraltoIncreaseVulnerability,anddonotincludetheGreatlyIncreaseVulnerabilityclassification.TheCCVIcombinesaspecies’directexposuretoclimatechange,indirectexposuretoclimatechange,andspecies-specificsensitivityandadaptivecapacityrankingstogenerateanumericalsumquantifyingaspecies’relativevulnerabilitytoclimatechange(Figure3).1Thisnumericalsumisthentranslatedtooneoffivepossibleoverallvulnerabilityrankings:

1. ExtremelyVulnerable:Abundanceand/orrangeextentwithingeographicalareaassessedextremelylikelytosubstantiallydecreaseordisappearby2050or2080.

2. HighlyVulnerable:Abundanceand/orrangeextentwithingeographicalareaassessedlikelytodecreasesignificantlyby2050or2080.

3. ModeratelyVulnerable:Abundanceand/orrangeextentwithingeographicalareaassessedlikelytodecreasesignificantlyby2050or2080.

4. LessVulnerable:Availableevidencedoesnotsuggestthatabundanceand/orrangeextentwithinthegeographicalareaassessedwillchance(increase/decrease)substantiallyby2050or2080.

5. InsufficientEvidence:Informationenteredaboutaspecies’vulnerabilityisinadequatetocalculateanoverallvulnerabilityranking.ii

iiTheindexwillcalculateaspecies’scorewithalittleas13responsestothesensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactors.1

Page 11: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|11

DataSourcesandClimateData1Togenerateestimatesofaspecies’directclimateexposure,indirectclimateexposure,sensitivity,andadaptivecapacity,theCCVIrequiresseveraldatainputsincludingspeciesrangedataandlifehistoryinformation;observedclimatedata;andprojectedchangesintemperature,moistureavailability,andsealevel(Table7).Whilespecies-specificlifehistoryinformationwaslargelyderivedfromdatabases,theprimaryliterature,and“grayliterature”(e.g.,theses,dissertations,agencyreports),theNooksackTribe’sNaturalResourcestaffalsoprovidedlocalinformationspecifictotheNooksackRiverwatershedviapersonalcommunicationduringprojectworkshops.ThisinformationfromTribalstaffincreasedtheaccuracyoftheassessmentbyreflectinglocalobservationsandexpertisefromwithintheNooksackRiverwatershed.

Figure3.ComponentsoftheNatureServeClimateChangeVulnerabilityIndex(CCVI).TheCCVImeasuresclimatechangevulnerabilitybasedondirectexposuretolocalclimatechange(e.g.,changesintemperatureandmoisture),indirectclimateexposure(e.g.,sealevelrise),andspeciessensitivityfactors(e.g.,dispersalcapacity).Theproductsofexposureandsensitivitiesgeneratesubscores,whicharesummedtogenerateaspecies’overallvulnerabilityscore.FigurereproducedfromYoungetal.2015.1

Page 12: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|12

Table7.PrimarydatatypesandsourcesusedinCCVIanalysis.

WecalculatedCCVIscoresfortwotimehorizons:the2050s(2040-2069)andthe2080s(2070-2099).WeusedtemperatureandmoisturedatasetsfromtheMultivariateAdaptiveConstructedAnalogs(MACA)project,whicharedrawnfromastatisticallydownscaledglobalclimatemodel(GCM)fromtheCoupledModelIntercomparisonProject5(CMIP5).5Projectionsweregeneratedforthe2050sandthe2080susingalow[RepresentativeConcentrationPathway(RCP)4.5]andahigh(RCP8.5)greenhousegasscenario.TheClimateImpactsGroupcalculatedprojectedchangesinmoistureavailabilityusinganAET:PETmoisturemetric.Themoisturemetricisaratiobetweenprojectedactualevapotranspiration(AET)andpotentialevapotranspiration(PET).PETwascalculatedbasedontheoutputforaVariableInfiltrationCapacity(VIC)model.6Projectedchangesinthemoisturemetricweregeneratedforthe2050sandthe2080sunderbothalow(RCP4.5)andhigh(8.5)greenhousegasscenario.FortheCCVIanalysisweusedtendifferentclimatedatasets.Theseincludetwoobserveddatasetsandeightdatasetsforprojectedchangesinclimate.

DataType SourceTemperatureProjections

MACA

MoistureProjections MACAHistoricTemperature MACAHistoricMoisture MACASeaLevelRise SurgingSeasRiskZoneMap

(https://ss2.climatecentral.org/#12/40.7298/-74.0070?show=satellite&projections=0-RCP85-SLR&level=5&unit=feet&pois=hide)

SpeciesDistributions IUCN(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/spatial-data);GECSC:TreeSpeciesDistributionMapforNorthAmerica(http://gec.cr.usgs.gov/data/little/)

SpeciesLifeHistory NatureServeExplorer(http://explorer.natureserve.org/);SensitivityDatabase(http://climatechangesensitivity.org/);TheBirdsofNorthAmericaOnline(http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species);USDAForestService(https://www.feis-crs.org/feis/);Primaryliterature(peer-reviewedjournals);Grayliterature(e.g.,theses,dissertations,agencyreports);NooksackTribestaff/member(personalcommunication)

Page 13: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|13

Projectedchangesinannualtemperature(relativeto1970-1999)werecategorizedusingacategoricalbinningstructuredefinedintheNatureServeGuidelines.1Therearesixcategoricaltemperaturebins:

1. >6.0°F(>3.3°C)2. 5.5-6.0°F(3.1-3.3°C)warmer3. 5.1-5.5°F(2.8-3.1°C)warmer4. 4.5-5.0°F(2.5-2.7°C)warmer5. 3.9-4.4°F(2.2-2.4°C)warmer6. <3.9°F(2.2°C)warmer

Projectedchangesintheannualmoisturemetricwereclassifiedusingacategoricalbinningstructure.Lowernegativevaluesdenotemorenetdrying.Therearesixcategoricalmoisturemetricbins:

1. <-0.1192. -0.097-(-0.119)3. -0.074-(-0.096)4. -0.051-(-0.073)5. -0.028-(-0.050)6. >-0.028

DataProcessingWefirstclassifiedeachoftheeightexposurelayers(e.g.,annualtemperatureandannualHMM)intotherespectivecategoricalbinningsystemsdefinedabove.1Next,weclippedeachoftheseeightexposurelayers(nowoverlaidwithNatureServe’sdefinedbinningsystem)totheNooksackRiverwatershedusingamapdevelopedbytheWashingtonDepartmentofEcology.Thisstepensuredthatwesolelyconsideredtheexposuredata(i.e.,projectedchangeintemperatureandmoistureavailability)withintheassessmentareaboundary.ThenextstepwastocliptheeightexposurelayersboundedattheNooksackRiverwatershedscalewitheachspeciesdistributionrange.ThisstepensuredthatwesolelyexaminedexposuredataacrosstherangeofaspecificspecieswithintheNooksackRiverwatershed.ItshouldbenotedthattheTribehasrecentlyconductedclimatechangestudiesandforecastingfortheNooksackwatershedinpartnershipwiththeUniversityofWashingtonandWesternWashingtonUniversityfortheapplicationoftheDistributedHydrologySoilsVegetationModel(DHSVM).7,8Althoughthemodeledresultsforwatershedhydrology,streamtemperature,andsedimentarehighlyrelevanttounderstandingclimateimpactsonspeciesandhabitats,suchdataisnotconsideredbytheCCVI.QualitativeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment

SpeciesBivalvesweretheonlygroupofspeciesnotanalyzedusingtheCCVI.ThiswasduetoalackofbivalverangedataandbecausetheCCVIisnotcurrentlydesignedtoassessthevulnerabilityof

Page 14: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|14

marinespeciestoclimatechange.1Weevaluatedbivalves’indirectclimateexposure,sensitivityfactors,andadaptivecapacityfactorswithintheNooksackRiverwatershedusingthesuiteofCCVIfactors,however,directclimateexposurecouldnotbeevaluatedduetotheabsenceofspeciesrangedata.HabitatsTheCCVIwasnotusedtoassesstheclimatechangevulnerabilityofpriorityhabitatsincludedinthisassessment(Table5).Habitatvulnerabilitywasestimatedusingacoarselow,moderate,orhighvulnerabilityrankingscalebasedonahabitat’sestimatedclimatechangesensitivityandthemagnitudeofprojectedclimatechangewithintheNooksackRiverwatershed.SensitivityscoresweretakenfromtheClimateChangeSensitivityDatabase(climatechangesensitivity.org),anonline,open-sourcedatabasethatcapturesinformationfromtheprimaryliteratureandexpertopinion.ClimateChangeSensitivityDatabasescoreswerederivedfromexpertsurveys,inwhichexpertsestimatedthesensitivitiesofvarioushabitatstoclimatechangebyworkingthroughaseriesofquestionsregardingclimatechangesensitivityfactors(i.e.,temperaturesensitivity,precipitationsensitivity,andsensitivitytoindirectfactors;furtherdetailsarecanbefoundinthedatabaseiii).Foreachclimatechangesensitivityfactor,expertsestimatedanumericsensitivityscorerangingfromone(lowsensitivity)toseven(highsensitivity)andaconfidencescorerangingfromone(lowconfidence)tofive(highconfidence).Toqualitativelyassesshabitatvulnerabilitytoclimatechange,weusedthesesensitivityscoresincombinationwiththeexposureofhabitatstoclimatechangewithintheNooksackRiverwatershed.ExposurewasestimatedusingthetemperatureandmoisturedatausedintheCCVIanalysis.Specifically,weconsideredtemperatureandmoisturemetricprojectionsforthe2050sunderthehigh(RCP8.5)greenhousegasscenario.AdditionalClimateVariablesNotIncludedintheCCVITheCCVIdoesnotconsideralloftheclimatechangeimpactslikelytoaffectspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechangeintheNooksackRiverwatershed.Therefore,wedevelopedasupplementalPhysicalDriversreportthathighlightsprojectedchangesinarangeofclimate-relevantvariablesselectedbytheNooksackTribe’sNaturalResourcestaff.9Variablesconsideredincluded:

• Averagetemperature(seasonal)• Maximumtemperature(seasonal)• Minimumtemperature(seasonal)• Precipitation(seasonal)• Seasonalrunoff• Snowpack(AprilandMay)• Waterdeficit10

iiiclimatechangesensitivity.org

Page 15: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|15

ResultsMoistureMetricandTemperatureProjectionsWegeneratedfourprojectionsofmeanannualmoisture,calculatedforthe2050s(2040-2069)and2080s(2070-2099)underalow(RCP4.5)andahigh(RCP8.5)greenhousegasscenario.Projectedchangesinthemoisturemetric,whichintegratesprojectedchangesinbothtemperatureandprecipitationthroughanevapotranspirationratio,suggestthatmoistureavailabilitywilldeclineacrosstheNooksackRiverwatershedthroughoutthe21stcentury(Figure4;Figure5).LargestdeclinesareprojectedtooccurinthehighelevationsoftheNorthCascades.

Figure1.ProjectedchangeinmeanannualmoisturefortheNooksackRiverwatershed,generatedforthe2050sand2080sunderalow(RCP4.5)andhigh(RCP8.5)greenhousegasscenario.Negativevaluesindicatenetdrying.Figure:RobertNorheim,ClimateImpactsGroup.

Page 16: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|16

Figure5.ProjectedchangeinmeanannualmoisturefortheNooksackRiverwatershedcategorizedusingthebinningstructuredefinedintheNatureServeGuidelines.1Projectionsweregeneratedforthe2050sand2080sunderalow(RCP4.5)andhigh(RCP8.5)greenhousegasscenario.Negativevaluesindicatenetdrying.Figure:RobertNorheim,ClimateImpactsGroup.

Projectionsformeanannualtemperatureweregeneratedforthe2050s(2040-2069)andthe2080s(2070-2099)underbothalow(RCP4.5)andhigh(RCP8.5)greenhousegasscenario(Figure6).WithintheNooksackRiverwatershed,significantdifferenceisseenbetweentemperatureprojectionsunderthelowandhighgreenhousegasscenariosforthe2050s(2.4-2.5°Cand3.1-3.3°C,respectively;Figure6;Figure7).

Page 17: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|17

Figure7.ProjectedchangeinmeanannualtemperaturefortheNooksackRiverwatershedcategorizedusingthebinningstructuredefinedintheNatureServeGuidelines.1Projectionsweregeneratedforthe2050sand2080sunderalow(RCP4.5)andhigh(RCP8.5)greenhousegasscenario.Figure:RobertNorheim,ClimateImpactsGroup.

Figure6.ProjectedchangeinmeanannualtemperaturefortheNooksackRiverwatershed,generatedforthe2050sand2080sunderalow(RCP4.5)andhigh(RCP8.5)greenhousegasscenario.Figure:RobertNorheim,ClimateImpactsGroup.

Page 18: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|18

CCVIAnalysisResultsHereweprovideasummaryofresultsforthe18speciesanalyzedwithNatureServe’sCCVI(Table8).DetailedresultsforeachspeciescanbefoundinAppendix3,whichincludesquickreferencefactsheetsforeachspeciesthatdescribetheirCCVIresults,primarysensitivities,andkeyinformationgaps.Appendix2summarizestheinformationgapsforallspecies.SeetheFutureResearchNeedssection,below,foramorein-depthdiscussionofinformationgapsencounteredinthisassessment.SixspeciesanalyzedusingtheCCVI(westernredcedar,bogcranberry,Alaskablueberry,broadleafcattail,evergreenhuckleberry,andbeakedhazelnut)donotcurrentlyhaveavailableGISdatalayersforthespeciesranges.Forthesespecies,weassumedthattheirrangesspantheentireNooksackRiverwatershed–anassumptionsupportedbyNooksackTribalstaff–andusedthisastheirCCVIrangelayer.

English Name SpeciesTaxonomic

Group2050 LOW

2050 HIGH

2080 LOW

2080 HIGH

American pika Ochotona princeps Mammal EV EV EV EVBlack-taileddeer Odocoileus hemionus Mammal MV EV EV EVGreat blue heron Ardea herodias Bird MV HV HV HVMountain goat Oreamnos americanus Mammal EV EV EV EVMountain lion Puma concolor Mammal LV MV MV MVTrumpeter swan Cygnus buccinator Bird HV EV EV EVElk Cervus canadensis Mammal HV EV EV EVBlack Bear Ursus americanus Mammal MV EV EV EVBufflehead Bucephala albeola Bird MV EV EV EVAlaska cedar Callitropsis nootkatensis Plant EV EV EV EVNorthern pintail Anas acuta Bird LV MV MV MVSooty Grouse Dendragaphus fuliginosus Bird LV MV MV MVWestern Redcedar Thuja plicata Plant HV EV EV EVBog Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos Plant MV HV HV EVAlaska Blueberry Vaccinium alaskaense Plant MV HV HV EVBroadleaf Cattail Typha latifolia Plant MV EV EV EVEvergreen huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum Plant MV EV EV EVBeaked Hazelnut Corylus cornuta Plant MV HV HV EV

Table8.CCVIrankingsforspeciesassessedusingNatureServe'sCCVI.CCVIrankings:LV=LessVulnerable,MV=ModeratelyVulnerable,HV=HighlyVulnerable,EV=ExtremelyVulnerable.

Page 19: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|19

Resultsforthe2050sunderaLowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5)MostspeciesassessedusingtheCCVIreceivedclimatechangevulnerabilityrankingsofModeratelyVulnerableby2050underalowgreenhousegasscenario(RCP4.5)(Figure8;Figure9).However,severalspeciesreceivedrankingsofExtremelyVulnerable(e.g.,Americanpika,mountaingoat,andAlaskacedar),HighlyVulnerable(e.g.,elk,trumpeterswan,andwesternredcedar),andLessVulnerable(e.g.,mountainlion,sootygrouse,andnorthernpintail).ThethreespeciesexpectedtobeExtremelyVulnerablebythe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenarioallreceivedrankingsforthePhysiologicalThermalNichefactor(Table6)thatincreasedtheiroverallclimatechangevulnerabilityrankings.TheAmericanpikaandmountaingoatreceivedGreatlyIncreaseVulnerabilityrankingsforthisfactorduetotheirextremesensitivitiestowarmtemperaturesandassociationwithcoolorcoldalpinehabitats.TheAmericanpikaandmountaingoatalsoreceivedrankingsofSomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityfortheRestrictiontoUncommonGeologicFeaturesfactor(Table6).Themountaingoat’sassociationwithescapeterrain(e.g.,steeprockyledgesandcliffs)andthepika’sdependenceonrockytalusslopesmaylimittheirabilitytoadapttohabitatlossfromclimatechange,relativetospeciesthatarenotdependentonuncommongeologicfeatures.OftheninespeciesexpectedtobeModeratelyVulnerabletoclimatechangebythe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario,sixreceivedrankingsfortheAnthropogenicBarriersfactorthatincreasedtheiroverallvulnerabilityranking.Anthropogenicbarriers(e.g.,highways,agriculturalfields,urbanareas)maylimitaspecies’abilitytoeffectivelyshiftitsgeographicrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.Theremainingthreespecies(bufflehead,greatblueheron,andbroadleafcattail)receivedrankingsforthePhysiologicalHydrologicalNichefactor(Table6)thatincreasedtheiroverallvulnerabilityranking.Thesespeciesarereliantonsmallbodiesofwaterthatmaydryoutduringsummermonthsoraresusceptibletoprojectedincreasesinwinterfloodrisk.

Figure8.CCVIvulnerabilityrankingsforthe2050susingalowgreenhousegasscenario(RCP4.5),bytaxonomicgroup.

Page 20: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|20

Resultsforthe2050sunderaHighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5)MostspeciesassessedusingtheCCVIreceivedoverallvulnerabilityrankingsofExtremelyVulnerablebythe2050sunderahigh(RCP8.5)greenhousegasscenario(Figure10;Figure11).WiththeexceptionoftheAmericanpika,mountaingoat,andAlaskacedar,allspecies’overallvulnerabilityrankingsincreasedunderthehighgreenhousegasscenario(relativetolowgreenhousescenariovulnerabilityrankings).FourofthespeciesthatwerecategorizedasModeratelyVulnerabletoclimatechangebythe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenarioincreasedtoHighlyVulnerableunderahighgreenhousegasscenario,andfivespeciesincreasedtoExtremelyVulnerableunderahighgreenhousegasscenario(Figure10;Figure

Figure10.CCVIvulnerabilityrankingsforthe2050susingahighgreenhousegasscenario(RCP8.5)andforthe2080susingalowgreenhousegasscenario(RCP4.5),bytaxonomicgroup.

Figure9.CCVIrankingsforthe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario.CCVIrankingfortheindicatedspecieswithintheirrangesintheNooksackwatershedbythe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario(RCP4.5).Speciesfellintooneoffourcategories:LessVulnerable(green),ModeratelyVulnerable(yellow),HighlyVulnerable(orange),ExtremelyVulnerable(red).Imagecreditforspeciessilhouettesavailableonpage34ofreport.

Page 21: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|21

11).AllthreespeciesexpectedtobeLessVulnerableinthe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario(mountainlion,sootygrouse,andnorthernpintail)experiencedincreasesinoverallvulnerabilityrankingsunderthehighgreenhousegasscenario.Changesinspecies’overallvulnerabilityrankingsbetweenthelowandhighgreenhousegasscenariosinthe2050sareexclusivelyduetothegreaterclimateexposureunderthehighscenario.Sensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactorrankingsarestaticacrosstimehorizonsandgreenhousegasscenarios.TheCCVItreatsexposureasamodifierofaspecies’sensitivityandadaptivecapacity.Therefore,increasesinexposure(e.g.,warmertemperaturesorlowermoistureavailability)willmagnifytheinfluenceofasensitivityoradaptivecapacityfactoronaspecies’overallvulnerabilityscore.1

Resultsforthe2080sunderaLowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5)CCVIresultsforthe2080sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario(Figure10;Figure11)areidenticaltoCCVIresultsforthe2050sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario.Thisisbecauseprojectedtemperaturechangesarealmostidenticalforthe2050sunderahighgreenhousegasscenarioand2080sunderalowGHGscenario(Figure6;Figure7).

Figure11.CCVIrankingsforthe2050sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario(RCP8.5)andthe2080sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario(RCP4.5).CCVIresultsareidenticalforthe2050sunderahighgreenhousegasscenarioandthe2080sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario.Speciesfellintooneoffourcategories:LessVulnerable(green),ModeratelyVulnerable(yellow),HighlyVulnerable(orange),ExtremelyVulnerable(red).Imagecreditforspeciessilhouettesavailableonpage34ofreport.

