High on Alpine Thistles - A Citizen Science Initiative
To complete this project, I need YOUR help to sample mountaintop thistle from alpine peaks throughout Colorado! Please join me in a citizen science project to collect samples of mountaintop thistle!
Mountaintop thistle (Cirsium eatonii) is an iconic alpine species found on mountain tops throughout the Rocky Mountain and Intermountain regions. Mountaintop thistle is currently comprised of 7 different varieties distributed in the alpine, and it is especially prevalent in the Colorado alpine. I am studying mountaintop thistle to answer these questions:
It is easy to become a citizen scientist! Watch the video above for additional information on how you can become a citizen scientist and make a huge difference in our understanding of Rocky Mountain biodiversity. Then join team thistle and get high on alpine thistles with me! Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Mountaintop thistle (Cirsium eatonii) is an iconic alpine species found on mountain tops throughout the Rocky Mountain and Intermountain regions. Mountaintop thistle is currently comprised of 7 different varieties distributed in the alpine, and it is especially prevalent in the Colorado alpine. I am studying mountaintop thistle to answer these questions:
- Is mountaintop thistle an example of an alpine plant radiation?
- Is mountaintop thistle a single species or several different species that have adapted to similar environmental conditions?
- How did the responses of alpine plants such as mountaintop thistle to past glaciation episodes shape their current distribution?
- How will alpine plants respond to future climate change?
It is easy to become a citizen scientist! Watch the video above for additional information on how you can become a citizen scientist and make a huge difference in our understanding of Rocky Mountain biodiversity. Then join team thistle and get high on alpine thistles with me! Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Are there any places we should NOT collect samples? YES! DO NOT collect samples from Rocky Mountain National Park. I've got that covered anyways :)
- Are you only collecting samples this summer? YES! I have a predoctoral fellowship at the Smithsonian starting in January. I will be taking these samples for processing then.
- What do I do if I don't have a GPS? A detailed locality description is sufficient. I can plot your collection using this.
- What do you do if the samples are damp? Let them air dry for about a day prior to sealing the ziploc bag.
- Are immature heads ok to sample? YES! Immature heads are better than no heads.
- Does it matter which leaves we collect on the plant? NO! Basal or stem leaves are acceptable.
- Do you want specific GPS waypoints for each plant in the population? This isn't necessary. One GPS waypoint per population is fine.
- Is there a maximum distance between plants for them to be in the same population? I am considering each mountain top to be a unique population, so as long as the collections are from the same mountain they are in the same population.
- DO NOT place wet material in the bags! They will mold. Please dry them off with a towel first. Thank you.
| Alpine Thistle Collection Sheet |
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