Discourse with Dr. Jordon Tourville, Terrestrial Ecologist at AMC, Unveils Key Insights
Chatting with the AMC Research squad during summer is no walk in the park. That's because summertime means fieldwork for these folks, which consists of gallivanting around the great outdoors all day, every day, gathering water samples, acquiring data from sensors high above the mountain peaks, and scribbling down details about rare alpine plants. Luckily, they're quite the chatty crew and can't wait to share their experiences with folks like us. Here's my chat with Dr. Jordon Tourville, the Research team's new Terrestrial Ecologist, minutes before he ventured into the wild.
As the Ken Kimball Fellow, Jordon delved into studying treeline shifts and plant changes in the alpine zone along the Appalachian Trail. Now in his new role, he's bound to expand his previous investigations and dive into new projects. Team AMC's fieldwork serves as the foundation for the Policy team, broadening our reach and impact on conservation efforts.
I gotta ask, how'd you hook up with AMC?
I met the gang from the research department at a blowout back in 2020. I got a chance to meet Sarah [Nelson, Director of AMC Research] there, and I was digging the work AMC was doing.
Honestly, I didn't know much about AMC before. I was just aware of the huts. But I was pumped to hear they were up to some fascinating stuff, so I did a deep dive and had some more chats with Sarah. From there, our collaboration for a chapter of my [PhD] thesis came along. I focused on treeline shifts in the Northeast using some old imagery AMC had, which set the stage for a postdoc position (the Ken Kimball Research Fellowship) with them.
And when the Terrestrial Ecologist gig came knocking, I thought it'd be a kick-ass opportunity to keep working on the projects I'd started and build some new connections in the field. Can't wait to kick this research up another notch!
When did your obsession with the alpine zone begin?
Let's just say this love affair's been going on for yonks!
My first hike ever was up Mount Mansfield in Vermont when I was a tike. Little old me was hooked on hiking from that day on. Getting above the tree line held a certain allure, you know? All that open air and the distinctive, otherworldly flora up there just had me intrigued.
As I grew older and got into academics, I was determined to crack the code on why certain things thrive in these extreme environments. Ultimately, my PhD research took me back to that alpine curiosity, and it led to some groundbreaking insights on the alpine zone in the Northeast region.
There are still so many mysteries to unravel here. We know next to squat about what's happening in the soils or which fungi dwell there. Climate change is also raising questions about how this ecosystem will evolve, and I reckon there are some exciting times ahead!
Dr. Tourville, in his element, in the alpine zone.
In what ways is the alpine zone in the Northeast distinct from, say, the alpine zones in the Rockies or the European Alps?
Well, the bedrock of these areas varies considerably. Even within the Northeast region, the Adirondacks, Green Mountains, and Whites all have their quirks. No two peaks are the same, and it's their idiosyncrasies that make em special.
The weather we experience in the alpine zone here is, let's say, rather capricious. Mt. Washington's infamous for its merciless weather conditions, which are steeped in brutal winds, low temperatures, and other miseries. These are extreme places where plants are pushed to their absolute limits.
I've gotta mention the location of treelines in the Northeast too. We're talking about 4K or so feet, whereas out West, treeline might be at 10K or 11K feet. And in the Alps, you're talking elevations akin to the Matterhorn!
What are you digging into these days in terms of alpine projects?
One big question on our minds is how the alpine zone will adapt - or perhaps perish - in our ever-warming world. Climate change is supposed to be a prime driver of changes in vegetation patterns, and we're curious whether the alpine zone can hang on in a hotter future.
Specifically, we're observing changes in plant communities and whether they'll be replaced by shrubs as temperatures rise. We're also looking into the forest encroachment issue, where treelines are gradually springing up the mountainsides at the expense of alpine plants. This project involves some nifty remote sensing work.
Additionally, I've started a project that measures tree growth at treeline to see if warmer temperatures are leading to faster growth rates. I've attached some tiny gizmos called dendrometers to the trees' trunks to monitor their growth. Our hope is that understanding the speed and direction of change will help preserve areas of unique biodiversity and inform decisions on how to curb adverse impacts.
We'd like to show policymakers the evidence and the problem, so they can take action and protect our precious alpine environment.
- Dr. Jordon Tourville's ongoing fascination with the alpine zone led him to delve into studying its treeline shifts and plant changes as part of his PhD research, and now, in his new role, he aims to expand his investigations in environmental science to dive into new projects related to education and self-development, personal growth, and learning about climate change.
- The alpine zone in the Northeast differs significantly from other alpine zones, such as the ones in the Rockies or the European Alps. Factors like the bedrock, weather conditions, and tree line elevations set the regional alpine zone apart, making each peak unique.
- In his current alpine projects, Dr. Tourville is focused on examining how the alpine zone will adapt to a warmer climate and investigating changes in plant communities, forest encroachment, and tree growth at treeline. The research aims to provide insights into how policymakers can take action to protect vulnerable alpine environments and foster sustainable practices in environmental science.