Page 22: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|22

Resultsforthe2080sunderaHighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5)MostspeciesassessedusingtheCCVIreceivedclimatechangevulnerabilityrankingsofExtremelyVulnerableforthe2080sunderahigh(RCP8.5)greenhousegasscenario(Figure12;Figure13).Mostspecies’overallvulnerabilityrankingsdidnotchangebetweenthelowandthehighgreenhousegasscenario,butthreeofthefourspeciesthatreceivedaHighlyVulnerablerankingunderthelowscenario(bogcranberry,Alaskablueberry,beakedhazelnut)receivedanExtremelyVulnerablerankingunderthehighscenario.ThiswasduetothesespeciesreceivingSomewhatIncreaserankingsfortheReproductiveSystemfactor(Table6)becausetheyarecapableofvegetativereproduction,whichisoftenassociatedwithlowlevelsofgeneticvariation(Youngetal.2015).Therankingthusreflectsthespecies’potentialforlowgeneticvariationandthusreducedcapacitytoadapttonovelclimaticconditions. Figure12.CCVIvulnerabilityrankingsforthe2080susingahigh

greenhousegasscenario(RCP8.5),bytaxonomicgroup.

Page 23: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|23

IncorporationofNooksackStaffFeedbackintoCCVIRankingsTheCCVIresultsdescribedabovereflectincorporationoffeedbackprovidedbyNooksacktribalstaff.AtasecondworkshopwithTribalmembersandnaturalresourcestaffonOctober14th,2017,draftCCVIresultswerepresented,andspeciessensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactorscoresweremodified,asneeded,basedonparticipants’localknowledgeoftheNooksackRiverwatershed.Subsequentmodificationsresultedinchangestooverallvulnerabilityrankingsforgreatblueheron,elk,blackbear,bufflehead,sootygrouse,andbroadleafcattail.Specifically:

Greatblueheron:PhysiologicalHydrologicalNichechangedfromSomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilitytoIncreaseVulnerability.Thisresultedinanincreaseinthespecies’overallvulnerabilityrankingfromLessVulnerabletoModeratelyVulnerableforthe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario,andModeratelyVulnerabletoHighlyVulnerableforthe2050sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario.ThisalsoresultedinanincreaseinitsoverallvulnerabilityrankingfromModeratelyVulnerabletoHighlyVulnerableforthe2080sunderbothalowandhighgreenhousegasscenario.Elk:AnthropogenicBarrierschangedfromSomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilitytoIncreaseVulnerability.Thisresultedinanincreaseintheelk’soverallvulnerabilityrankingfromModeratelyVulnerabletoHighlyVulnerableforthe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenarioandHighlyVulnerabletoExtremelyVulnerableforthe2050sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario.Thisalsoresultedinanincreaseintheelk’soverall

Figure13.CCVIrankingsforthe2080sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario.CCVIrankingfortheindicatedspecieswithintheirrangesintheNooksackRiverwatershedbythe2080sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario(RCP8.5).Speciesfellintooneoffourcategories:LessVulnerable(green),ModeratelyVulnerable(yellow),HighlyVulnerable(orange),ExtremelyVulnerable(red).Citationsforspeciessilhouettesavailableonpage34ofreport.

Page 24: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|24

vulnerabilityrankingfromHighlyVulnerabletoExtremelyVulnerableforthe2080sunderbothalowandhighgreenhousegasscenario.Blackbear:AnthropogenicBarrierschangedfromSomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilitytoIncreaseVulnerability.DisturbancechangedfromSomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilitytoNeutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerability.Thesechangesresultedinanincreaseintheblackbear’soverallvulnerabilityrankingfromHighlyVulnerabletoExtremelyVulnerableforthe2050sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario.Thesechangesdidnotaffecttheoverallvulnerabilityrankingforthe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario.Thesechangesalsoresultedinanincreaseintheblackbear’soverallvulnerabilityrankingfromHighlyVulnerabletoExtremelyVulnerableforthe2080sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario,butdidnotaffectitsoverallvulnerabilityrankingforthe2080sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario.Bufflehead:SeaLevelRisechangedfromNeutraltoSomewhatIncreaseVulnerability.Thischangeresultedinanincreasethebufflehead’soverallvulnerabilityrankingfromHighlyVulnerabletoExtremelyVulnerableforthe2050sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario.Thischangedidnotaffectitsoverallvulnerabilityrankingforthe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario.Thischangealsoresultedinanincreaseinthebufflehead’soverallvulnerabilityrankingfromHighlyVulnerabletoExtremelyVulnerableforthe2080sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario,butdidnotaffectitsoverallvulnerabilityrankingforthe2080sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario.Sootygrouse:AnthropogenicBarrierschangedfromNeutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilitytoSomewhatIncreaseVulnerability.Thischangeresultedinanincreaseinthesootygrouse’soverallvulnerabilityrankingfromLessVulnerabletoModeratelyVulnerableforthe2050sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario.Thischangesdidnotaffecttheoverallvulnerabilityrankingforthe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario.Thischangealsoresultedinanincreaseinthesootygrouse’soverallvulnerabilityrankingfromLessVulnerabletoModeratelyVulnerableforthe2080sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario,butdidnotaffecttheoverallvulnerabilityrankingforthe2080sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario.Broadleafcattail:PhysiologicalHydrologicalNichechangedfromNeutraltoSomewhatIncreaseVulnerability.Thischangeresultedinanincreaseinthecattail’soverallvulnerabilityrankingfromHighlyVulnerabletoExtremelyVulnerableforthe2050sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario.Thischangedidnotaffecttheoverallvulnerabilityrankingforthe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario.Thischangealsoresultedinanincreaseinthecattail’soverallvulnerabilityrankingfromHighlyVulnerabletoExtremelyVulnerableforthe2080sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario,butdidnotaffecttheoverallvulnerabilityrankingforthe2080sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario.

Page 25: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|25

ResultsofQualitativeVulnerabilityAssessment

SpeciesBivalvesweretheonlyspeciesassessedqualitativelyinthisassessment.Weassessedbivalves’naturalhistorycharacteristicsusingthesamesuiteofclimatesensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactorsincludedintheCCVI,butdidnotcalculateanoverallCCVIvulnerabilityranking.Detaileddescriptionsofthebivalves’sensitivitiesareprovidedintheirfactsheet(Appendix3).Habitats Sixpriorityhabitattypeswereassessedqualitativelybasedonsensitivityscores(tochangesintemperature,precipitation,andindirectfactors)andprojectedexposureforthe2050s.Eachhabitatreceivedanestimatedvulnerabilityranking(low,moderate,orhigh;Table9).Similartospeciesresults,habitatsensitivitiesscoresvariedbyhabitattype,resultinginarangeofoverallvulnerabilityscores.Asummaryofkeysensitivitiesforeachhabitatisprovidedbelow;additionaldetailscanbefoundinthehabitatfactsheets(Appendix3).Table9.QualitativeAssessmentResultsforHabitats.HabitatsidentifiedbytheTribeasahighpriorityforassessmentareshowninbold.PossiblevulnerabilityrankingsincludedLow,Moderate,andHigh.

ForestProjectedincreasesinairtemperaturewilllikelylengthenthegrowingseasoninwesternWashingtonforests,anddriveshiftsinspeciescomposition.Warmertemperaturesmayalsoexpeditethespreadofinvasivespecies,forestpests,pathogens,anddiseases.Increasesinprecipitationduringfall,winter,andspringmayresultinincreasedgrowthrates.Additionally,projectedincreasesincoolseasonprecipitationmayincreaseproductivityinwater-limitedforestslocatedindry,higherelevationregions.Conversely,decliningprecipitationduringthegrowingseasonmayleadtoreducedgrowthratesacrossforestsintheregion.Warmingtemperaturesanddecliningmoistureavailabilityduringthegrowingseasonwillalsolikelyresultinincreasedfirefrequencyandintensity.Manyspeciesincludedinthisassessmentareassociatedwithforesthabitats,includingelk,deer,blackbear,mountaingoat,mountainlion,sootygrouse,Alaskablueberry,evergreenhuckleberry,westernredcedar,andAlaskacedar.WetlandProjectedincreasesinairtemperaturemayacceleratewetlanddrying,leadingtomismatchesbetweenwhenspeciesrequirewetlandsseasonallyforreproductionormetamorphosisandwhenthewetlandsarewet.Decliningprecipitationduringsummermonthsmayalsocontributetoearlierwetlanddryingandalongerdryperiod.Assessedspeciesthataredependenton

Habitat Type Qualitative Vulnerability Ranking Forest/OldGrowthForest ModeratetoHighWetland:ForestedWetland High

Marine:Nearshore,GravelBeaches Moderate

Estuary:SaltMarsh,Eelgrass,MudFlat ModeratetoHighRiparian ModeratetoHighMontane:Alpine,Subalpine,Meadow,Talus High

Page 26: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|26

forestedwetlandsincludegreatblueheron(duringthebreedingseason),northernpintail,bufflehead,trumpeterswan,andbroadleafcattail.Marine:Nearshore,GravelBeachesProjectedwarmingisexpectedtoaffectspeciescompositionofthenearshoremarineenvironment.Warmingtemperaturesalsoincreasethelikelihoodofnon-nativespeciesinvasionintonearshoremarinehabitats,byfacilitatingthespreadofspeciespreviouslyexcludedbycoldwatertemperatures.Thereisarelativelyhighdegreeofuncertaintyregardinghowthenearshoremarineenvironmentwillrespondtoprojectedchangesinprecipitation.Precipitation,especiallyextremeprecipitationevents,couldaltersedimenttransportinthemarineenvironmentviascouranddepositioninthenearshore.Oceanacidificationandsealevelrisearetwoindirectfactorsexpectedtohavesignificantimpactsonthenearshoremarineecosystem.EstuaryProjectedincreasesinairtemperatureandalongerdryseasonmayresultinmorefrequentdryingoflow-tidehabits.Forexample,warmingtemperaturesmayincreasethefrequencyofeelgrassdesiccation.However,estuariesmaybelesssensitivetosuchchangesduetotheirtolerancetorelativelyhighdegreesofvariability(e.g.,dailytidalvariation).Projectedchangesinprecipitationareimportantforfreshwaterinflowintoestuaries.Inaddition,oceanacidification,sealevelrise,andcoastalfloodingarethreeindirectfactorsexpectedtohavesignificantimpactsonthenearshoreestuaries.RiparianRiparianareaswithintheNooksackRiverwatershedarefoundbesideriversandadjacenttobodiesofwater.Riparianareastendtohavecoolermicro-climatesthansurroundinghabitat.Warmingtemperaturesanddecliningsnowpackmaylowerriverwaterlevelsduringsummermonthsandcoulddryoutsmallcreeksandlowerwatertablelevelsinadjacentfloodplains.Dryingofthesewatersourcesmaynegativelyaffectthespeciescompositionandstructureofborderingriparianhabitats.Projectedincreasesinwinterstreamflowvolumeandtimingwillalsoaffectwatertablesandsoilmoisturelevelswithinriparianhabitats.Winterfloodriskisalsoprojectedtoincrease.Riparianandfloodplainareasmaythusbecomewetterandinundatedmorefrequentlyinwinterunderfutureclimatescenarios.Duetotheimportanceofsoilmoisturelevelstoriparianspeciesstructureandcomposition,thishabitattypeisalsosensitivetochangesinprecipitation.Inadditiontotemperatureandprecipitationsensitivity,riparianhabitatsarealsosensitivetodisturbancefromcompetitionfromnon-nativespecies.Montane:Alpine,Subalpine,Meadow,TalusProjectedincreasesinairtemperatureareexpectedtoincreasevegetationgrowthandproductivityinhigh-elevationzonesthathavehistoricallybeenenergy-limitedbycoldtemperaturesanddeepandexpansivesnowpack.Warmingtemperaturesarealsoexpectedtofacilitatetreeestablishmentinmeadowsandothersuitablealpineareas,wheretreeshavepreviouslybeenexcludedbycoldtemperatures,deepsnowpack,andharshconditions.Declines

Page 27: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|27

inwintersnowpackarealsolikelytoextendthegrowingseason,butwillnegativelyaffectsnowdependentspecies.Declinesinsummerprecipitationcouldleadtoreductionsinbiomassproductionandincreasedlikelihoodoffire.Assessedspeciesdependentonmontanehabitatsincludemountaingoat,elk,andAmericanpika.

KeyFindingsHere,wediscusskeyfindingsofourquantitativeandqualitativeanalyses,highlightingtheprimarysensitivitiescontributingtovulnerabilityforeachtaxonomicgroup(mammals,birds,andplants).Wealsodiscussfindingsofourqualitativeassessmentofpriorityhabitattypes.CCVIforthe2050sand2080sOverallvulnerabilityscoresrangedwidely,fromLessVulnerabletoExtremelyVulnerable,butthemajorityofspeciesrankedasModeratelyVulnerableforthe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario(Figure9)andExtremelyVulnerableforthe2050sunderahighgreenhousegasscenario(Figure11).MostspeciesalsorankedasExtremelyVulnerableforthe2080sunderbothlow(RCP4.5)andhigh(RCP8.5)greenhousegasscenarios(Figure11;Figure13).Twosensitivityfactors,HistoricalThermalNicheandAnthropogenicBarriers,areexpectedtoincreasevulnerabilityforalmostallspeciesanalyzedwiththeCCVI(Figure14;Appendix1).BecausespecieswithintheNooksackRiverwatershedhaveexperiencedarelativelynarrowrangeoftemperaturevariationoverthepastthirtyyears,theyareexpectedtohaverelativelylowthermaltolerancestolargechangesintemperature.Inaddition,anthropogenicbarriers(e.g.,highways,dams,anddevelopedareas)inthewatershedareexpectedtoincreasespecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechangebyimpedingtheirabilitytodisperseacrossthelandscapetotrackshiftingareasofclimatesuitability.

Page 28: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|28

Figure14.Climatesensitivities,adaptivecapacityfactors,andindirectclimaticexposurescontributingtoCCVIrankingsbytaxonomicgroup.Onlysensitivitiesthatincreasevulnerabilityareshown(seeTable6forfulldescriptionsofsensitivityfactors).

MammalsMammalspeciesexhibitedawiderangeofoverallvulnerabilityrankingsinthisassessment,fromLessVulnerabletoExtremelyVulnerable.NaturalBarriers,AnthropogenicBarriers,andHistoricalThermalNiche(Figure14)werethefactorsmostresponsibleforincreasingmammals’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.Barrierswithinthewatershedincludehighmountainranges,largelakes,highways,urbancenters,andagriculturalfields,allofwhichcanlimitamammal’sabilitytotrackshiftingclimateconditions.PhysiologicalThermalNiche,DisturbanceRegime,DependenceonIce/Snow,andRestrictiontoUncommonGeologicFeaturesalsoincreasedsomemammals’estimatedvulnerabilitytoclimatechange(Figure14).PhysiologicalThermalNiche,DependenceonIce/Snow,andUncommonGeologicFeaturesallincreasevulnerabilityfortheAmericanpikaandmountaingoat,becauseoftheirassociationwithcold,snowysubalpineandalpinehabitats.Inaddition,dependenceonaspecificdisturbanceregimeinfluencedtheoverallvulnerabilityrankingsoftheblackbearandthemountaingoat.ThemountainlionistheonlymammalestimatedtobeLessVulnerabletoclimatechangebythe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario(Figure9).Themountainlionisahabitatgeneralistwithadiversediet(Appendix3),andwilllikelybeabletoadapttoshiftingclimateconditionsassumingbarriersdonotinhibititsabilitytotrackshiftingclimateconditions.BirdsOverallvulnerabilityrankingsforbirdsalsorangedfromLessVulnerabletoExtremelyVulnerable(Figure8;Figure10;Figure12).HistoricalThermalNiche,PhysiologicalHydrologicalNiche,andDependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitatGenerationarethefactorsmostresponsibleforincreasingbirds’overallvulnerabilityrankings(Table6;Figure14).

Page 29: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|29

PhysiologicalHydrologicalNiche,whichevaluatesaspecies’dependenceonaspecificprecipitationorhydrologicregime,influencedtheoverallvulnerabilityrankingsofthegreatblueheron,trumpeterswan,bufflehead,andthenorthernpintail(Appendix1).Forexample,projectedincreasesinwinterfloodriskmaynegativelyaffecttrumpeterswanfledglingsurvivalduetodeclinesinnestinghabitatsuitability.11DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitatGenerationincreasedtheoverallvulnerabilityscoreforthetrumpeterswanandthebufflehead.Forexample,thebuffleheadexclusivelynestsintreecavitiesconstructedbythenorthernflickerandthepileatedwoodpecker.12Speciesthatrelyonasmallnumberofspeciesforhabitatornestingsitesarelikelytobemorevulnerabletoclimatechangethanspecieswithmoregeneralizedhabitatrequirements.PlantsOverallvulnerabilityrankingsofplantspeciesincludedinthisassessmentrangefromModeratelyVulnerabletoExtremelyVulnerable(Figure11,Figure12,Figure13).HistoricalThermalNiche,AnthropogenicBarriers,PhysiologicalHydrologicalNiche,andReproductiveSystemwerethefactorsmostresponsibleforincreasingplants’overallvulnerabilityrankings(Figure14).PhysiologicalHydrologicalNiche,whichevaluatesaspecies’dependenceonaspecificprecipitationorhydrologicregime,influencedtheoverallvulnerabilityrankingsoftheAlaskacedar,bogcranberry,andbroadleafcattail.Forexample,bogcranberrygrowsinbogsandfensthataresaturatedforthemajorityoftheyear.13TheReproductiveSystemfactorinfluencedtheoverallvulnerabilityrankingoftheAlaskablueberry,evergreenhuckleberry,andbeakedhazelnut.ThesespeciesreceivedSomewhatIncreaserankingsfortheReproductiveSystemfactorbecausetheyarecapableofvegetativereproduction,whichisoftenassociatedwithlowlevelsofgeneticvariation.1Specieswithlowlevelsofgeneticvariationareexpectedtobelessabletoadapttochangingclimateconditionsthanpopulationswithaveragetohighlevelsofgeneticdiversity.KeyFindingsforHabitatsAllsixhabitattypesevaluatedinthisassessmentareestimatedtobeatleastModeratelyVulnerabletoclimatechange(Table9)andtwohabitattypesareestimatedtobeHighlyVulnerable,includingwetlandsandmontaneregions.Eachofthesehabitatsisexpectedtobehighlyvulnerableduetotheirrelativelyhighclimatesensitivityandprojectedexposuretofuturechangesinbothtemperatureandprecipitation.

DiscussionPriorityspeciesfortheNooksackTribearelargelyexpectedtobeExtremelyVulnerabletoclimatechangeunderbothtimehorizons(2050sand2080s)andgreenhousegasscenarios(lowandhigh)evaluatedinthisassessment.Theoneexceptiontothistrendistheoverallvulnerabilityscoresforthe2050sunderalowgreenhousegasscenario,wherethemajorityofspeciesreceiveoverallclimatechangevulnerabilityrankingsofModeratelyVulnerable.

