NMU biology graduate student Hilary Rinsland will participate in a Science Behind the Scenery Webinar Series cohosted by Rocky Mountain National Park and Rocky Mountain Conservancy at 1 p.m. EST Tuesday, Feb. 15. She will present “Pika surveys to test climate-based predictions of population loss” with Chris Ray from the University of Colorado-Boulder. The series is free and open to the public.
Earlier this year, Rinsland was among three students selected to receive NMU Charles C. Spooner Grant Awards of $500 to support their scholarly research. Her project is titled "Determining Bartonella Prevalence and Diversity in North American Pika Fleas.” Pika are small mammals most closely related to rabbits and hare. She began the research as an undergrad at the University of Richmond. Read a related story here.
The Rocky Mountain National Park and Rocky Mountain Nature Conservancy webinar presentation by Rinsland and Ray on Feb. 15 is one of three that will focus on the theme of Shifting Species: Population Response to Climate Change. A one-time registration is required to receive the necessary link to access the webinar.
Rocky Mountain National Park hosts one of the largest research programs in the National Park Service, according to a press release, with nearly 100 research permits active each year. Park research partners come from other federal agencies, the State of Colorado, and universities around the world.
Each webinar will focus on one resource topic. Researchers will present for 15 minutes each followed by a Question & Answer session during which time audience members can engage with presenters. A representative from Rocky Mountain National Park will be available to discuss applications of the research.
Webinar topics include Visitor Use Management, Species Conservation, Riparian Ecosystem Restoration, and Fire and Forests.