North American Pika Consortium

Associate Professor of Biology, Colorado Mesa University

jvarner AT coloradomesa.edu

http://johannavarner.weebly.com

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Johanna Varner is currently conducting a long-term mark-resight study of pikas in the La Sal mountains in southeastern Utah. She also helps to run Cascades Pika Watch, a program of the Oregon Zoo that invites volunteers to help monitor pikas in the Columbia River Gorge. Her past research has looked at pika recolonization of burned habitat and behavior of pikas in unique, low-elevation habitats. Current and former students are analyzing patterns of stress and survival in the La Sals and in other habitats.

Research Associate, University of Colorado Boulder

cray AT colorado.edu

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The conspicuous nature of pikas and their sign invites several approaches to studying their behavior and population dynamics. We use this system to study effects of habitat fragmentation and climate, with a special focus on the American pika in Colorado and Montana, where we maintain long-term studies of pika demography, behavior and physiology as well as habitat occupancy in relation to microclimate. We partner with volunteer groups like the Colorado Pika Project to monitor pikas and their habitats at broader scales, and we involve students at all levels in field research and analyses. Developing tools for monitoring and analysis is a primary goal of our research group. Previous students have developed methods for “stress hormone” analysis, and current students are improving methods for niche modeling and acoustic monitoring. Our advice: peace out and pika on!