Page 30: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|30

Whilemammal,bird,andplantspeciesareallexpectedtobevulnerabletoclimatechangetosomedegree,assumptionsintheCCVImethodologylikelyresultedinlowerrelativevulnerabilityscoresforthebirdspeciesevaluatedinthisassessment.Specifically,theCCVIassumestherearenoanthropogenicornaturalbarriersfortemperatebirdspecies,astheyareexpectedtobeabletoflyoveroraroundthesebarriers.1Alternatively,overallvulnerabilityrankingsforthemammalandplantspeciesassessedrangefromLessVulnerabletoExtremelyVulnerabledependingonthetimehorizonandgreenhousegasscenarioconsidered.AnthropogenicDispersalBarriersandSensitivitytoaDisturbanceRegimeincreasedthevulnerabilitiesofmostmammalandplantspeciesassessed(Figure14).ComparingResultswithotherAssessmentsAsdiscussedearlier,speciesandhabitatsevaluatedinthisassessmentwereprimarilydrawnfromanearliervulnerabilityassessmentpreparedbytheClimateImpactsGroupfortheStillaguamishTribeofIndians.4Overall,species’vulnerabilityrankingsintheStillaguamishassessmentweresignificantlylowerthanthevulnerabilityrankingsintheNooksackassessment.Weidentifiedtwoprimarymethodologicaldifferencesbetweenthetwoassessmentsthatcouldexplainthisdiscrepancy:(1)theversionoftheCCVIusedineachassessment,and(2)theclimatedatasetsusedtoevaluateexposuretoprojectedchangesintemperatureandmoistureavailability.TheStillaguamishassessmentwasconductedusinganolderversionoftheCCVI(version2.1);thenewerversion(version3.0)incorporatesnumerousupdates,including–mostnotably–theeliminationoftheSomewhatDecreaseVulnerabilityandDecreaseVulnerabilityrankingscoresforsensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactors.Version3.0alsoeliminatestheoverallvulnerabilityrankingofLessVulnerable.ToassesswhethertheremovaloftheSomewhatDecreaseVulnerabilityandDecreaseVulnerabilityscoresaffectedoverallvulnerabilityrankings,were-ranseveralspeciesincludedintheStillaguamishassessmentandchangedthosesensitivityfactorspreviouslyscoredasSomewhatDecreaseorDecreasetoNeutral.ChangingthesescorestoNeutralsignificantlyincreasedtheoverallvulnerabilityscoresforthespeciestested.DifferencesbetweenthetwoCCVIversionsisthusthemostlikelyexplanationforthehighervulnerabilityrankingsseenintheNooksackassessment.TheStillaguamishassessmentalsousedtheCMIP3multi-modelclimatedataset,ratherthanthemorerecentCMIP5multi-modeldatasetusedintheNooksackassessment.However,projectedwarmingunderCMIP3andCMIP5issimilarforcomparablegreenhousegasemissions.14Thus,differencesbetweentheclimatedatasetsusedareunlikelytohavecontributedtodifferencesinresultsbetweentheStillaguamishandNooksackvulnerabilityassessments.LimitationsoftheassessmentWhileNatureServe’sCCVIisausefultoolforrapidlyassessingspecies’relativevulnerabilitytoclimatechange,ithasseverallimitations.Forexample,theCCVIdoesnotuseclimatesensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactorstodirectlyassesspopulationdynamics,orexaminetheeffectofclimatechangeonpopulationvitalrates(e.g.,fecundity,survival).Ifpopulation-level

Page 31: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|31

informationandresultsareakeymanagementinterest,demographicmodelswilllikelybebetterabletoprovidetheseresults.AbroaderlimitationoftheCCVIisthelimiteddegreetowhichuncertaintyisreflectedinitsresults.TheCCVIdoescaptureuncertaintyinindirectclimateexposure,sensitivity,andadaptivecapacityfactorsbyallowinguserstoselectmorethanonecategoricalrankingclassificationforeachfactor.However,climatemodeluncertainty(i.e.,directexposuretoclimatechange)isnotreflectedinCCVIresults.Tohelpaddressuncertaintyaroundfuturecarbonemissionsscenarios,weperformedtheCCVIanalysisunderbothalow(RCP4.5)andhigh(RCP8.5)greenhousegasscenario.Perhapsmoreofaconcernisthatprojectedchangesindirectclimateexposurearedevelopedusingannualaverages,whenseasonalchanges(e.g.,reducedmoistureavailabilityinsummer)mayprovemoreimportantforspecies’climatechangevulnerability.Themostimportantcaveatforappropriatelyinterpretingandapplyingresultsfromthisassessment–bothquantitativeandqualitative–isthatvulnerabilityrankingshavebeenshowntodifferdependingontheassessmentapproachortoolused.15Thatis,hadweusedadifferenttoolorassessmentapproach,itislikelythatresultingrankingswouldbeatleastsomewhatdifferentfromthosefoundinthisassessment.Resultsfromthisassessmentshouldthusbeseenasusefulhypothesesofspecies’andhabitats’relativeclimatechangevulnerability,butnotasconclusivemeasuresofabsolutevulnerability.Wethereforesuggestthatthemostvaluableandrobustapplicationoftheseresultswillcomefromconsideringwhyagivenrankingwasgiven(i.e.,consideringspecificexposure,sensitivity,andadaptivecapacityrankings),ratherthanfocusingonoverallvulnerabilityrankings.Understandingtheseunderlyingdriversofspecies’andhabitats’vulnerabilitieswillalsobemostusefulinidentifyingfutureadaptationresponsesaimedatmaximizingclimatechangeresilience.

FutureResearchNeedsMostofthespeciesandhabitatsevaluatedinthisassessmenthadadequatedataforassessingtheirvulnerabilitytoclimatechange.However,thereareareaswhereadditionalresearchwouldimproveourunderstandingoftheclimateexposuresandsensitivitiesunderlyingtheclimatevulnerabilityofthespeciesandhabitatsassessed(Appendix2).Forexample,sevenspeciesconsideredinthisassessmentlackedGISrangedata,acriticalinputforvulnerabilityassessmentsandadaptationplanning.Forsixofthesespecies,wemadetheassumptionthattheirgeographicrangeincludestheentireNooksackRiverwatershed,therebyallowingtheirinclusionintheCCVIanalysis.HavingexplicitrangedataforthesespecieswouldincreasetheaccuracyoftheiroverallCCVIresults,asitwouldmorepreciselyreflectthemagnitudeoftheirprojectedclimateexposurewithintheassessmentarea.Mostspeciesalsolackedinformationregardingtheirphenologicalresponsestoclimatechange,sensitivitytopathogensornaturalenemies,anddocumentedresponsetoclimatechange(Appendix2).Astheseinformationgapsareaddressed,vulnerabilityrankingsandadaptationstrategiesshouldbere-visited.

Page 32: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|32

NextStepsTheNooksackIndianTribeNaturalResourceClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessmentrepresentsanimportantfirststepintheTribe’sabilitytoassessclimaterisksandprepareforfutureclimateimpactsonpriorityspeciesandhabitats.Resultsofthisassessmentsuggestthatwhilevulnerabilityislikelytovaryacrossspeciesandhabitats,manyoftheTribe’spriorityspeciesandhabitatsmaybehighlyorextremelyvulnerabletoclimatechangebytheendofthecentury.Inadditiontoidentifyingwhichspeciesandhabitatsareexpectedtobevulnerabletoclimatechange,thisassessmenthighlightsthespecificclimatesensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactorsthatunderliethisvulnerability.Thisknowledgeofwhyaspeciesorhabitatisvulnerabletoclimatechange,andwhatinformationgapsremaininourunderstandingofitsvulnerability,maybeparticularlyusefulinidentifyingactivitiesthatmayhelptoreducevulnerability.DevelopingaclimatechangeadaptationplanthatidentifiesspecificstrategiesandactionsforreducingclimaterisksmaythusbeapowerfulnextsteptowardincreasingtheresilienceofpriorityspeciesandhabitatsfortheNooksackTribe.

References

1Young,B.E.,Byers,E.,Hammerson,G.,Frances,A.,Oliver,L.,Treher,A.2015.Guidelinesfor

usingtheNatureServeclimatechangevulnerabilityindex,version3.0.Arlington,VA.2Oppenheimer,M.,M.Campos,R.Warren,J.Birkmann,G.Luber,B.O’Neill,andK.Takahashi,

2014:Emergentrisksandkeyvulnerabilities.In:ClimateChange2014:Impacts,Adaptation,andVulnerability.PartA:GlobalandSectoralAspects.ContributionofWorkingGroupIItotheFifthAssessmentReportoftheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange[Field,C.B.,V.R.Barros,D.J.Dokken,K.J.Mach,M.D.Mastrandrea,T.E.Bilir,M.Chatterjee,K.L.Ebi,Y.O.Estrada,R.C.Genova,B.Girma,E.S.Kissel,A.N.Levy,S.MacCracken,P.R.Mastrandrea,andL.L.White(eds.)].CambridgeUniversityPress,Cambridge,UnitedKingdomandNewYork,NY,USA,pp.1039-1099.

3Glick,P.,B.A.Stein,andN.A.Edelson,editors.2011.ScanningtheConservationHorizon:AGuidetoClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment.NationalWildlifeFederation,Washington,D.C.

4Krosby,M.,Morgan,H.,Case,M.,WhitelyBinder,L.2016.StillaguamishTribeNaturalResourcesClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment.ClimateImpactsGroup,UniversityofWashington.

5Taylor,K.E.etal.2012.AnoverviewofCMIP5andtheexperimentdesign.BulletinoftheAmericanMeteorologicalSociety,93(4),485-498,doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00094.1

6Gao,H.,Q.Tang,X.Shi,C.Zhu,T.J.Bohn,F.Su,J.Sheffield,M.Pan,D.P.Lettenmaier,andE.F.Wood,2010:WaterBudgetRecordfromVariableInfiltrationCapacity(VIC)Model.InAlgorithmTheoreticalBasisDocumentforTerrestrialWaterCycleDataRecords(inreview).

Page 33: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|33

7Murphy,R.D.2016.ModelingtheEffectsofForecastedClimateChangeandGlacierRecession

onLateSummerStreamflowintheUpperNooksackRiverBasin.WesternWashingtonUniversity.

8Murphy,R.,R.Mitchell,C.Bandaragoda,C.Frans,E.Istanbulluoglu,andO.Grah.2017.ModelingtheImpactsofClimateChangeScenariosonStreamflowintheNooksackRiverBasin,Washington,USA.Unpublished.

9Morgan,H.,R.Norheim,andM.Krosby,and.2017.MapsofClimateandHydrologicChangefortheNooksackRiverWatershed.ClimateImpactsGroup,UniversityofWashington.

10Runge,M.C.,Converse,S.J.,Lyons,J.E.2011.Whichuncertainty?Usingexpertelicitationandexpectedvalueofinformationtodesignanadaptiveprogram.BiologicalConservation,144:1214-1223.

11Tesky,JulieL.1993.Cygnusbuccinator.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).

12Gauthier,Gilles.2014.Bufflehead(Bucephalaalbeola),version2.0.InTheBirdsofNorthAmerica(P.G.Rodewald,editor).CornellLabofOrnithology,Ithaca,NewYork,USA.https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.67

13Matthews,RobinF.1992.Vacciniumoxycoccos.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/[2017,November5].

14Mauger,G.S.,J.H.Casola,H.A.Morgan,R.L.Strauch,B.Jones,B.Curry,T.M.BuschIsaksen,L.WhitelyBinder,M.B.Krosby,andA.K.Snover.2015.StateofKnowledge:ClimateChangeinPugetSound.ClimateImpactsGroup,UniversityofWashington,Seattle.

15Lankford,A.J.,Svancara,L.K.,Lawler,J.J.andVierling,K.2014.Comparisonofclimatechangevulnerabilityassessmentsforwildlife.WildlifeSocietyBulletin38:386-394.

Silhouetteimagecredits:Americanpika.ModifiedfromWeClipArtfromhttp://weclipart.com/mouse+silhouette+clip+artAlaskablueberry.IconmadebyFreepikfromwww.flaticon.comBeakedhazelnut.IconmadebyFreepikfromwww.flaticon.comBlackbear.IconmadebyFreepikfromwww.flaticon.comBlack-taileddeer.IconmadebyFreepikfromwww.flaticon.comBogcranberry.IconmadebyFreepikfromwww.flaticon.comBroadleafcattail.Iconfromhttp://clipart-library.com/clipart/56720.htmBufflehead.IconmadebyFreepikfromwww.flaticon.comElk.IconmadebyFreepikfromwww.flaticon.comEvergreenhuckleberry.IconmadebyFreepikfromwww.flaticon.comGreatblueheron.IconmadebyFreepikfromwww.flaticon.comMountaingoat.IconmadebyFreepikfromwww.flaticon.comMountainlion.IconmadebyFreepikfromwww.flaticon.comNorthernPintail.Iconbyhttp://naturemappingfoundation.org.htmlTrumpeterswan.IconmadebyFreepikfromwww.flaticon.com

Page 34: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|34

Appendix1NatureServe Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI): Overall Rankings and Indirect Climate Exposure, Sensitivity, and Adaptive Capacity Sub-Scores. DetaileddescriptionofsensitivityfactorsisprovidedinTable6(pg.9).SensitivityScores:

(1)GreatlyIncreaseVulnerability:GI

(2)IncreaseVulnerability:Inc

(3)SomewhatIncreaseVulnerability:SI

(4)Neutral:N

(5)Unknown

VulnerabilityRankings:

(1)ExtremelyVulnerable:EV

(2)HighlyVulnerable:HV

(3)ModeratelyVulnerable:MV

(4)LessVulnerable:LV

Page 35: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|35

Sea

leve

l ris

e

Nat

l bar

rier

s

Ant

h ba

rrie

rs

CC

miti

gatio

n

Dis

pers

al/M

ovem

ent

His

t. th

erm

al n

iche

Phy

siol

. the

rmal

nic

he

His

t. hy

drol

. nic

he

Phy

siol

. hyd

rol.

nich

e

Dis

turb

ance

Ice/

snow

Phy

s ha

bita

t

Oth

er s

pp fo

r ha

bita

t

Die

t

Pol

linat

ors

Oth

er s

pp. d

ispe

rsal

Pat

hoge

ns/e

nem

ies

Com

petit

ion

Oth

er s

pp in

tera

ctio

n

Gen

etic

var

iatio

n

Gen

bot

tlene

ck

Rep

rodu

ctiv

e sy

stem

Phe

nol r

espo

nse

Doc

res

pons

e

English Name SpeciesTaxonomic

Group B1 B2a B2b B3 C1 C2ai C2aii C2bi C2bii C2c C2d C3 C4a C4b C4c C4d C4e C5a C5b C6 D1 D2 D3 D42050 LOW

2050 HIGH

2080 LOW

2080 HIGH

American pika Ochotona princeps Mammal N Inc N/SI N SI Inc GI N N N SI SI N N N/A N U U N SI N/A N/A N U EV EV EV EVBlack-taileddeer Odocoileus hemionus Mammal N SI SI N N Inc N N N N N N N N N/A N SI SI N N N/A N/A U U MV EV EV EVGreat blue heron Ardea herodias Bird N N N N N Inc N N Inc N N N N N N/A N U U N N N/A N/A U U MV HV HV HVMountain goat Oreamnos americanus Mammal N SI SI N N SI GI N N N/SI N/SI SI N N N/A N U U N Inc N/A N/A U U EV EV EV EVMountain lion Puma concolor Mammal N N SI N N Inc N N N N N N N N N/A N U N N N N/A N/A U U LV MV MV MVTrumpeter swan Cygnus buccinator Bird N N N N N Inc N N Inc N N N N/SI N N/A N U U U U Inc N/A U U HV EV EV EVElk Cervus canadensis Mammal N SI Inc N N Inc N N N/SI N N N N N N/A N U U N N N/A N/A U U HV EV EV EVBlack Bear Ursus americanus Mammal N SI Inc N N Inc N N N N/SI N N N N N/A N U N N N N/A N/A U U MV EV EV EVBufflehead Bucephala albeola Bird SI N N N N Inc N N SI N N N INC N N/A N U N N N N/A N/A U U MV EV EV EVAlaska cedar Callitropsis nootkatensis Plant N N SI N SI Inc SI N SI N INC N N N/A N N N/SI N N U U N U U EV EV EV EVNorthern pintail Anas acuta Bird N N N N N SI N N Inc N N N N N N/A N U N N N N/A N/A U U LV MV MV MVSooty Grouse Dendragaphus fuliginosus Bird N N SI N N Inc N N N N N N N N N/A N U N N N N/A N/A U U LV MV MV MVWestern Redcedar Thuja plicata Plant N N N/SI N SI Inc N N N/SI N/SI N N N N/A N N SI N N Inc N/A N/A U U HV EV EV EVBog Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos Plant N N SI N N Inc N N SI N N SI N N/A N N U N N N N/A N/A U U MV HV HV EVAlaska Blueberry Vaccinium alaskaense Plant N N SI N N Inc N N N N N N N N/A SI N U N N U U SI U U MV HV HV EVBroadleaf Cattail Typha latifolia Plant N N N N N Inc N N SI N/SI N N N N/A N N U U N Inc N/A N/A U U MV EV EV EVEvergreen huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum Plant N N SI N N Inc N N N N N SI N N/A SI N U N N U U SI N U MV EV EV EVBeaked Hazelnut Corylus cornuta Plant N N N/SI N N Inc N N N SI N N N N/A N N U U N U U SI U U MV HV HV EVBivalves Bivalvia Mollusc GI N SI N N U U U N N N` N N N N/A N U U N U U N/A U U

TableA1-1.SensitivityfactorrankingsandCCVIrankingsforspeciesassessedusingNatureServe'sCCVI.Sensitivityrankings:U=Unknown,N=Neutral,SI=Somewhat

IncreaseVulnerability,Inc=IncreaseVulnerability,GI=GreatlyIncreaseVulnerability.CCVIrankings:LV=LessVulnerable,MV=ModeratelyVulnerable,HV=Highly

Vulnerable,EV=ExtremelyVulnerable.

Page 36: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|36

Appendix2

Information Gaps for Assessed Species

InformationStatus:

(1)InformationAvailable:

(2)Non-applicable:

(3)Unknown:

InformationAvailableindicatessufficientdatatoevaluateaspeciesforaCCVIfactor;Non-ApplicableindicatesaCCVIfactorthatisnon-applicableforagivenspecies(e.g.,“numberof

pollinators”foramammal).Unknownindicatesaninformationgap.

Page 37: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|37

Sea

leve

l ris

e

Nat

l bar

rier

s

Ant

h ba

rrie

rs

CC

miti

gatio

n

Dis

pers

al/M

ovem

ent

His

t. th

erm

al n

iche

Phy

siol

. the

rmal

nic

he

His

t. hy

drol

. nic

he

Phy

siol

. hyd

rol.

nich

e

Dis

turb

ance

Ice/

snow

Phy

s ha

bita

t

Oth

er s

pp fo

r ha

bita

t

Die

t

Pol

linat

ors

Oth

er s

pp. d

ispe

rsal

Pat

hoge

ns/e

nem

ies

Com

petit

ion

Oth

er s

pp in

tera

ctio

n

Gen

etic

var

iatio

n

Gen

bot

tlene

ck

Rep

rodu

ctiv

e sy

stem

Phe

nol r

espo

nse

Doc

res

pons

e

English Name SpeciesTaxonomic

Group B1 B2a B2b B3 C1 C2ai C2aii C2bi C2bii C2c C2d C3 C4a C4b C4c C4d C4e C5a C5b C6 D1 D2 D3 D4

American pika Ochotona princeps MammalBlack-taileddeer Odocoileus hemionus MammalGreat blue heron Ardea herodias BirdMountain goat Oreamnos americanus MammalMountain lion Puma concolor MammalTrumpeter swan Cygnus buccinator BirdElk Cervus canadensis MammalBlack Bear Ursus americanus MammalBufflehead Bucephala albeola BirdAlaska cedar Callitropsis nootkatensis PlantNorthern pintail Anas acuta BirdSooty Grouse Dendragaphus fuliginosus BirdWestern Redcedar Thuja plicata PlantBog Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos PlantAlaska Blueberry Vaccinium alaskaense PlantBroadleaf Cattail Typha latifolia PlantEvergreen huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum PlantBeaked Hazelnut Corylus cornuta PlantBivalves Bivalvia Mollusc

TableA2-1.Informationgapsforspeciesassessedinthisassessment.Green=informationavailableforthissensitivityfactor,Orange=sensitivityfactorisnotapplicableforthespecies,Gray=Sensitivityfactorsthatarecurrentlyunknown.

