PLOS Science Wednesday: Hi Reddit, my name is Ken Tape and I recently
published a PLOS ONE study showing the moose habitat expanded into the
tundra during the 1800s, likely due to global warming and climate change
– Ask Me Anything!
Abstract
Hi Reddit, My name is Ken Tape and I am a Research Scientist at the
University of Alaska Fairbanks. My research focuses on the effects of
climate change on the landscape, including its soils, vegetation, and
wildlife. I recently published a study in PLOS ONE titled “Range
Expansion of Moose in Arctic Alaska Linked to Warming and Increased
Shrub Habitat”. The goal of our study was to examine the factors
contributing to moose’s range expansion across the Alaskan Arctic during
the 20th century. We accomplished this largely by estimating available
moose habitat – tall shrubs along rivers and streams – during the late
1800s. We showed that moose habitat was greatly reduced during the
1800s, when moose were absent from the region. We think that warming
increased moose habitat and caused its range expansion into the tundra.
I will be discussing the study and answering questions at 1pm ET. I look
forward to your questions!