Page 38: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|38

Appendix3SpeciesandHabitatsFactSheetsAmericanpika Pg.39Black-taileddeer Pg.41Greatblueheron Pg.43Mountaingoat Pg.45Mountainlion Pg.47Trumpeterswan Pg.49Elk Pg.51Blackbear Pg.53Bufflehead Pg.55Alaskacedar Pg.57Northernpintail Pg.69Sootygrouse Pg.61Westernredcedar Pg.63Bogcranberry Pg.65Alaskablueberry Pg.67Broadleafcattail Pg.69Evergreenhuckleberry Pg.71Beakedhazelnut Pg.73Bivalves Pg.75 Estuary Pg.77Forest/Old-GrowthForest Pg.78Montane Pg.79Marine-Nearshore Pg.80Riparian Pg.81Wetland Pg.82FactSheetReferencesPg.83

Page 39: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|39

Americanpika(Ochotonaprinceps)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralTheAmericanpikadoesnotinhabitcoastalregionsandisthusunlikelytobeaffectedbysealevelrise.NaturalBarriers|IncreaseVulnerabilityNon-mountainousareashavebeenidentifiedasnaturaldispersalbarriersfortheAmericanpika.16Morethan50%ofthepika’scurrentdistributionintheNooksackwatershedissurroundedbylow-elevationforest,whichmayserveasadispersalbarrier.17NaturalbarriersmaydecreasetheabilityoftheAmericanpikatoadjustitsrange,bothattitudinallyandlatitudinally,inresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityWhileroadshavebeenshowntonegativelyaffectAmericanpikahabitat,18roaddensityinpikahabitatwithintheNooksackwatershedisnotedasbeingrelativelylow;mostsuitablehabitatisinareasdesignatedaswilderness.However,whereroadsdoexist,thesebarrierstomigrationmaylimitthepika’sabilitytoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsarenotlikelytoaffectAmericanpikahabitat,whichincludehighelevationrocky,talusslopesandlowerelevationgrasslands.19DispersalandMovementAbility|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityAmericanpikahavesmallhomeranges(reportedhomerangesspan0.3-0.5hectares),andarenotlocalorlong-distancemigrants.TheAmericanpika'spoordispersalabilitydecreasesthelikelihoodthatthespecieswillbeabletoadjustitsrangetokeeppacewithshiftingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|GreatlyIncreaseVulnerabilityTheAmericanpikaisextremelysensitivetowarmtemperatures.ProjectedincreasesinairtemperaturearelikelytonegativelyaffecttheAmericanpika,whichisdependentoncooltemperatures.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|NeutralTheAmericanpikaisnotdependentonaspecifichydrologicniche.ItisunlikelythatclimatechangewillalterthehydrologicsuitabilityofAmericanpikahabitat.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralFireisconsideredanimportantdisturbanceeventformaintainingmeadowhabitatsbylimitingtreeencroachment.18Projectedincreasesinannualareaburned20arethusunlikelytonegativelyaffectthepika.

Page 40: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|40

DependenceonIceorSnow|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityExtendedsnowcover(e.g.,longerthantwoweeks)mayincreasethelikelihoodofpikaoccupancywithinotherwisesuitablehabitat.18Projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpack14maythusnegativelyaffectAmericanpikahabitat.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityTheAmericanpikaexclusivelyinhabitsrockytalusslopesbetweenthetalus-meadowinterface.19Itsassociationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisexpectedtolimitthepika’sabilitytoadapttohabitatlossfromclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralTheAmericanpikaisnotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|NeutralTheAmericanpikaisanherbivorewithadietlargelyconsistingofgrasses,forbes,sedges,andoccasionallywoodyvegetation.19Speciesthatcanreadilyswitchbetweendifferentfoodsourcesarelesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbyclimatechange.Pollinators|N/AOtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralAmericanpikaarenotdependentonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownCoyotes,weasels,martens,raptors,andcorvidsareallpredatorsoftheAmericanpika.ItisunknownwhethersomeofthesespecieswillfarebetterthantheAmericanpikaunderachangingclimate.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|UnknownTheAmericanpikaandlivestockwilloccasionallyforageforsimilarvegetation,dependingonlocation.18ItisunknownwhetherlivestockwillfarebetterthantheAmericanpikaunderclimatechange.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralTheAmericanpikaisnotdependentoninterspecificinteractions.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityAmericanpikahavebeenobservedtohavelowlevelsofgeneticdiversityinpopulationsatthenorthernendofitsrange.Specieswithlowlevelsofgeneticvariationareexpectedtobelessabletoadapttochangingclimaticconditions.Phenology|NeutralPikahabitatintheNooksackwatershedhasbeenbecomingsnowfreeearlierintheyearoverthepastfivetosixyears,andpikavocalizationshavebeenobservedearlierinyearswithearliersnowmelt.17

Page 41: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|41

Black-TailedDeer/MuleDeer(Odocoileushemionus)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ModeratelyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%ofthemuledeer'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityWhilemuledeeraregooddispersers,ruggedmountainterraincanactasbarrierstomovement.21Inaddition,post-firedeadfallaccumulationcanimpededispersal.22Naturalbarriersmaydecreasetheabilityofthemuledeertoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityFencesareamajorbarriertomuledeermovementinthewesternU.S.Urban,suburban,orruralhousingdevelopmentscanalsoobstructmuledeermovement.23Thesedispersalbarriersmaylimitthemuledeer’sabilitytoadjustitsrangeresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoaffectmuledeerhabitatwithintheassessmentarea.DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralMuledeerhaveexcellentdispersalabilities.Researchsuggeststhatlongermuledeerdispersaleventsmaybemorecommoninpatchyenvironmentswithgreaterdistancesbetweensuitablehabitatareas.24Themuledeer’shighdispersalcapacityincreasesthelikelihoodthatitwillbeabletoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralMuledeerdistributionisnotsignificantlyaffectedbythermalcharacteristicsoftheenvironmentintheassessmentarea.24Muledeerareawide-rangingspeciesthatinhabitareaswithvaryingtemperatureregimes.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|NeutralMuledeerarenotdependentonaspecifichydrologicniche.Itisunlikelythatclimatechangewillalterthehydrologicsuitabilityofmuledeerhabitat.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralMuledeerareknowntograzeonearlysuccessionalvegetationthatre-colonizesafterdisturbanceevents.22Muledeerarealsoassociatedwithfire-dependentandfire-adaptedplantspeciesandcommunities.Projectedincreasesinannualareaburned20arethusunlikelytonegativelyaffectmuledeerhabitat.

Page 42: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|42

DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralThemuledeerisnotdependentoniceorsnowassociatedhabitats.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytonegativelyaffectmuledeer.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralMuledeerhabitatisnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.Associationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimitthemuledeer’sabilitytoadapttohabitatlossfromclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralThemuledeerisahabitatgeneralistanddoesnotdependonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|NeutralMuledeerconsumeawidevarietyofgrasses,forbs,andbrowse.Speciesthatcanreadilyswitchbetweendifferentfoodsourcesarelesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbyclimatechange.Pollinators|N/AOtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralMuledeerarenotdependentonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityTherearemanybacterialdiseasesandparasitesthatnegativelyaffectmuledeer,someofwhichmaybecomemoreprevalentorsevereunderclimatechange.Forexample,increasingincidenceofdroughtandwarmingtemperaturesmaybenefitbitinggnatpopulations,whichtransmitbluetonguevirustomuledeer.Sensitivitytopathogensmaythusincreasemuledeer’svulnerabilitytoclimatechange.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityMuledeerhabitatusemaybeindirectlyaffectedbyotherwildlifespeciesthatmaybenefitfromclimatechange.Forexample,muledeerhabitatselectionhasbeenshowntobestronglyinfluencedbyavoidanceofareasinhabitedbyelk.Elkcaneatagreatervarietyofforagethanmuledeer,whichmaygiveelkacompetitiveadvantageunderclimatechange.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralThemuledeerisnotdependentoninterspecificinteractions.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|NeutralMuledeerhavebeenshowntohavehighlevelsofgeneticdiversitythroughoutitsrange.Specieswithaveragetohighlevelsofgeneticvariationareexpectedtobebetterabletoadapttochangingclimaticconditions.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 43: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|43

GreatBlueHeron(Ardeaherodias)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ModeratelyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):HighlyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):HighlyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):HighlyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%ofthegreatblueheron'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|NeutralTherearenosignificantnaturalbarrierstogreatblueheronmigration.Itisunlikelythatnaturalbarrierswilldecreasetheabilityofthegreatblueherontoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|NeutralTherearenosignificantanthropogenicbarrierstogreatblueheronmigration.Itisunlikelythatanthropogenicbarrierswilldecreasetheabilityofthegreatblueherontoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsarenotlikelytoaffectgreatblueheronhabitat,whichincludefreshwaterwetmeadowsandmarshes,brackishmarshes,lakes,andrivers.25DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralThegreatblueheronisalocalmigrant.25Thegreatblueheron'sexcellentdispersalabilityincreasesthelikelihoodthatitwillbeabletoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralGreatblueheronsareadaptedtoawiderangeoftemperatureregimesandarethereforeunlikelytobedirectlynegativelyaffectedbywarmingtemperatures.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThegreatblueheroninhabitscoastallowlands,wetlands,marshes,wetmeadows,vernalpools,streamchannels(natural,irrigation,anddrainagechannels),andsprings.17,26Eachofthesehabitatsmaybeaffectedbyprojectedincreasesinwinterfloodriskanddeclinesinsummerlowflows.Thegreatblueheronisalsoexpectedtobenegativelyaffectedifwetlandsdryoutinsummermonths,diminishingitspreybase.17DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralThegreatblueheronisnotthoughttobesensitivetodisturbanceregimesthatmaybealteredbyclimatechange.DependenceonIceorSnow|Neutral

Page 44: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|44

Thegreatblueheronisnotdependentoniceorsnowassociatedhabitats.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffectgreatblueheronhabitat.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralGreatblueheronhabitat(e.g.,freshwaterandbrackishmarshes,lakes,andrivers)isnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.25Associationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimitthegreatblueheron’sabilitytoadapttohabitatlossfromclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralThegreatblueheronisanaquatichabitatgeneralist,andisnotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|NeutralThegreatblueheronhasabroaddiet,includingfish,insects,crustaceans,amphibians,reptiles,andsmallmammals.25SpeciesthatcanreadilyswitchbetweendifferentfoodsourcesarelesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbyclimatechangePollinators|N/AOtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralThegreatblueheronisnotdependentonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownBaldeaglesaretheprimarypredatorofthegreatblueheron.Crowsandravenshavealsobeenobservedpreyingupongreatblueheroneggsandhatchlings.27Itisunknownifbaldeagles,crows,orravenswillfarebetterthanthegreatblueheronunderachangingclimate.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|UnknownDouble-crestedcormorantsandotherheronscompetewiththegreatblueheronforlimitednestinghabitat.27Itisunknownhowthesespecieswillfareunderclimatechange.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralThegreatblueheronisnotdependentoninterspecificinteractions.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|NeutralItisestimatedthatdispersalamongthefour,largegreatblueheroncoloniesinPugetSoundcontributestotherelativelyhighlevelofgeneticdiversitywithintheregion’sheronpopulations.28Specieswithaveragetohighlevelsofgeneticvariationareexpectedtobebetterabletoadapttochangingclimaticconditions.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 45: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|45

Mountaingoat(Oreamnosamericanus)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%ofthemountaingoat’srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityThemountaingoatisacapabledisperserbutveryhighandverylowelevationsaswellasbodiesofwaterserveasbarrierstomovement.29Naturalbarriersmaydecreasetheabilityofthemountaingoattoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityWhilehighways,urbanareas,andagriculturalfieldshavebeenidentifiedasanthropogenicbarrierstomountaingoatdispersal,29suchbarriersarerareinandnearmountaingoathabitatwithintheNooksackwatershed.Additionally,themajorityofmountaingoathabitatintheNooksackwatershedisdesignatedaswilderness,andisthereforeunlikelytoseefutureroadand/ortrailconstruction.17However,evenatlowdensities,thepresenceofsuchbarriersmaylimittheabilityofthemountaingoattoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralThemountaingoatinhabitsalpineandsubalpinehabitats.Thesehabitattypesarenotlikelytobeusedforclimatechangemitigationactionswithintheassessmentarea.DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralInsomeareas,mountaingoatswilltravelbetweensummerandwinterranges.Mountaingoatsmayalsotraveltosaltlicksduringthesummermonths.30Thegooddispersalabilityofthemountaingoatincreasesthelikelihoodthatitwillbeabletoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|GreatlyIncreaseVulnerabilityThemountaingoatisadaptedtocoldalpineandsubalpinehabitats,31whicharesensitivetoclimatechange.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|NeutralMountaingoatsarenotdependentonaspecifichydrologicniche.Itisunlikelythatclimatechangewillalterthehydrologicsuitabilityofmountaingoathabitat.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseFire,windthrow,pestsanddiseasecanallnegativelyaffectsubalpinemountaingoathabitat.Climatechangeis

projectedtoincreasethefrequencyandintensityoffireinwesternWashington.20Inaddition,warmer

Page 46: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|46

anddriersummerswillstressforests,whichmayincreasethesusceptibilityofforeststopestsanddisease.However,thewinterrangeofthemountaingoatwithintheNooksackwatershedislargelydominatedbybarrensouthfacing,lowelevationslopes.17Itisthuspossiblethatwintermountaingoathabitatmayinitiallymaintainorexpandduetoprojectedincreasesinannualareaburned.17DependenceonIceorSnow|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityMountaingoatsareoftenassociatedwithsnowinsubalpineandalpinehabitatsduringthewintermonths.Deepsnowpackcanimpedemountaingoatmovement,butisalsoanimportantsourceofsummermoistureforsupportingvegetationforforage.Whileprojecteddeclinesinsnowpackmayenhancemountaingoatmovementduringwinter,subsequentreductionsinsummerwateravailabilitymaynegativelyaffectmountaingoathabitat.Inaddition,projecteddeclinesinsnowpackmaypromoteforestencroachmentintosubalpineandalpinezones,reducingmountaingoathabitat.17PhysicalHabitatFeatures|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityThemountaingoatinhabitsopensubalpineandalpineareaswithcloseproximitytoescapeterrain(e.g.,steep,rockyledgesandcliffs).31Becausemountaingoatsareassociatedwithsteeprockyoutcroppingsandcliffs,theyarelesslikelytobeabletoadapttohabitatlossfromclimatechange,comparedtospeciesthatarenotdependentonuncommongeologicfeatures.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralMountaingoatsarenotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|NeutralThemountaingoathasageneralistdiet,largelycomposedofgrasses,andshrubs.31Speciesthatcanreadilyswitchamongavailablefoodsourcesarelesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbyclimatechange.Pollinators|N/AOtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralMountaingoatsarenotdependentonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownMountaingoatsarefrequentlyinfestedbyticks,tapeworms,andnematodes.31Whiletheseparasitesareubiquitousinmountaingoatpopulations,itisunknowniftheseinfestationsnegativelyaffectpopulationdynamicsandoriftheseparasiteswillbeaffectedbyclimatechange.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|UnknownMountaingoatsandbighornsheepoccupysimilarhabitats,principallysubalpineandalpineregions.Theyalsohaverelativelysimilardietscomposedofgrasses,forbs,andshrubs.32However,itisunknownhowbighornsheeppopulationswillbeaffectedbyclimatechange.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralThemountaingoatdoesnotrequireinterspecificinteractions.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|IncreaseVulnerabilityLowgeneticvariationhasbeenobservedinmountaingoatpopulationsinhabitingtheCascadeRangeinWashington.33Specieswithlowlevelsofgeneticvariationareexpectedtobelessabletoadapttochangingclimateconditionsthanpopulationswithaveragetohighlevelsofgeneticdiversity.

PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 47: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|47

MountainLion(Pumaconcolor)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):LessVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ModeratelyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ModeratelyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ModeratelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%ofthemountainlion'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|NeutralMountainlionsarecapabledispersersbutlargeexpansesofnon-forestedhabitatmayactasdispersalbarriers.Narrowripariancorridorsmayallowdispersalthroughotherwisenon-forestedhabitat.34Itisunlikelythatnaturalbarrierswilldecreasetheabilityofthemountainliontoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityMajorhighwaysaswellasurban,agricultural,andindustrialareashaveallbeenidentifiedasanthropogenicbarrierstomountainliondispersal.34Thesebarriersmaylimittheabilityofthemountainliontoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralMountainlionshavethewidestdistributionofanynativemammalinthewesternhemisphere,andinhabitawiderangeofhabitattypes.35Thesehabitattypesarenotlikelytobeusedforclimatechangemitigationactionswithintheassessmentarea.DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralMountainlionsareawide-rangingspeciescapableoflongdistancedispersal(thelargestdocumentedmovementshaveexceeded2000km).34Theexcellentdispersalabilitiesofthemountainlionincreasethelikelihoodthatitwillbeabletoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralMountainlionsareadaptedtoawiderangeoftemperatureregimesandarethereforeunlikelytobedirectlynegativelyaffectedbywarmingtemperatures.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|NeutralMountainlionsareadaptedtohabitatsthatspanawiderangeofhydrologicniches.Itisunlikelythatshiftingprecipitationregimesunderclimatechangewillalterthesuitabilityofmountainlionhabitat.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralMountainlionsarenotthoughttobesensitivetodisturbanceregimesthatmaybealteredbyclimatechange.

Page 48: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|48

DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralMountainlionhabitatsuitabilityisnotdependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffectthemountainlion.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralMountainlionhabitatisnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.Associationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimitthemountainlion’sabilitytoadapttohabitatlossfromclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralMountainlionsarehabitatgeneralists,andarenotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|NeutralThedietofmountainlionsisprimarilydeer,butthisspeciesishighlyopportunisticandeatsvariouslargeandsmallmammals,includingbighornsheep,livestock,coyote,squirrels,rabbits,andmice.36Speciesthatcanreadilyswitchamongdifferentfoodtypesarelesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbyclimatechange.Pollinators|N/AOtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralMountainlionsarenotdependentonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownWhilemountainlionsaresusceptibletosomediseases,itisunclearwhethertheintensity,rateoftransmission,andseverityofthesediseaseswillbeaffectedbyclimatechange.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|NeutralThemountainlionisnotcurrentlysensitivetocompetitionfromnativeornon-nativespecies,andthereisnoindicationthatclimatechangewillcauseaspeciestobecomeacompetitorinthefuture.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralThemountainliondoesnotrequireinterspecificinteractions.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|NeutralInwesternNorthAmerica,geneticvariationofmountainlionpopulationsisfrequentlyobservedtobehigh,duetolarge,stablepopulationsandhighratesofdispersal.37Specieswithaveragetohighlevelsofgeneticvariationareexpectedtobebetterabletoadapttochangingclimateconditions.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 49: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|49

Trumpeterswan(Cygnusbuccinators)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):HighlyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%ofthetrumpeter'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|NeutralTherearenosignificantnaturalbarrierstotrumpeterswanmigration.Itisunlikelythatnaturalbarrierswilldecreasetheabilityofthetrumpeterswantoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|NeutralTherearenosignificantanthropogenicbarrierstotrumpeterswanmigration.Itisunlikelythatanthropogenicbarrierswilldecreasetheabilityofthetrumpeterswantoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoaffecttrumpeterswanhabitat,whichincludesagriculturalfields,wetmeadows,shallowmarshesandlakes,andriveroxbows.17,38DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralThetrumpeterswanisanexcellentdisperser,capableoflong-distancemigration.39Itsexcellentdispersalabilityincreasesthelikelihoodthatitwillbeabletoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralTrumpeterswansareadaptedtoabroadrangeoftemperatureregimesandarethereforeunlikelytobedirectlynegativelyaffectedbywarmingtemperatures.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityJuvenileswansurvivalistightlylinkedwithstablewaterlevelsatnestingsites.38ProjectedincreasesinwinterfloodriskinwesternWashington14maynegativelyaffectnestinghabitatandfledglingsurvival.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralTrumpeterswansarenotthoughttobesensitivetodisturbanceregimesthatmaybealteredbyclimatechange.Anexceptiontothisisflooding,whichiscapturedunderPhysiologicalHydrologicNiche.

Page 50: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|50

DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralTrumpeterswanhabitatsuitabilityisnotdirectlydependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffecttrumpeterswanhabitat.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralTrumpeterswanhabitatisnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeaturesAssociationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimitthetrumpeterswan’sabilitytoadapttohabitatlossfromclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityPreferredtrumpeterswannestingandloafingsitesoftenincludemuskrathousesorbeaverdams.However,swansmayalsoconstructnestsonsmallnaturalislands.38Speciesthatrelyonasmallnumberofspeciesforhabitatornestingsitesarelikelytobemorevulnerabletoclimatechangethanspecieswithmoregeneralizedhabitatrequirements.1DietaryVersatility|NeutralTrumpeterswanshaveabroaddietincludingrootsandleavesofaquaticvegetation,watermilfoil,waterweed,andyellowpondlilyseeds.38Speciesthatcanreadilyswitchbetweendifferentfoodsourcesarelesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbyclimatechange.Pollinators|N/AOtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralTrumpeterswansarenotdependentonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownPredatorsarenotamajorconcernforthetrumpeterswan,butmayincreasemortalityratesofjuvenileswans.38Riverotters,coyotes,minks,andgoldeneagleshaveallbeenobservedpreyinguponyoungswans.Itisunknownifthesepredatorswillfarebetterthanthetrumpeterswanunderachangingclimate.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|UnknownThereiscurrentlynoempiricalevidenceindicatingthattrumpeterswanscompetewithotherspecies,thoughtheyarefrequentlyobservedforagingalongsideotherwaterbirds,includingthenorthernpintail,goldeneye,andmallard.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|UnknownThetrumpeterswandoesnotrequireaspecificinterspecificinteraction.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|UnknownUnknownGeneticBottleneck|IncreaseVulnerabilityThetrumpeterswanunderwentapopulationbottleneckintheearlypartofthe20thcentury.Bytheyear1932,thelargestknownpopulationoftrumpeterswansconsistedof57swansfoundwithinYellowstoneNationalPark.40Evidenceofgeneticbottleneckscanbeusedtoinferreductionsinspecies-levelgeneticvariationthatcouldpotentiallyimpedeaspecies’abilitytoadapttoclimatechange.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 51: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|51

Elk(Cervuscanadensis)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):HighlyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%oftheelk'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityWhileelkarecapabledispersers,highterraces,steepterrain,andgulliescanactasnaturaldispersalbarriers.41Presenceofnaturalbarriersmaydecreasetheabilityofelktoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|IncreaseVulnerabilityHumandisturbances,includingroadconstructionandlogging,canserveasanthropogenicbarrierstoelkdispersal.41AsignificantpercentageofelkhabitatintheNooksackwatershedislocatedinactiveforestareas.17Thesebarriersmaylimittheabilityoftheelktoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralElkarehabitatgeneralists,occurringacrossnumeroushabitats.41ItiscurrentlyunknownifclimatechangemitigationactivitieswillnegativelyaffectelkpopulationswithintheNooksackwatershed.DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralElkareverycapabledispersersandareestimatedtodisperse25-50km.42Thespecies'excellentdispersalabilitiesincreasethelikelihoodthattheelkwillbeabletoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralElkareawidely-distributedspecies,implyingbroadtoleranceforvarioustemperatureregimes.41Therefore,theelkislesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbywarmingtemperatures,comparedtospeciesrestrictedtocoldclimates.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityElkareoftenassociatedwithwetlandhabitatswithintheNooksackwatershed(NooksackTribestaff,personalcommunication).17Itisthereforeexpectedtobesensitivetoprojecteddeclinesinmoistureavailability,whichmayincreaseitsvulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralElkareconsideredadisturbancetolerantspecies,ofteninhabitingsitesdisturbedbyloggingandfire,aswellasotherearly-successionalhabitats.41Theelkisalsoconsideredtobefire-dependentorfire-adaptedtosomeextent,duetotheirpositiveresponsetofoodavailabilityfollowingwildfire.Projectedincreasesinannualareaburned20are

thusunlikelytonegativelyaffectelk.

Page 52: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|52

DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralElkhabitatsuitabilityisnotdirectlydependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffectelkhabitat.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralElkhabitatisnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.Associationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimittheelk’sabilitytoadapttohabitatlossfromclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralTheelkisaforesthabitatgeneralist,andisnotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|NeutralElkhaveaverybroaddiet,consumingforbs,willow,aspen,cottonwood,grasses,andmushrooms.43Speciesthatcanreadilyswitchbetweendifferentfoodsourcesarelesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbyclimatechange.Pollinators|N/AOtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralElkarenotdependentonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownGraywolvesandmountainlionsarenotedaspredatorsofelk.17,41Itisunknownifelkwillfarebetterthanwolvesormountainlionsunderachangingclimate.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|UnknownElkcompetewithlivestockwhenforageavailabilityislimited.Itisunknownwhetherelkorlivestockwillfarebetterunderclimatechange.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralElkdonotrequireaspecificinterspecificinteraction.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|NeutralElkhavebeenshowntohaverelativelyhighlevelsofgeneticvariation.44Specieswithaveragetohighlevelsofgeneticdiversityareexpectedtobebetterabletoadapttochangingclimateconditions.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 53: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|53

BlackBear(Ursusamericanus)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ModeratelyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%oftheblackbear'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityWhileblackbearsarecapabledispersers,drylow-elevationhabitattypesandriversmayactasnaturalbarrierstobeardispersal.29Naturalbarriersmaydecreasetheabilityoftheblackbeartoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|IncreaseVulnerabilityHighways,roads,andurbanareashavebeenidentifiedasanthropogenicbarrierstoblackbeardispersal.29,45Humanpopulationgrowthandexpandeddevelopmentwilllikelyincreasethenumberofanthropogenicbarriersencounteredbyblackbears.Thesebarriersmaylimittheabilityoftheblackbeartoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoaffectblackbearhabitat,whichincludesforest,wetmeadows,riparianareas,andedgehabitat.45DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralBlackbearsareextremelycapabledispersers.Nataldispersalofsub-adultmaleblackbearshasbeendocumentedtorange8-136miles.Theblackbear’sexcellentdispersalabilitiesincreasethelikelihoodthatitwillbeabletoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralBlackbearsareadaptedtoabroadrangeoftemperatureregimesandarethereforeunlikelytobedirectlynegativelyaffectedbywarmingtemperatures.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|NeutralBlackbearsarenotdependentonaspecifichydrologicniche.Itisunlikelythatclimatechangewillalterthehydrologicsuitabilityofblackbearhabitat.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityClimatechangemayaffectthequalityofblackbearhabitatbyincreasingboththefrequencyandintensityofwildfire.Whileincreasesinannualareaburnedmayinitiallyfacilitateberryestablishment,increasingblackbear

Page 54: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|54

forage,longer-termincreasesinareaburnarelikelytoreducesuitableblackbearhabitat(NooksackTribestaff,personalcommunication).17DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralBlackbearhabitatsuitabilityisnotdirectlydependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffectblackbearhabitat.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralBlackbearhabitatisnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.Associationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimittheblackbear’sabilitytoadapttohabitatlossfromclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralBlackbearsareaforesthabitatgeneralistandnotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|NeutralBlackbearsareopportunisticomnivores,generallyconsuminggrassesandforbsinspring,berriesandinsectsinsummer,andacornsandnutsduringfall.Thespeciesalsoeatscarrion.45Speciesthatcanreadilyswitchbetweendifferentfoodsourcesarelesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbyclimatechange.Pollinators|N/AOtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralBlackbearsarenotdependentonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal.Thisreducesthevulnerabilityoftheblackbeartoclimatechangeastheyarenotdependentonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,toensurethenextgenerationsurvives.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownGrizzlybears,mountainlions,andgraywolvesareallpredatorsoftheblackbear.45Itisunknownifthesepredatorswillfarebetterthantheblackbearunderachangingclimate.Whileblackbearsarealsosusceptibletodiseases,itisunknownhowtheirvirulenceandspreadwillbeaffectedbyclimatechange.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|NeutralTheblackbearisnotcurrentlysensitivetocompetitionfromnativeornon-nativespecies,andthereisnoindicationthatclimatechangewillcauseaspeciestobecomeacompetitorinthefuture.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralTheblackbeardoesnotrequireaspecificinterspecificinteraction.Becauseresponsestoclimatechangewillbespecies-specific,thosedependentonotherspeciesmaybemorevulnerabletoclimatechangethanspecieswithoutinterspecificinteractions.GeneticVariation|NeutralBlackbearsinAlbertahavebeenshowntohaverelativelyhighlevelsofgeneticdiversity.46Specieswithaveragetohighlevelsofgeneticdiversityareexpectedtobebetterabletoadapttochangingclimateconditions.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 55: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|55

Bufflehead(Bucephalaalbeola)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ModeratelyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP4.5):ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario(RCP8.5):ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityWashingtonispartofthebufflehead’swinterrange,whichconsistsprimarilyofsaltwaterareas(beaches,estuaries,andharbors).47BuffleheadwithintheNooksackwatershedarethuslikelytobeaffectedbysealevelrise.NaturalBarriers|NeutralTherearenosignificantnaturalbarrierstobuffleheaddispersal.Itisunlikelythatnaturalbarrierswilldecreasetheabilityofthebuffleheadtoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|NeutralTherearenosignificantanthropogenicbarrierstobuffleheadmigration.Itisunlikelythatanthropogenicbarrierswilldecreasetheabilityofthebuffleheadtoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoaffectbuffleheadhabitat,whichincludesfreshwaterpermanentpondsinitsbreedingrange,andshelteredsaltwatercovesandestuarieswithinitswinterrange.47DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralBuffleheadsareexcellentdispersers,capableoflong-distancemigration.47Thebuffelhead’sexcellentdispersalabilityincreasesthelikelihoodthatitwillbeabletoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralBuffleheadareadaptedtoabroadrangeoftemperatureregimesandisthereforeunlikelytobenegativelyaffecteddirectlybywarmingtemperatures.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityBuffleheadsaredependentonsmallpermanentpondsinitsbreedingrange.47Thesehabitatsmaybesensitivetoprojectedincreaseswinterfloodriskanddecliningsummerlow-flows.14DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralThebuffleheadisnotthoughttobesensitivetodisturbanceregimesthatmaybealteredbyclimatechange.Anexceptiontothisisflooding,whichisdiscussedunderPhysiologicalHydrologicNiche.DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralBuffleheadhabitatsuitabilityisnotdirectlydependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffectbuffleheadhabitat.

Page 56: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|56

PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralBuffleheadhabitatisnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.Associationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimitthebufflehead’sabilitytoadapttohabitatlossfromclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|IncreaseVulnerabilityThebuffleheadnestsexclusivelyintreecavitiesconstructedbythenorthernflicker,andlessfrequentlybythepileatedwoodpecker.47Speciesthatrelyonasmallnumberofspeciesforhabitatornestingsitesarelikelytobemorevulnerabletoclimatechangethanspeciesthathavemoregeneralizedhabitatrequirements.DietaryVersatility|NeutralThedietofthebuffleheadvariesseasonallyandbythehabitattypeoccupied(freshwaterversussaltwater).Buffleheadaredivingducksthatconsumeinsects,crustaceans,mollusks,andplants.47Speciesthatcanreadilyswitchbetweendifferentfoodsourcesarelesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbyclimatechange.Pollinators|N/AOtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralBuffleheadsarenotdependentonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownPeregrinefalcon,snowyowl,baldeagle,Cooper'shawk,andthegreathornedowlareallpredatorsofthebufflehead.47Itisunknownifthesepredatorswillfarebetterthanthebuffleheadunderachangingclimate.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|NeutralThebuffleheadisnotcurrentlysensitivetocompetitionfromnativeornon-nativespecies,andthereisnoindicationthatclimatechangewillcauseaspeciestobecomeacompetitorinthefuture.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralThebuffleheaddoesnotrequireaspecificinterspecificinteraction.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|NeutralThebuffleheadhasbeenshowntohaverelativelylowlevelsofpopulationdifferentiationcomparedtoothercave-nestingsea-ducks.48Specieswithaveragetohighlevelsofgeneticdiversityareexpectedtobebetterabletoadapttochangingclimateconditions.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 57: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|57

AlaskaCedar(Callitropsisnootkatensis)2050s,LowGHGScenario:ExtremelyVulnerable2050s,HighGHGScenario:ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,LowGHGScenario:ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,HighGHGScenario:ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%oftheAlaskacedar'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|NeutralAlaskacedarseedsaredispersedbywind.49ItisunlikelythatnaturalbarrierswilldecreasetheabilityoftheAlaskacedartoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityTheregionnorthoftheNooksackwatershedislargelyborderedbydevelopedagriculturalland,whichmaydecreasetheabilityoftheAlaskacedartoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoresultintheremovalofAlaskacedarfromsuitablehabitat,whichincludestheCascadeRange.50DispersalandMovementAbility|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityDirectinformationonseeddispersaldistanceisnotavailablefortheAlaskacedar.However,itisnotedthatAlaskacedarseedsareheavierthanPort-Orford-cedarseedsandarethereforeunlikelytobedispersedmorethan120metersfromthesource.50TherelativelypoordispersalabilitiesofAlaskacedarseedsmaydecreasetheabilityoftheAlaskacedartoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityTheAlaskacedarisrestrictedtorelativelycool/coldregionswithinWashington'sCascadeRange.Thespeciesisfoundbetween600-2,300m.49Thisdependenceoncool,higherelevationhabitatsincreasesthespeciesvulnerabilitytoclimatechange,astheseareasarethoughttobemorepronetohabitatlossorreductionwithwarmingtemperatures.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityTheAlaskacedarisknowntogrowonbogandsemi-bog.50Projectedincreasesintemperaturesanddeclinesinsummerprecipitation14mayreducemoistureavailabilityinthesehabitats,potentiallyreducingthehabitatsuitabilityofsomeareasfortheAlaskacedar.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralAlaskacedarisnotreliantonadisturbanceregimesthatisprojectedtobealteredbyclimatechange.

Page 58: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|58

DependenceonIceorSnow|IncreaseVulnerabilityAlaskacedar,alsoreferredtoasyellow-cedar,hasexperiencedwidespreaddeclineinAlaskaandBritishColumbia.Thiswidespreaddeclinehasnotbeenlinkedwithabioticfungi,nematode,insect,orvirus;andisthereforethoughttobeassociatedwithanabioticprocess.Specifically,decliningsnowpackisthoughttoexposetherootsoftheAlaskacedartofreezingdamageduringthewintermonths.Therefore,decliningsnowpackmaynegativelyaffectAlaskacedar.51PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralTheAlaskacedarisnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.AssociationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimittheAlaskacedar’sabilitytoadapttoclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralTheAlaskacedarisnotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Speciesthatarenotreliantonotherstocreatehabitataremorelikelytoadapttoshiftingenvironmentalconditionsduetoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|N/APollinators|NeutralAlaskacedariswindpollinated.Speciesthatarereliantonalimitednumberofpollinatorsarepotentiallymorevulnerabletoenvironmentalchangesresultingfromclimatechange.OtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralAlaskacedardoesnotserveasamajorformofbrowseforlivestockorwildlife.Ithasbeendocumentedasasourceofbroseonlywhenlocaldensitiesofblack-taileddeerintheregionarehigh.49ThisreducesthevulnerabilityofAlaskacedartoclimatechangeastheyarenotdependentonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,toensurethenextgenerationsurvives.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityAlaskacedarissusceptibletonumerousinsects,pathogens,andpests.Itischallengingtomakegeneralizationsoftheresponsesofdiseasesandpeststoclimatechangebecausetheresponseswilllargelybespeciesspecific.Somediseases/pestsmaybecomemorewidespreadwhileothersmaynot.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|NeutralAlaskacedargenerallyisnotdamagedbyinsects.Therearenoknowndefoliatorsofthisspeciescurrently.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralTheAlaskacedardoesnotrequireinterspecificinteractions.Becauseresponsestoclimatechangewillbespecies-specific,thosedependentonotherspeciesmaybemorevulnerabletoclimatechangethanspecieswithoutinterspecificinteractions.GeneticVariation|UnknownGeneticBottleneck|UnknownReproductiveSystem(plantsonly)|NeutralTheAlaskacedarismonoeciousandanoutcrosser,reliantonwindforpollendispersal.52Inplants,geneticvariationislikedtoreproductivesystem.Speciesthatareoutcrossersmaybemorelikelytoadapttochangingclimateconditions.1PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 59: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|59

NorthernPintail(Anasacuta)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:LessVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:ModeratelyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:ModeratelyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:ModeratelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%ofthenorthernpintail'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|NeutralTherearenosignificantnaturalbarrierstonorthernpintaildispersal.Itisunlikelythatnaturalbarrierswilldecreasetheabilityofthenorthernpintailtoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|NeutralTherearenosignificantanthropogenicbarrierstonorthernpintailmigration.Itisunlikelythatanthropogenicbarrierswilldecreasetheabilityofthenorthernpintailtoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoaffectnorthernpintailhabitat,whichincludesfreshwaterseasonal,shallowwetlandandshallowmarshes.53DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralNorthernpintailsareexcellentdispersers,capableoflong-distancemigration.53Itsexcellentdispersalabilityincreasesthelikelihoodthatthenorthernpintailwillbeabletoadjustitsrangewithchangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralThenorthernpintailisadaptedtoabroadrangeoftemperatureregimesandisthereforeunlikelytobedirectlynegativelyaffectedbywarmingtemperatures.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityNorthernpintailsaredependentonsmall,shallow,semi-permanentwetlandsandmarshes.53Thesesemi-permanenthabitatsmaybesusceptibletodecliningsummerprecipitationandincreasedriskofsummerlowflows.14Thesechangesmayincreasethelikelihoodofprematuredryingofthesewetlandsandmarshes,whichwouldnegativelyaffectthenorthernpintail.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralThenorthernpintailisnotthoughttobesensitivetodisturbanceregimesthatmaybealteredbyclimatechange.Theoneexceptionisdroughtandsummerlowflows,whicharecapturedinthePhysiologicalHydrologicNichefactor.

Page 60: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|60

DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralNorthernpintailhabitatsuitabilityisnotdirectlydependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytonegativelyaffectnorthernpintailhabitat.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralNorthernpintailhabitatisnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.Associationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimitthenorthernpintail’sabilitytoadapttoclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralThenorthernpintailisnotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.1DietaryVersatility|NeutralThenorthernpintailhasadiversedietconsistingofinsects,grains,grasses,aquaticvegetation,invertebrates,andseeds.53Speciesthatcanreadilyswitchbetweendifferentfoodsourcesarelesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbyclimatechange.Pollinators|N/AOtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralThenorthernpintailisnotdependentonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownTheredfox,mink,Swainson'shawk,greathornedowl,largeraptors,andthecoyotehaveallbeendocumentedaspredatorsofadultpintails.Minks,raccoons,skinks,foxes,andseveralbirdsalsopreyuponnorthernpintaileggs.53Itisunknownifthesepredatorswillfarebetterthanthenorthernpintailunderachangingclimate.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|NeutralThenorthernpintailisnotcurrentlysensitivetocompetitionfromnativeornon-nativespecies,andthereisnoindicationthatclimatechangewillcauseaspeciestobecomeacompetitorinthefuture.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralThenorthernpintailisnotdependentonaspecificinterspecificinteraction.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|NeutralNorthernpintailhavebeenobservedtohavelittlegeneticstructuringacrossthreedifferentwinteringsites,indicatinghighlevelsofgeneflowandaveragelevelsofgeneticvariationacrosstheentiremigratingpopulation.54,55Specieswithaveragetohighlevelsofgeneticdiversityareexpectedtobebetterabletoadapttochangingclimateconditions.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 61: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|61

SootyGrouse(Dendragapusfuliginosus)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:LessVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:ModeratelyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:ModeratelyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:ModeratelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%ofthesootygrouse'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones)NaturalBarriers|NeutralTherearenosignificantnaturalbarrierstosootygrousedispersal.Itisunlikelythatnaturalbarrierswilldecreasetheabilityofthesootygrousetoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityRoads,urbanareas,industrialareas,agriculturallands,andloggingroadshaveallbeenidentifiedasanthropogenicbarrierstosootygrousedispersal.17,56Thesootygrousemayhavedifficultyflyingovermanyofthesebarriersduetoitslimiteddispersalabilities.Thesebarriersmaythusslightlydecreasetheabilityofthesootygrousetoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoaffectsootygrousehabitat,whichincludesopenmontaneforestfromsealeveltothetreelineinthesubalpine/alpinezone.57DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralThesootygrouseisashort-distancemigrant,typicallydispersingfromlow-elevationbreedingareastohigherelevationforestedhabitat.Thoughitslongestdocumenteddispersaldistanceis50km,distancesof~8kmhavebeenmorecommonlyobserved.57Thedispersalabilitiesofthesootygrouseincreasethelikelihoodthatitwillbeableadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralSootygrouseareexposedtobothverywarmandverycoldtemperatures,andarethereforeunlikelytobenegativelyaffectedbywarmingtemperatures,comparedtospeciesrestrictedtocoolhabitats.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|NeutralSootygrousearenotdependentonaspecifichydrologicalniche.Itisunlikelythatclimatechangewillalterthehydrologicsuitabilityofsootygrousehabitat.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralWindthrow,fire,andloggingallcreategapsinforestunderstoryareasthatarequicklyinhabitedbygrouse.57Projectedincreasesinareaburned20mayinitiallyprovideadditionalhabitatforthesootygrouse,however,itis

Page 62: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|62

unclearifincreasesinareaburnedwillcontinuetobebeneficialforgrousethroughoutthe21stcentury.DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralSootygrousehabitatsuitabilityisnotdirectlydependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffectsootygrousehabitat.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralSootygrousehabitatisnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.Associationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimitthesootygrouse’sabilitytoadapttoclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralSootygrousearenotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|NeutralAdultsootygrousearereliantonarangeofvegetativematter.Flowers,leaves,andberriesareconsumedinsummer,andconiferneedlesandconesareconsumedinthefallandwinter.57Speciesthatcanreadilyswitchbetweendifferentfoodsourcesarelesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbyclimatechange.Pollinators|N/AOtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralThesootygrouseisnotdependentonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownTherearemanydiseasesandparasitesthatcanaffectthefitnessofthesootygrouse.Examplesincludefowlpox,avianmalaria,andhelminths.57Itisunknownifthesediseasesandparasiteswillbecomemorewidespreadorvirulentwithclimatechange.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|NeutralThesootygrouseisnotcurrentlysensitivetocompetitionfromnativeornon-nativespecies,andthereisnoindicationthatclimatechangewillcauseaspeciestobecomeacompetitorinthefuture.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralThesootygrouseisnotdependentonaspecificinterspecificinteraction.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|NeutralGeneticstudiesbytheWashingtonDepartmentofFishandWildlifehavefoundrelativelyhighgeneticvariationinsootygrousepopulations.58Specieswithaveragetohighlevelsofgeneticdiversityareexpectedtobebetterabletoadapttochangingclimateconditions.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 63: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|63

WesternRedcedar(Thujaplicata)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:HighlyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%ofthewesterredcedar'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|NeutralWesternredcedarseedsaredispersedbywind.59Itisunlikelythatnaturalbarrierswilldecreasetheabilityofthewesternredcedartoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityAlaskaredcedarisarelativelyhardyspecies,oftenfoundintheNooksackwatershedalongtheedgesofagriculturalfieldsandhumanmodifiedsites.17Therefore,barrierspresentedbyagriculturefieldsanddevelopedareaswithintheNooksackRiverwatershedareunlikelytodecreasetheabilityofthewesternredcedartoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoaffectwesternredcedarhabitat,whichincludesopenforestfromsealeveltothetreelineinthesubalpine/alpinezone.59DispersalandMovementAbility|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityWesternredcedarseedsarewinddispersed.However,theseed'ssmallwingslimititsdispersaldistanceto~120meters.59Therelativelypoordispersalabilitiesofthewesternredcedarmaydecreaseitsabilitytoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralThewesternredcedarisadaptedtoabroadrangeoftemperatureregimesandisthereforeunlikelytobesignificantlynegativelyaffectedbywarmingtemperatures.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityThewesternredcedarfrequentlygrowsinwetlandhabitat(morethan50%ofthetime)withintheNooksackwatershed.17Projecteddeclinesinmoistureavailabilitymayresultindecliningmoistureavailabilityinthesewetlandhabitats.Thus,climate-drivenshiftsinthehydrologicregimemaynegativelyaffectthewesternredcedar.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityWesternredcedarsgrowingonwetsitesaresusceptibletowindthrow,butclimatemodelsdonotprojectachangeinwindstrengthorspeedintheNooksackwatershed.Westernredcedarisalsocommonlykilledbyfire.59Annual

Page 64: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|64

areaburnedisprojectedtoincreasewithclimatechange,20whichmaynegativelyaffectwesternredcedar.DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralThewesternredcedarisnotdirectlydependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffectwesternredcedar.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralThewesternredcedarisnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.Associationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimitthewesternredcedar’sabilitytoadapttoclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralThewesternredcedarisnotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|N/APollinators|NeutralThewesternredcedariswindpollinated.Speciesthatarereliantonalimitednumberofpollinatorsarepotentiallymorevulnerabletoenvironmentalchangesresultingfromclimatechange.OtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralWesternredcedarisnotdependentonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityThewesternredcedarissusceptibletonumerousinsects,pathogens,andpests.Itischallengingtomakegeneralizationsoftheresponsesofdiseasesandpeststoclimatechangebecausetheresponseswilllargelybespeciesspecific.Somediseases/pestsmaybecomemorewidespreadwhileothersmaynot.Forexample,westernredcedarissusceptibletoarmellariarootdisease.Ifclimatechangeresultsinawarmeranddrierclimatearmellariaimpactisprojectedtoincrease.Conversely,ifclimatechangeresultsinawarmerandwetterclimate,theimpactofarmellariaisprojectedtoremainthesame.60CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|NeutralThewesternredcedarisnotcurrentlysensitivetocompetitionfromnativeornon-nativespecies,andthereisnoindicationthatclimatechangewillcauseaspeciestobecomeacompetitorinthefuture.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralThewesternredcedarisnotdependentonaspecificinterspecificinteraction.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|IncreaseVulnerabilityThewesternredcedarhasoneofthelowestlevelsofgeneticdiversityamongconifers.61Specieswithlowlevelsofgeneticdiversityareexpectedtobelessabletoadapttochangingclimateconditions.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 65: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|65

BogCranberry(Vacciniumoxycoccos)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:ModeratelyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:HighlyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:HighlyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%ofthebogcranberry'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|NeutralBogcranberryseedsaredispersedbynumerousbirdandmammalspecies.62Birdsareabletoflyovermostnaturalbarriers.AnthropogenicBarriers|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityTheregionnorthoftheNooksackwatershedislargelyborderedbydevelopedagriculturalland,whichmaylimittoabilityofthebogcranberrytoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoaffectbogcranberryhabitat,whichincludesfreshwaterbogsandfens.62DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralBogcranberryseedsaredispersedbynumerousbirdandmammalspecies.62Seedsarelikelytoberegurgitatedordefecatedatleast1kmfromtheparentbogcranberryplant.Aspeciesthatisabletodisperselongdistancesismorelikelytobeabletoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralBogcranberryisadaptedtoabroadrangeoftemperatureregimesandisthereforeunlikelytobesignificantlynegativelyaffectedbywarmingtemperatures.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityBogcranberrygrowsinbogsandfensoccurringinwetcoastalandborealforests.Thesesitesarepoorlydrainedwithahigh-watertable.Intheseareas,thegroundissaturatedformostoftheyear.62Risingtemperaturesandprojecteddeclinesinsummerprecipitationandsummerstreamflowsmaydryoutthesebogandfensites,negativelyaffectingbogcranberry.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralThebogcranberryregeneratesfromrhizomes,andisthereforeabletosurvivelow-tomoderate-severityfires.62Low-severityfireshavealsobeenshowntostimulateberryproductionandtolimittreesandshrubsfromencroachingintobogandfenhabitat.63Projectedincreasesinannualareaburnedareunlikelytonegativelyaffect

Page 66: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|66

thebogcranberryduetoitsabilitytoregenerate,anditspresenceinwetbogenvironments.DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralThebogcranberryisnotdirectlydependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffectbogcranberry.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityThebogcranberryisrestrictedtoacidicconditions,thrivinginsoilswithpHbetween2.9-4.7.62Speciesthataredependentonuncommongeologicfeaturesarelesslikelytobeabletoadapttoclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralThebogcranberryisnotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|N/APollinators|NeutralThebogcranberryisself-pollinating.However,beepollinationcanoccur,andtypicallyresultsinincreasedseedproduction.63Speciesthatarenotdependentonaspecificpollinatorarelikelytobelessvulnerabletotheeffectsofclimatechange.OtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralBogcranberryseedsaredispersedbynumerousbirdandanimalspecies.62Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownThebogcranberryissusceptibletonumerousfungaldiseases.63Itishardtomakegeneralizationsabouthowthesefungaldiseaseswillrespondtoclimatechange.Itisunknownifthesewillfungaldiseaseswillbecomemorewidespreadwithclimatechange.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|NeutralThebogcranberryisnotcurrentlysensitivetocompetitionfromnativeornon-nativespecies,andthereisnoindicationthatclimatechangewillcauseaspeciestobecomeacompetitorinthefuture.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralThebogcranberryisnotdependentonaspecificinterspecificinteraction.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|NeutralThebogcranberryhasbeenshowntobegeneticallydiverseandtohavehigherlevelsofgeneticdiversitythanitsrelative,thesmallcranberry(V.macrocarpon).64Specieswithaveragetohighlevelsofgeneticdiversityareexpectedtobebetterabletoadapttochangingclimateconditions.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 67: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|67

AlaskaBlueberry(Vacciniumalaskaense)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:ModeratelyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:HighlyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:HighlyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%oftheAlaskablueberry'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|NeutralAlaskablueberryseedsaredispersedbynumerousbirdandmammalspecies.65Birdsarelargelyabletoflyovermostnaturalbarriers.AnthropogenicBarriers|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityTheregionnorthoftheNooksackwatershedislargelyborderedbydevelopedagriculturalland,whichmaylimittoabilityoftheAlaskablueberrytoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoaffectAlaskablueberryhabitat,whichmostcommonlyincludescool,moistforests.65DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralAlaskablueberryseedsaredispersedbynumerousbirdandmammalspecies.65Seedsarelikelytoberegurgitatedordefecatedatleast1kmfromtheparentAlaskablueberryplant.Speciesthatareabletodisperselongdistancesaremorelikelytobeabletoadjusttheirrangesinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralAlaskablueberryareadaptedtoabroadrangeoftemperatureregimesandarethereforeunlikelytobesignificantlynegativelyaffectedbywarmingtemperatures.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|NeutralTheAlaskablueberryisnotdependentonaspecifichydrologicalniche;itisabletogrowonbothwell-drainedandpoorlydrainedsites.65ItisunlikelythatclimatechangewillalterthehydrologicsuitabilityofAlaskablueberryhabitat.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralTheAlaskablueberryfrequentlycolonizesdisturbedsitesfollowingwindthroworfireevents,howeverclimatemodelsdonotprojectachangeinwindstrengthorspeedintheNooksackwatershed.14ModelsdoprojectanincreaseintotalareaburnedinWashingtonstate.20Low-severityfiresmayfacilitateAlaskablueberryestablishment,whilemoderate-tohigh-severityfiresmaykillvegetativeportionsoftheblueberrybeneaththesoil

Page 68: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|68

surface,limitingre-growth.65DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralTheAlaskablueberryisnotdirectlydependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffectAlaskablueberry.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralTheAlaskablueberryisnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.AssociationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimittheAlaskablueberry’sabilitytoadapttoclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralTheAlaskablueberryisnotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|N/APollinators|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityAlaskablueberryflowersarepollinatedbybumblebees.CommonbumblebeespeciesinwesternWashingtonincludetheblack-tailedbumblebee,yellowbumblebee,fuzzyhornedbumblebee,andtheyellowfacedbumblebee.Speciesthatarereliantonalimitednumberofpollinatorsarepotentiallymorevulnerabletoenvironmentalchangesresultingfromclimatechange.OtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralAlaskablueberryseedsaredispersedbynumerousbirdandanimalspecies.65Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownWhiletheAlaskablueberryissusceptibletosomefungaldiseases66,itisunclearwhethertheintensity,rateoftransmission,andseverityofthesediseaseswillbeaffectedbyclimatechange.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|NeutralTheAlaskablueberryisnotcurrentlysensitivetocompetitionfromnativeornon-nativespecies,andthereisnoindicationthatclimatechangewillcauseaspeciestobecomeacompetitorinthefuture.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralTheAlaskablueberryisnotdependentonaspecificinterspecificinteraction.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|UnknownGeneticBottleneck|UnknownReproductiveSystem(plantsonly)|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityTheAlaskablueberryisabletoreproducebothvegetativelyandviaseedproduction.VegetativereproductionhasbeennotedtobeofparticularimportancetowesternVacciniumspecies.65Speciesthatrelyonvegetativereproductionareassumedtohavelowerlevelsofgeneticvariationandtherefore,maybemorevulnerabletochangingclimateconditions.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 69: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|69

BroadleafCattail(Typhalatifolia)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:ModeratelyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%ofthebroadleafcattail'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|NeutralBroadleafcattailseedsaredispersedbywind,water,birds,andtransportedsediment.17,67Itisunlikelythatnaturalbarrierswillposeanissueforbroadleafcattaildispersalandthusitsabilitytoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|NeutralWhiletheregionnorthoftheNooksackwatershedislargelyborderedbydevelopedagriculturalland,thebroadleafcattailisoftenfoundtobeabundantindisturbedagriculturalsites.67Itisthusunlikelythatanthropogenicbarrierswilllimitthebroadleafcattail’sabilitytoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoadverselyaffectbroadleafcattailhabitat,whichmostcommonlyincludesslowrivers,ponds,ditches,lakes,andbrackishmarshes.67DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralBroadleafcattailseedsaredispersedbywind,water,andsubstrate.Achenescontainlonghairsthatfacilitatedispersal.67Seedsarelikelytobetransportedatleast1kmfromtheparentplant.Speciesthatareabletodisperselongdistancesaremorelikelytobeabletoadjusttheirrangesinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralThebroadleafcattailisawidelydistributedspecies,suggestingbroadtoleranceforavarietyoftemperatureregimes.67Thebroadleafcattailisthuslesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbywarmingtemperatures,comparedtospeciesrestrictedtocoldclimates.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityThebroadleafcattailisanaquatic/semiaquaticspeciesthatisreliantonaseasonalhydrologicregimethatvariesthroughouttheyear.17ThehydrologicregimewithintheNooksackwatershedisprojectedtobeaffectedbyclimatechangeviaincreasesinwinterfloodinganddeclinesinsummerflow,14whichmaynegativelyaffectbroadleafcattail.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityBroadleafcattailsareabletoregeneratefromlow-tomoderate-severitytop-killfires.Cattailsareableto

Page 70: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|70

regeneratefromsubsurfacerootsorrhizomes.Whilethebroadleafcattailisconsideredanaquatic/semiaquaticspecies,ithasbeennotedthatfiresarenotarareoccurrenceinbroadleafcattailhabitat.Whilethebroadleafcattailisnotedasbeingtolerantoffluctuatingwaterlevelsandsomeflooding,deathandcolonyfailurehasbeenobservedwithrelativelylowfloodlevels(e.g.,25inches).67ProjectedincreasesinwinterfloodriskforwesternWashington14maythusnegativelyaffectbroadleafcattailpopulationsintheregion.DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralThebroadleafcattailisnotdirectlydependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffectbroadleafcattail.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralThebroadleafcattailisnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.Associationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimitthemuledeer’sabilitytoadapttoclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralThebroadleafcattailisnotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|N/APollinators|NeutralThebroadleafcattailisself-pollinating.Speciesthatarenotdependentonaspecificpollinatorarelikelytobelessvulnerabletotheeffectsofclimatechange.OtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralBroadleafcattailseedsarepredominantlywind-dispersed.67Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownItisunknownwhetherthebroadleafcattailissusceptibletopathogensordiseases.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|UnknownPurpleloosestrife(Lythrumsalicaria)hasbeennotedasawetlandinvasivespeciesthatmaynegativelyimpactthebroadleafcattail.67Itisunknownwhichofthesespecieswillfarebetterunderclimatechange.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralThebroadleafcattailisnotdependentonaspecificinterspecificinteraction.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|IncreaseVulnerabilityGeneticvariationinthebroadleafcattailhasbeenreportedas"extremelylow."Itishypothesizedthatself-pollinationandclonalgrowtharetheprimarydriversoftheselowlevelsofgeneticvariation.67Specieswithlowlevelsofgeneticdiversityareexpectedtobelessabletoadapttochangingclimateconditions.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 71: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|71

EvergreenHuckleberry(Vacciniumovatum)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:ModeratelyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:ExtremelyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%oftheevergreenhuckleberry'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|NeutralEvergreenhuckleberryseedsaredispersedbynumerousbirdandmammalspecies.68Birdsarelargelyabletoflyovermostnaturalbarriers,whichmayincreasetheabilityoftheevergreenhuckleberrytoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityTheregionnorthoftheNooksackwatershedislargelyborderedbydevelopedagriculturalland,whichmaylimittheabilityoftheevergreenhuckleberrytoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoaffectevergreenhuckleberryhabitat,whichmostcommonlyincludescool,moistforests.68DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralEvergreenhuckleberryseedsaredispersedbynumerousbirdandmammalspecies.68Seedsarelikelytoberegurgitatedordefecatedatleast1kmfromtheparentAlaskablueberryplant.Speciesthatareabletodisperselongdistancesaremorelikelytobeabletoadjusttheirrangesinresponsetochangingclimateconditions..HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralTheevergreenhuckleberryisadaptedtoabroadrangeoftemperatureregimesandisthereforeunlikelytobesignificantlynegativelyaffectedbywarmingtemperatures.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|NeutralTheevergreenhuckleberryisadaptedtoabroadrangeofmoistureregimes68,andisthereforeunlikelytobesignificantlynegativelyaffectedbyshiftsinmoistureavailability.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralTheevergreenhuckleberryregeneratesvegetativelyfromrootsandrhizomes,andisthereforeabletosurvivelow-tomoderate-severityfires.Low-severityfireshavealsobeenshowntostimulateberryproduction.68Projectedincreasesinannualareaburnedarethusunlikelytonegativelyaffecttheevergreenhuckleberryduetoitsabilitytoregenerateafterfire,anditspresenceinwetbogenvironments.

Page 72: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|72

DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralTheevergreenhuckleberryisnotdirectlydependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffectevergreenhuckleberry.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityTheevergreenhuckleberryisrestrictedtoacidicconditions,thrivinginsoilswithpHbetween4.3-5.2.68Associationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisexpectedtolimittheevergreenhuckleberry’sabilitytoadapttoclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralTheevergreenhuckleberryisnotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|N/APollinators|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityEvergreenhuckleberryflowersarepollinatedbylong-tonguedbees(i.e.,bumblebees).68CommonbumblebeespeciesinwesternWashingtonincludetheblack-tailedbumblebee,yellowbumblebee,fuzzyhornedbumblebee,andtheyellowfacedbumblebee.Speciesthatarereliantonalimitednumberofpollinatorsarepotentiallymorevulnerabletoenvironmentalchangesresultingfromclimatechange.OtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralEvergreenhuckleberryseedsaredispersedbynumerousbirdandanimalspecies,includingthrushes,ptarmigans,towhees,ring-neckpheasant,andgrouse.68Dependenceonasingleotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownItisunknownwhethertheevergreenhuckleberryissusceptibletopathogensordiseases.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|NeutralTheevergreenhuckleberryisnotcurrentlysensitivetocompetitionfromnativeornon-nativespecies,andthereisnoindicationthatclimatechangewillcauseaspeciestobecomeacompetitorinthefuture.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralTheevergreenhuckleberryisnotdependentonaspecificinterspecificinteraction.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|UnknownGeneticBottleneck|UnknownReproductiveSystem(plantsonly)|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityTheevergreenhuckleberryisabletoreproducevegetativelyandalsoviaseedproduction.VegetativereproductionhasbeennotedofparticularimportancetowesternVacciniumspecies.68Speciesthatprimarilyreproducevegetativelyareassumedtohavelowerlevelsofgeneticvariationandthereforemaybemorevulnerabletochangingclimateconditions.PhenologicalResponse|NeutralThePuyallupClimateChangeImpactAssessmentnotedobservationsofhuckleberriesripeningtwoweeksearlierin2015,comparedtopreviousyears.69Thissuggeststhatregionalberryspeciesrespondedadaptivelytothewarmer-than-averagetemperaturesof2015,andmaythusbeabletoadjusttheirphenologyinresponsetoclimatechange.

Page 73: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|73

BeakedHazelnut(Coryluscornuta)2050s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:ModeratelyVulnerable2050s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:HighlyVulnerable2080s,LowGreenhouseGasScenario:HighlyVulnerable2080s,HighGreenhouseGasScenario:ExtremelyVulnerableSeaLevelRise|NeutralLessthan10%ofthebeakedhazelnut'srangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|NeutralBeakedhazelnutsaredispersedbynumerousbirdandmammalspecies.70Jaysareknowntocarryhazelnutsoverlong-distances70,andarelargelyabletoflyovernaturaldispersalbarriers.AnthropogenicBarriers|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityAgriculturalsitesandurbanareaswithinandaroundtheNooksackwatershedarelikelytoserveasbreaksinsuitablehabitatforthebeakedhazelnut.17Theseanthropogenicbarriersmaydecreasetheabilityofthebeakedhazelnuttoadjustitsrangeinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoaffectbeakedhazelnuthabitat,whichmostcommonlyincludesnewlyburnedsitesandclearcuts.70DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralBeakedhazelnutsaredispersedlong-distancesbynumerousbirdandmammalspecies.70Speciesthatareabletodisperselongdistancesaremorelikelytobeabletoadjusttheirrangesinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|IncreaseVulnerabilityThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanseasonaltemperatures(thedifferencebetweenthehighestmeanmonthlymaximumtemperatureandlowestmeanmonthlyminimumtemperature)observedforaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedanarrowerrangeofhistoricaltemperaturesareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturewarming.PhysiologicalThermalNiche|NeutralThebeakedhazelnutoccurscontinuouslyfromBritishColumbiatosouthernCalifornia.Therefore,itisadaptedtoabroadrangeoftemperatureregimesandisunlikelytobesignificantlynegativelyaffectedbywarmingtemperatures.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThisfactormeasurestherangeofmeanannualprecipitation(thewettestcellminusthedriestcell)observedacrossaspecies’distributionwithintheassessmentareainrecenthistoricaltimes(1970-1999).Speciesthathaveexperiencedlessvariationinprecipitationareexpectedtobemoresensitivetofuturechangesinprecipitation.PhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|NeutralThebeakedhazelnutisadaptedtoabroadrangeofmoistureregimes70,andisthereforelesslikelytobesignificantlynegativelyaffectedbyshiftsinmoistureavailability.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityWhilemanydisturbanceevents–includingfire,insects,anddisease–mayincreasethefrequencyofhazelnutpresence,floodinghasbeenshowntonegativelyaffectthebeakedhazelnut.70Projectedincreasesinwinterfloodriskmaythusnegativelyaffectbeakedhazelnuthabitat.

Page 74: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|74

DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralThebeakedhazelnutisnotdirectlydependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffectbeakedhazelnuthabitat.Infact,suitablebeakedhazelnuthabitatmayexpandifprojecteddeclinesinsnowpackallowtreeencroachmentintosubalpineandalpinezones.17PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralThebeakedhazelnutisnotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.70Associationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimitthemuledeer’sabilitytoadapttoclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralThebeakedhazelnutisnotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.DietaryVersatility|N/APollinators|NeutralThebeakedhazelnutiswindpollinated.70Speciesthatarenotdependentonaspecificpollinatorarelikelytobelessvulnerabletotheeffectsofclimatechange.OtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralBeakedhazelnutsaredispersedbynumerousbirdandanimalspecies.Examplesincludebluejays,scrubjays,androdents.70Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownItisunknownwhetherbeakedhazelnutsaresusceptibletopathogensordiseases.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|UnknownThebeakedhazelnutisvulnerabletoinvasionfromthenon-nativeSiberianpeashrub(Caraganaarborescens).70ItisunknownwhethertheSibearianpeashrubwillfarebetterthanthebeakedhazelnutunderclimatechange.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralBeakedhazelnutisnotdependentonaspecificinterspecificinteraction.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|UnknownGeneticBottleneck|UnknownReproductiveSystem(plantsonly)|SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityWhilethebeakedhazelnutiscapableofbothsexualandvegetativereproduction,vegetativemeansofreproductionaremorecommon.70Speciesthatprimarilyreproducevegetativelyareassumedtohavelowerlevelsofgeneticvariationandthereforemaybemorevulnerabletochangingclimaticconditions.PhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 75: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|75

BivalvesSeaLevelRise|GreatlyIncreaseVulnerabilityMorethan90%ofbivalvesrangewithintheNooksackwatershedissubjecttosealevelrise(i.e.,low-lyingislandsorwithinthecoastalzones).NaturalBarriers|NeutralTherearenoknownnaturalbarrierstobivalvedispersal,whichmayincreasetheabilityofbivalvestoadjusttheirrangesinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.AnthropogenicBarriers|Neutral/SomewhatIncreaseVulnerabilityShorelinesandthepresenceofbulkheadsmaypresentabarriertoinlandmigrationofbivalvesassealevelsrise.17Theseanthropogenicbarriersmaythusdecreasetheabilityofbivalvestoadjusttheirrangesinresponsetochangingclimaticconditionsandassociatedsealevelrise.ClimateChangeMitigationActions|NeutralClimatechangemitigationactionsareunlikelytoaffectbivalvehabitat,whichincludescoastalmarinehabitat.DispersalandMovementAbility|NeutralLarvalbivalvesdriftinthewaterforasignificantamountoftimeanddistance(i.e.,severalmiles)priortostoppingandburrowingbeneaththesandorsedimentsurface.71Speciesthatareabletomovelongdistancesaremorelikelytobeabletoadjusttheirrangesinresponsetochangingclimateconditions.HistoricalThermalNiche|UnknownPhysiologicalThermalNiche|UnknownSomebivalvespeciesareextremelyhardyareabletotoleratelargeswingsinwatertemperature(e.g.,thePacificoysterandtheKumamoto).Conversely,somebivalesaresensitivetoslightchangesintemperature(e.g.,theOlympiaoysterandtheEuropeanflatorBelonOyster).72Bivalvespeciesthataresensitivetochangesintemperaturearelikelytobemorevulnerabletowarmingoceantemperaturesduetoclimatechange.HistoricalHydrologicNiche|UnknownPhysiologicalHydrologicNiche|NeutralBivalesarenotdependentonaspecifichydrologicalniche.Itisunlikelythatclimatechangewillalterthehydrologicsuitabilityofbivalvehabitat.DependenceonDisturbanceEvents|NeutralBivalesarenotreliantonadisturbanceregimethatisprojectedtobealteredbyclimatechange.DependenceonIceorSnow|NeutralBivalvesarenotdirectlydependentonthepresenceofsnoworice.Therefore,projecteddeclinesinwintersnowpackareunlikelytodirectlynegativelyaffectbivalves.PhysicalHabitatFeatures|NeutralBivalvesarenotrestrictedtouncommongeologicalfeatures.Associationwithaspecificgeologicfeatureisthusnotexpectedtolimitthemuledeer’sabilitytoadapttoclimatechange.DependenceonOtherSpeciesforHabitat|NeutralBivalvesarenotdependentonotherspeciestogeneratehabitat.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,forhabitatgenerationisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.

Page 76: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|76

DietaryVersatility|NeutralBivalvesarefilterfeedersandconsumearangeofphytoplanktonandzooplanktonspecies.71Speciesthatcanreadilyswitchbetweendifferentfoodsourcesarelesslikelytobenegativelyaffectedbyclimatechange.Pollinators|N/AOtherSpeciesforPropaguleDispersal|NeutralBivalvesarenotdependentonotherspeciesforpropaguledispersal.Dependenceonanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,fordispersalisexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.SensitivitytoPathogens/NaturalEnemies|UnknownOysterdrills(marinesnails),numerousseastarspecies,dungenesscrab,redrockcrab,gracefulcrab,mudshrimp,andtheflatwormareallnotedaspredatorsofoystersandotherbivalves.72Itisunknownifthesepredatorswillfarebetterthanbivalvesunderclimatechange.CompetitionfromNativesorNon-Natives|UnknownItisunknownwhetherbivalvesaresensitivetocompetitionfromnativeornon-nativespecies.FormsPartofanInterspecificInteraction|NeutralBivalvesarenotdependentonaspecificinterspecificinteraction.Dependenceonaninteractionwithanotherspecies,whichmaybevulnerabletoclimatechange,isexpectedtoincreaseaspecies’vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.GeneticVariation|UnknownGeneticBottleneck|UnknownPhenologicalResponse|Unknown

Page 77: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|77

Habitat:Estuary-Saltmarsh,eelgrass,mudflatEstimatedClimateChangeVulnerabilityiv:ModeratetoHighSummary:ThishabitatisestimatedtohavemoderatetohighvulnerabilityduetoitsmoderatesensitivityvandhighprojectedexposuretotemperatureandprecipitationchangesintheNooksackwatershediv.KeySensitivitiesv:• Temperaturechanges:4(outof7)Projectedincreasesinairtemperaturemayleadtoincreasesindrying,specificallyinlow-tidesystems(e.g.,eelgrasshabitat).Tidalzonemarshes(i.e.,lowmarshes)aremuchmoresensitivetoprojectednetdryingthanthesehabitats,whiletidalmarshesabovethemeanhighwatermark(i.e.,highmarshes)arelesssensitive.Whileestuariesaregenerallyabletotolerateahighdegreeoftemperaturevariability,somespeciesthatinhabitestuariesmaybeextirpatedasaresultofwarmingtemperatures.Nevertheless,thecomplexityofthesesystemsisexpectedtoincreasetheresilienceofestuaryhabitattoincreasesinairtemperature.

• Precipitationchanges:6(outof7)Theinfluenceofprojectedchangesinprecipitationforestuarysystemsareuncertain.Fluctuationsinfreshwaterinflowduetochangesinseasonalorannualprecipitationwillbeparticularlyinfluentialforsalinitylevelswithinestuaries.However,becausemanyofthesenearshorehabitatshavebeenseparatedfromfreshwaterinflowsduetolandusechangesandrivermodifications,theymaybebuffered,tosomedegree,fromthesefuturechanges.Shiftsinnearshoresalinitymayalsohaveimplicationsforinvasivespecies,includingreedcanarygrass,duetoincreasedsalinityinsummer.• Indirectfactors:4(outof7)Waterchemistryinthenearshoremaychangeduetoincreasingseasurfacetemperaturesandmayincreaseacidification.Sealevelriseisexpectedtosignificantlyaffectnearshorehabitats.Somelevelofinundationmaybeoffsetormagnifiedbyseasonalchangesinstreamflowandsedimentdeliveryinsomeregions.Sealevelrisemaycreateestuaryhabitatincoastalareasbyfloodingundeveloped,low-lyingshorelines.Localgeomorphologyisalsoimportantindetermininghowsealevelrisemayaffectaspecificsite.Forexample,mudflatsthatareexposedmaybemorevulnerablecomparedtoflatswithsomeformofnaturalbarrierthatmaylimitinundation.Diseasesandparasitesofspeciesinhabitingestuariesarealsolinkedtoshiftsinclimate.Forexample,eelgrasswastingdiseaseisaffectedbybothwatertemperatureandsalinity.Projectedshiftsinsurfacetemperatureandsalinityareexpectedstressnearshorespecies,increasingsusceptibilitytoinfection.

ResearchNeedsWhileestuariesaregenerallyadaptedtoahighdegreeofclimaticvariability,changesinseasonalprecipitationandthecorrespondingtimingoffloodeventsmayleadtounknownchanges.Mappingestuaryhabitatandidentifyingsitesthatmayexpandorcontractmayhelpprioritizefuturerestorationanddevelopment.

ivVulnerabilitywasestimatedbyconsideringbothsensitivityixandexposure(i.e.,projectedwarmingof2.5–4.0°CfortheNooksackwatershedbythe2050sunderRCP8.5).vSensitivityrankingsarefromtheClimateChangeSensitivityDatabase(climatechangesensitivity.org),apublicallyavailableon-linedatabasethatsummarizesinformationfrombothpeer-reviewedliteratureandexpertknowledgeofspeciesandhabitats.Itdoesnotincorporateprojectionsofclimatechange(i.e.,exposure).

Page 78: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|78

Habitat:Forest(includingold-growth)EstimatedClimateChangeVulnerabilityvi:ModeratetoHighSummary:ThishabitatisestimatedtohavemoderatetohighvulnerabilitytoclimatechangeduetomoderateclimatesensitivityandhighprojectedexposuretotemperatureandprecipitationchangeswithintheNooksackwatershediv.KeySensitivitiesvii:

• Temperaturechanges:4(outof7)Patternsofforestdistributionandgrowtharelargelydeterminedbyregionalpatternsintemperatureandprecipitation.Airtemperatureinfluencesphotosynthesisandrespirationrates,frosttolerances,andphenology.73Projectedincreasesintemperatureareexpectedtoalterthespeciescompositionandgrowthrates(especiallyinenergy-limitedforests)ofwesternWashingtonforests.However,warmingtemperaturesmayalsofacilitatetheintroductionandspreadofforestinsectsandpathogens(CCSD).74Temperatureinfluencestherateofinsectgrowthanddevelopment,andwintertemperaturesinfluencewintermortalityinforestpests.73Additionally,projectedincreasesintemperatureandassociateddeclinesinsummermoistureavailabilityareexpectedtostressforests,increasingtheirsusceptibilitytoinsectandpestinfestation.

• Precipitationchanges:4.5(outof7)InsomeWashingtonforests,treeproductivityiscurrentlylimitedmorebyprecipitation,orwateravailability,thantemperature(i.e.,water-limitedforests).73Whiletheseseasonallywater-limitedforestscanbefoundthroughoutWashington73,theytypicallyoccurindrierlocationsandathighelevations.Increasesinwinterprecipitationatthehighestelevationscouldleadtodecreasedtreegrowthduetoadeepersnowpack.Projecteddeclinesinsnowpackmayfacilitateforestencroachmentintosub-alpineandalpinehabitats.17Manyforestsarecurrentlyconsideredenergy-limitedandthereforemanynotrespondtoprecipitationchanges.

• Indirectfactors:5(outof7)Forestsaresensitivetoindirectfactorsassociatedwithclimatechange,suchasfire,disease,pests,andwinddisturbances.IncreasesintemperatureanddeclinesinmoistureavailabilityareprojectedtoincreasetheannualareaburnedbyfireinwesternWashington.20Thismayalterthespeciescompositionofwet,lowland-forestsfromstandsofwesternhemlockandredaldertothosedominatedstandstoDouglas-fir.Projectedincreasesintemperaturemayalsoleadtoincreasesofpests,especiallywhencombinedwithblowdownevents.ResearchNeedsForestsinwesternWashingtonvaryinspeciescomposition,structure,age,andexpectedresponsetoclimatechange.Additionalresearchisneededtoimproveourunderstandingofhowclimaticchangesintemperature,precipitation,andshiftsindisturbanceregimes(e.g.,fire)mayaffectforests.

viVulnerabilitywasestimatedbyconsideringbothsensitivityixandexposure(i.e.,projectedwarmingof2.5–4.0°CfortheNooksackwatershedbythe2050sunderRCP8.5).viiSensitivityrankingsarefromtheClimateChangeSensitivityDatabase(climatechangesensitivity.org),apublicallyavailableon-linedatabasethatsummarizesinformationfrombothpeer-reviewedliteratureandexpertknowledgeofspeciesandhabitats.Itdoesnotincorporateprojectionsofclimatechange(i.e.,exposure).

Page 79: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|79

Habitat:Montane:alpine,subalpine,meadow,talusEstimatedClimateChangeVulnerabilityviii:HighSummary:Giventhissystem’shighclimatesensitivityixandhighprojectedexposuretotemperatureandprecipitationchangesintheStillaguamishwatershediv,weestimatethatitsclimatechangevulnerabilitywithintheNooksackwatershedwillberelativelyhigh.KeySensitivitiesix:• Temperaturechanges:7(outof7)Projectedincreasesinairtemperaturemayincreasegrowthandproductivityofhigh-elevationmontanehabitatsthatarecurrentlyenergylimited.Warmingtemperaturesarealsoexpectedtofacilitatethespreadandencroachmentoftreesintomeadowshabitat.Warmingtemperaturesmayadverselyimpactmontanespeciesthathaveanarrowthermaltoleranceandareunabletopersistinwarmclimates,suchastheAmericanpika.• Precipitationchanges:6(outof7)Projectedchangesinprecipitationareexpectedtosignificantlyaffectmontanehabitatsandassociatedvegetation.Increasesinwinterprecipitationatthehighestelevationscouldleadtodecreasedtreegrowthduetoadeepersnowpack.Projecteddeclinesinsummerprecipitationmayresultindecreasedgrowthduetowaterlimitation.Additionally,projectedincreasesintemperatureandprojecteddeclinesinsummerprecipitationareexpectedtoincreaseannualareaburnedinwesternWashington.20Decliningsnowpackcouldresultinalongergrowingseasonandanassociatedincreasedgrowth,butmayalsoexposesomeplantrootstofrostandwinddisturbancesduringharshwinterweather(wherethesewerepreviouslyprotectedbysnowpack).

• Indirectfactors:6(outof7)Montanehabitatsareconsideredextremelysensitivetodisturbances,includingfire,wind,disease,andpests.Climatechangeisexpectedtoincreasethefrequencyandintensityofsomeoftheseindirectfactors.Alpineareasandmeadowsaregenerallyconsideredmoresensitivethansubalpineareastotheseindirectfactors.Majordisturbanceevents(e.g.,fire,wind,disease)mayresultinthemostsignificantchangesinspeciescompositionifexistingspeciescannotre-establishduetocompetitionfromspeciesmovingupfromlowerelevations.ResearchNeedsMontaneareasarediverseandconsistofmanyecosystems,suchasalpine,subalpine,meadow,andtalus.Moreresearchonidentifyingindividualclimatechangesensitivityrankingsforeachoftheseecosystemsisneeded.

viiiVulnerabilitywasestimatedbyconsideringbothsensitivityixandexposure(i.e.,projectedwarmingof2.5–4.0°CfortheNooksackwatershedbythe2050sunderRCP8.5).ixSensitivityrankingsarefromtheClimateChangeSensitivityDatabase(climatechangesensitivity.org),apublicallyavailableon-linedatabasethatsummarizesinformationfrombothpeer-reviewedliteratureandexpertknowledgeofspeciesandhabitats.Itdoesnotincorporateprojectionsofclimatechange(i.e.,exposure).

Page 80: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|80

Habitat:Marine–Nearshore/gravelbeachesEstimatedClimateChangeVulnerabilityx:ModerateSummary:ThishabitatisestimatedtohaverelativelymoderatevulnerabilityduetoitslowtomoderatesensitivityxiandhighprojectedexposuretotemperatureandprecipitationchangesintheNooksackwatershediv.KeySensitivitiesxi:• Temperaturechanges:4(outof7)Gravelbeachesareidentifiedasbeingsomewhatsensitivetotemperaturechange.Projectedincreasesintemperaturemayresultinchangestospeciescompositionandabundance.Additionally,warmingtemperaturesareexpectedtofacilitatethespreadofinvasivespeciesintoregionsthatmayhavehistoricallybeentoocoldforthem.Projectedincreasesintemperaturemayalsoreducepopulationsofforagefishspeciesinnearshorehabitatsandaccelerateratesoforganicmatterdecay.• Precipitationchanges:3(outof7)Nearshoreandgravelbeachhabitatswerecategorizedasbeinglesssensitivetoprojectedchangesinprecipitationthantothoseintemperature.However,thereisahighlevelofuncertaintyastohowthesenearshoreandgravelbeachhabitatswillrespondtoshiftsinprecipitation.Projectedchangesinprecipitation,specificallyextremeprecipitationevents,mayaltererosionandsedimenttransport,whichcouldleadtofloodingandscouring.• Indirectfactors:5(outof7)Waterchemistryinthenearshoremaychangeduetoincreasingseasurfacetemperaturesandmayincreaseacidification.Oceanacidificationhassignificantimplicationsforshellfishinhabitingnearshoreenvironments.Additionally,coastalfloodingmaynegativelyaffectbiotaandleadtochangesinerosionandsedimenttransport.Sealevelrisehasthepotentialtosignificantlyinfluencethesenearshoresystems,butsimilartoestuaries,maybepartiallyoffsetorintensifiedlocallybyshiftsinriverdischargeandsedimentdeposition.Sealevelrisemaycreatenewnearshorehabitatbyfloodingundeveloped,low-lyingshorelines.Somenon-climatestressorsincreasetheclimatesensitivityofthenearshoreandgravelbeaches.Forexample,pollution,shellfishharvest,andshorelinemodificationssuchasdevelopmentandarmoringareallmajorthreatstothenearshoreandgravelbeaches.ResearchNeedsThereisahighlevelofuncertaintysurroundingclimatechangeimpactstonearshorehabitatsandgravelbeaches.Shiftsinflooding,erosion,andsedimentdepositionareexpectedtosignificantlychangethedynamicsandspeciescompositionofthesehabitats.Mappingmarinenearshoreandgravelbeachhabitatandidentifyingsitesthatmayexpandorcontractmayhelpprioritizefuturerestorationanddevelopment.Non-climatestressorsthatmayincreasetheclimatesensitivityofthesehabitatsalsorequirefurtherresearch.

xVulnerabilitywasestimatedbyconsideringbothsensitivityixandexposure(i.e.,projectedwarmingof2.5–4.0°CfortheNooksackwatershedbythe2050sunderRCP8.5).xiSensitivityrankingsarefromtheClimateChangeSensitivityDatabase(climatechangesensitivity.org),apublicallyavailableon-linedatabasethatsummarizesinformationfrombothpeer-reviewedliteratureandexpertknowledgeofspeciesandhabitats.Itdoesnotincorporateprojectionsofclimatechange(i.e.,exposure).

Page 81: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|81

Habitat:RiparianEstimatedClimateChangeVulnerabilityxii:ModeratetoHighSummary:Giventhissystem’smoderateclimatesensitivityixandhighprojectedexposuretotemperatureandprecipitationchangesintheNooksackwatershediv,weestimatethatitsclimatechangevulnerabilitywillberelativelymoderatetohigh.KeySensitivitiesxiii:• Temperaturechanges:4(outof7)RiparianhabitatsinwesternWashingtonarefoundadjacenttoriversandincloseproximitytobodiesofwater.Manyriparianareasoccurwithintherelativelycool,moistmaritimeclimate.Asaresult,riparianhabitatsareconsideredtobemoderatelysensitivetoprojectedincreasesintemperature.Projectedincreasesintemperaturemaydryupsomesmallcreeksandgroundwaterspringsorshortentheperiodoftheyearwithflowingwater.Declinesinstreamflowordrystreambedswouldnegativelyaffectthespeciescompositionandstructureofriparianhabitats.Significantwarmingcouldcausesomeofthesesystemstodisappearaltogether.

• Precipitationchanges:2(outof7)Whileriparianhabitatswereidentifiedaslesssensitivetoprojectedchangesinprecipitationthantowarmingtemperatures,riparianareaswillstillbeaffectedbyshiftsinprecipitation.Speciescompositionandstructureinriparianhabitatistightlyassociatedwithsoilmoisture,whichisinfluencedbybothprecipitationandevapotranspiration.Riparianhabitatsoftenincludehardwoodtreespecies,whicharerelativelysensitivetodecliningsoilmoisture.

• Indirectfactors:6(outof7)Riparianhabitatsareextremelysensitivetoindirecteffectsofclimatechange.Specifically,riparianhabitatsaresensitivetochangesinsummerlowflows,warmingwatertemperatures,andwinterfloodingevents.Projecteddeclinesinsummerlowflowsandincreasesinstreamtemperatureswillnegativelyaffectkeyspecies,includingsalmon.Projectedincreasesinwinterfloodingmayleadtochangesinspeciescompositionbyfavoringsmallerhardwoodsspecies.Shiftsintheseasonalityandvolumeofstreamflowswillalsoinfluencelocalwatertablelevelsandsoilmoisture.

ResearchNeedsMonitoringriparianhabitats,particularlyafterdisturbances,iscriticalforunderstandinghowclimatechangemayaffectriparianprocesses.Forexample,vulnerabilitymappingofriparianhabitatsbasedonprojectedchangesinseasonalstreamflowcouldbedevelopedtohighlightpriorityrestorationareas.

xiiVulnerabilitywasestimatedbyconsideringbothsensitivityixandexposure(i.e.,projectedwarmingof2.5–4.0°CfortheNooksackwatershedbythe2050sunderRCP8.5).xiiiSensitivityrankingsarefromtheClimateChangeSensitivityDatabase(climatechangesensitivity.org),apublicallyavailableon-linedatabasethatsummarizesinformationfrombothpeer-reviewedliteratureandexpertknowledgeofspeciesandhabitats.Itdoesnotincorporateprojectionsofclimatechange(i.e.,exposure).

Page 82: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|82

Habitat:Wetland:ForestedWetlandEstimatedClimateChangeVulnerabilityxiv:HighSummary:Giventhissystem’shighclimatesensitivityixandhighprojectedexposuretotemperatureandprecipitationchangesintheNooksackwatershediv,weestimatethatitsclimatechangevulnerabilitywillberelativelyhigh.KeySensitivitiesxv:• Temperaturechanges:6(outof7)Forestedwetlandsarereliantongroundwaterandsurfacerunoffforwatersupply.Shallowwetlandsareextremelysensitivetoprojectedincreasesintemperature.Thedegreeofawetland’sresponsetowarmingwilldependontheformandsizeofthehabitat.Forexample,somewetlandsmaybebetterabletostorewaterduringthewintermonths,whichmaybufferthemagainstearliersnowmeltanddecliningsummerprecipitation.Warmingcanalsoleadtochangesinevaporationrates,whichcouldshortenthewetland’swetseason.Thismayresultinmismatchesbetweenwhenspeciesrequirethesewetlandsforlife-cycleevents(e.g.,reproduction,metamorphosis)andwhenawetlandiswet.

• Precipitationchanges:6(outof7)Projecteddeclinesinsummerprecipitationcouldresultinearlierwetlanddryingandashorterwetseason.Shadinginforestedwetlandswilllikelybufferthesehabitatsfromwaterlossdrivenbydecreasingsummerprecipitationandwarmingtemperatures.Shadinginforestedwetlandsmayalsoleadtolongersnowpackretentionthannon-forestedwetlandsduetotemperatureregulation.Locally,thismaylimitthedegreetowhichspringpeakstreamflowsshiftearlierintheseason.

• Indirectfactors:4(outof7)Warmingtemperaturesanddecliningsummermoistureavailabilityareexpectedtoincreasetheriskofwildfireandbeetleinfestationinforestedwetlands.Lossesofforestcoverduetodisturbance(e.g.,fire,pests)couldsignificantlyalterwaterbalancesinthesewetlands.ProjecteddeclinesinsnowpackwillimpactthewetseasonofforestedvernalpoolsandwetmeadowsinwesternWashington.ResearchNeedsMoreresearchisneededtoevaluatehowwetlandfunctionandprocesswillshiftunderdifferenttimehorizonsandclimatescenarios.Thedegreetowhichdifferentwetlandplantspeciesmayaffectripariansystemfunctioninghasalsonotbeenstudied.

xivVulnerabilitywasestimatedbyconsideringbothsensitivityixandexposure(i.e.,projectedwarmingof2.5–4.0°CfortheNooksackwatershedbythe2050sunderRCP8.5).xvSensitivityrankingsarefromtheClimateChangeSensitivityDatabase(climatechangesensitivity.org),apublicallyavailableon-linedatabasethatsummarizesinformationfrombothpeer-reviewedliteratureandexpertknowledgeofspeciesandhabitats.Itdoesnotincorporateprojectionsofclimatechange(i.e.,exposure).

Page 83: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|83

SpeciesandHabitatFactSheetReferences16Meredith,S.J.2002.Theimpactofhabitatspatialstructureonpika(Ochotonaprinceps)

dispersaldynamics.M.S.thesis,UniversityofNevada,Reno.62pages.17NooksackTribestaff,personalcommunication18U.S.FishandWildlifeService.2010.EndangeredandThreatenedWildlifeandPlants;12-

monthFindingonaPetitiontoListtheAmericanPikaasThreatenedorEndangered.75FR67925.Pg.67925-67944.

19NatureServeExplorer.Americanpika(Ochotonaprinceps).20Littell,J.S.,Oneil,E.E.,McKenzie,D.,etal.2010.ForestEcosystems,disturbance,andclimatic

changeinWashingtonState,USA.ClimaticChange,102:139-158.21ClimateChangeSensitivityDatabase.Black-taileddeer(Odocoileushemionus).22Innes,R.J.2013.Odocoileushemionus.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.

DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/odhe/all.html[2017,November12].

23Wakeling,B.F.,J.W.Gagnon,D.D.Olson,D.W.Lutz,T.W.Keegan,J.M.Shannon,A.Holland,A.Lindbloom,andC.Schroeder.2015.MuleDeerandMovementBarriers.MuleDeerWorkingGroup,WesternAssociationofFishandWildlifeAgencies,U.S.A.

24NatureServeExplorer.Black-taileddeer(Odocoileushemionus).25NatureServeExplorer.Greatblueheron(Ardeaherodias).26ClimateChangeSensitivityDatabase.Greatblueheron(Ardeaherodias).27Azerrad,J.M.2012.ManagementrecommendationsforWashington'spriorityspecies:Great

BlueHeron.WashingtonDepartmentofFishandWildlife,Olympia,Washington.28Eissinger,A.M.2007.GreatBlueHeronsinPugetSound.PugetSoundNearshorePartnership

ReportNo.2007-06.PublishedbySeattleDistrict,U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,Seattle,Washington.

29WashingtonWildlifeHabitatConnectivityWorkingGroup.2010.WashingtonConnectedLandscapesProject:StatewideAnalysis.WashingtonDepartmentsofFishandWildlife,andTransportation,Olympia,WA.www.waconnected.org.

30NatureServeExplorer.Mountaingoat(Oreamnosamericanus).31Innes,RobinJ.2011.Oreamnosamericanus.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.

DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/[2017,November12].

32Flesch,E.P.,etal.2016.Rangeexpansionandpopulationgrowthofnon-nativemountaingoatsinthegreaterYellowstonearea:challengesformanagement.WildlifeSocietyBulletin,40:241–250.

33Shirk,A.J.2009.Mountaingoatgeneticstructure,moleculardiversity,andgeneflowintheCascadeRange,Washington.M.S.Thesis,WesternWashingtonUniversity,Bellingham,WA.

34ClimateChangeSensitivityDatabase.Mountainlion(Pumaconcolor).35Tesky,JulieL.1995.Pumaconcolor.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.

DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,Fire

Page 84: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|84

SciencesLaboratory(Producer).Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/puco/all.html[2017,December22].

36NatureServeExplorer.Mountainlion(Pumaconcolor).37Anderson,C.R.Jr.,F.G.Lindzey,D.B.McDonald.2004.Geneticstructureofcougarpopulations

acrosstheWyomingBasin:metapopulationormegapopulation.JournalofMammalogy,85(6):1207-1214.

38Tesky,JulieL.1993.Cygnusbuccinator.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).

39Mitchell,CarlD.andMichaelW.Eichholz.2010.TrumpeterSwan(Cygnusbuccinator),version2.0.InTheBirdsofNorthAmerica(P.G.Rodewald,editor).CornellLabofOrnithology,Ithaca,NewYork,USA.https://doi-org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.2173/bna.105

40Oyler-McCance,S.J.,F.A.Ransler,L.K.Berkman,andT.W.Quinn.2007.Arangewidepopulationgeneticstudyoftrumpeterswans.ConservationGenetics,8:1339-1353.

41Innes,RobinJ.2011.Cervuselaphus.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/[2017,November12].

42ClimateChangeSensitivityDatabase.Elk(Cervuselaphus).43NatureServeExplorer.Elk(Cervuselaphus).44Talbot,J.,J.Haigh,Y.Plante.1996.AparentageevaluationtestinNorthAmericanElkusing

microsatellitesofovineandbovineorigin.AnimalGenetics,27:117-119.45Ulev,Elena.2007.Ursusamericanus.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.

DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/uram/all.html[2017,November12].

46Paetkau,D.H.1997.GeneticstudiesofNorthAmericanbearpopulationsusingmicrosatellites.PhDThesis,UniversityofAlberta,Edmonton,Alberta.

47Gauthier,Gilles.2014.Bufflehead(Bucephalaalbeola),version2.0.In:TheBirdsofNorthAmerica(P.G.Rodewald,editor).CornellLabofOrnithology,Ithaca,NewYork,USA.https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.67

48Pearce,J.M.,Eadie,J.M.,Savard,J-P.L.,Christensen,T.K.,Berdeen,J.,Taylor,E.J.,Boyd,S.,Einarsson,À.,Talbot,S.L.2014.Comparativepopulationstructureofcavity-nestingseaducks.TheAuk,131:195-207.

49Griffith,R.S.1992.Callitropsisnootkatensis.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/calnoo/all.html[2017,November12].

50ForestService.AlaskaCedar(Chamaecyparisnootkatensis)Summary.https://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_1/chamaecyparis/nootkatensis.htm

Page 85: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|85

51Schaberg,P.G.,P.E.Hennon,D.V.D’Amore,G.J.Hawley.2008.Influenceofsimulatedsnow

coveronthecoldtoleranceandfreezinginjuryofyellow-cedarseedlings.GlobalChangeBiology,14:1-12.doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01577.x�

52Ritland,C.,Pape,T.,Ritland,K.2001.Geneticstructureofyellowcedar(Chamaecyparisnootkatensis).CanadianJournalofBotany,79:822-828.

53Clark,RobertG.,JosephP.Fleskes,KarlaL.Guyn,DavidA.Haukos,JaneE.AustinandMichaelR.Miller.2014.NorthernPintail(Anasacuta),version2.0.InTheBirdsofNorthAmerica(P.G.Rodewald,editor).CornellLabofOrnithology,Ithaca,NewYork,USA.https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.163

54Fleskes,J.P.,A.C.Folwer,M.L.Casazza,J.M.Eadie.2010.PopulationstructureandrelatednessamongfemalenorthernpintailsinthreeCaliforniawinteringregions.JournaloftheWaterbirdSociety,33(1):1-9.

55Flint,P.L.,Ozaki,K.,Pearce,J.M.,Guzzetti,B.,Higuchi,H.,Fleskes,J.P.,Shimada,T.&Derksen,D.V.2009.Breeding-seasonsympatryfacilitatesgeneticexchangeamongallopatricwinteringpopulationsofNorthernPintailsinJapanandCalifornia.Condor,111:591–598.

56ClimateChangeSensitivityDatabase.SootyGrouse(Dendragapusfuliginosus).57Zwickel,FredC.andJamesF.Bendell.2005.SootyGrouse(Dendragapusfuliginosus),version

2.0.InTheBirdsofNorthAmerica(P.G.Rodewald,editor).CornellLabofOrnithology,Ithaca,NewYork,USA.RetrievedfromtheBirdsofNorthAmerica:https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/soogro1

58WashingtonDepartmentofFishandWildlife-Grouse.PhenotypicandGeneticVariationinGrouse.Available:http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/research/projects/grouse/genetics/

59Tesky,JulieL.1992.Thujaplicata.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/thupli/all.html[2017,November12].

60Sturrock,R.N.,S.J.Frankel,A.VBrown,P.E.Hennon,J.T.Kliejunas,K.J.Lewis,J.J.Worrall,A.J.Woods.2011.Climatechangeandforestdiseases.PlantPathology,60:133-149.

61O’Connell,L.M.2003.Theevolutionofinbreedinginwesternredcedar(Thujaplicata:Cupressaceae).PhDThesis,TheUniversityofBritishColumbia,Vancouver,Canada.

62Matthews,RobinF.1992.Vacciniumoxycoccos.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/[2017,November5].

63Anderson,M.,2011.PlantGuideforsmallcranberry(Vacciniumoxycoccos).USDA-NaturalResourcesConservationService,NationalPlantDataCenter.Greensboro,NC27401.https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_vaox.pdf

64Zalapa,J.E.,T.C.Bougie,T.A.Bougie,B.J.Schlautman,E.Wiesman,A.Guzman,D.A.,Fajardo,S.Steffan,T.Smith.2014.ClonaldiversityandgeneticdifferentiationrevealedbySSRmarkersinwildVacciniummacrocarponandVacciniumoxycoccos.AnnalsofAppliedBiology.doi:10.1111/aab.12173

65Matthews,RobinF.1992.Vacciniumalaskensis.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/[2017,November12].

Page 86: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|86

66OregonStateUniversity.2015.OSUBlueberrySchoolConferenceProceedings.March16-17,

2015.Corvallis,OR.67Gucker,C.L.2008.Typhalatifolia.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.

DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/[2017,November12].

68Tirmenstein,D.1990.Vacciniumovatum.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

69PuyallupTribeofIndians.2016.ClimateChangeImpactAssessmentandAdaptationOptions.AcollaborationofthePuyallupTribeofIndiansandCascadiaConsultingGroup.

70Fryer,JanetL.2007.Coryluscornuta.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/[2017,November12].

71WashingtonDepartmentofFishandWildlife.FishingandShellfishing:Clams.http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/clams/

72WashingtonSeaGrant.SmallscaleoysterfarmingforpleasureandforprofitinWashington.https://wsg.washington.edu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/publications/Small-Scale-Oyster-Farming.pdf

73WashingtonDepartmentofFishandWildlifeandtheNationalWildlifeFederation.2011.Forest,Alpine,andWesternPrairieHabitats.69pp.http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01202/wdfw01202.pdf

74ClimateChangeSensitivityDatabase.ForestandOld-GrowthForestHabitat.

Page 87: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|87

Appendix4SummaryReportofWorkshopsandWebinarsThefollowingAppendixsummarizestheworkcompletedbytheClimateImpactsGroup(CIG)andtheNooksackIndianTribetoassessthevulnerabilityofkeyspeciesandhabitatsfortheNooksackTribe.Workshop1|ProjectKickoff&SelectingtargetspeciesandhabitatsOnAugust29th,2017theCIGmetwithTribalstaffattheNooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmenttodiscussandfinalizethelistoftargetspeciesandhabitatstobeincludedinthevulnerabilityassessment(Table1forattendancelist).Tribalstaffwereaskedtohighlightthepriorityspeciesandhabitattypes.TheprimaryconsiderationforrankingwasimportancetotheNooksackTribe.Inmanycasesthatimportancewasbasedonpresent-dayusebytheTribe.Inothercases,thatimportancewasbasedhistoricand/oranticipatedfutureuseofthespeciesorhabitatforeconomicorculturalreasons.Dataavailabilityandperceivedadaptivecapacitywerenotfactoredintothisrankingevaluation.Table1.AttendanceforWorkshop1.

Name OrganizationMeadeKrosby UWClimateImpactsGroupHarrietMorgan UWClimateImpactsGroupRichardAuguston NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentJezraBeaulieu NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentTomCline NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentTrevaCoe NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentNedCurrence NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentTrevorDelgado NooksackCulturalResourcesDepartmentLindsieFratus-Thomas NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentOliverGrah NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentGaryMacWilliams NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentEricStover NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentGeorgeSwanaset NooksackCulturalResourcesDepartmentHollyO’Neil EvergreenLandTrust

Workshop2|DraftResultPresentation&IncorporatingLocalKnowledgeOnOctober14th,2017,theCIGfacilitatedasecondworkshopwithTribalmembersandnaturalresourcestafftopresentdraftCCVIresultsandprovideworkshopparticipantswithanopportunitytomodifythespeciessensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactorscoresbasedonlocalknowledgeoftheNooksackwatershed.Thesemodificationsofthesensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactorsresultedinchangesfortheoverallvulnerabilityrankingsfortwelvespeciesincludedintheassessment.

Page 88: Nooksack Indian Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change ...

NooksackIndianTribeClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment Page|88

Table2.AttendanceforWorkshop2.

Name OrganizationHarrietMorgan UWClimateImpactsGroupMeadeKrosby UWClimateImpactsGroupRichardAuguston NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentJezraBeaulieu NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentTomCline NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentTrevaCoe NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentOliverGrah NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentHollyO’Neil EvergreenLandTrust

Webinar1|ReviewWorkshop2Edits&HighlightFinalCCVIResultsAnhour-longwebinarwashostedbytheCIGto(1)reviewwhateditsweremadetothesensitivityandadaptivecapacityfactorsinWorkshop1,and(2)presentthefinalCCVIresultsafterincorporationofNaturalResourceStaffchangesfromWorkshop2.Table3.Attendanceforwebinar.

Name OrganizationHarrietMorgan UWClimateImpactsGroupMeadeKrosby UWClimateImpactsGroupJezraBeaulieu NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentLindsieFratus-Thomas NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentOliverGrah NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartment

Workshop3|FinalWorkshop&FinalReportPresentationOnDecember12,2017,theCIGfacilitatedthethirdandfinalworkshopwithTribalmembersandnaturalresourcestaff.DuringthisworkshoptheCIGpresentedthefinalresultsoftheNooksackTribe’sNaturalResourceClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment.Thisworkshopfocusedontheresults,caveatsoftheCCVItool,andstrategiesforhowtouseandapplytheseCCVIresults.Table4.AttendanceforWorkshop3.

Name OrganizationHarrietMorgan UWClimateImpactsGroupMeadeKrosby UWClimateImpactsGroupRichardAuguston NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentJezraBeaulieu NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentTomCline NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentLindsieFratus-Thomas NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentOliverGrah NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartmentEricStover NooksackNaturalResourcesDepartment