Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina—A Sky Island Wonder

Abstract

Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina—A Sky Island Wonder Danika Mosher I was introduced to the wonders of high-elevation mountain-top environments in the southern Appalachians while interning as a naturalist at Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation (GMSF) in 2017. I knew about the geology of the area, but I was able to witness how the geology and topography influence the distribution of species by impacting local weather patterns (Clark 2001, Potter et al. 2010, Berry and Smith 2012, NC Wildlife Resources Commission 2018). The difference in climate zones from either the NC Piedmont or even Asheville meant that these mountain tops were sky islands (NC Wildlife Resources Commission 2018); and a closer look at their biological diversity confirms their uniqueness (e.g., White et al. 2012, Kaylor 2015, Ulrey et al. 2016, NC Wildlife Resources Commission 2018, USDA 2018). On a grand scale, these mountaintop islands were introduced to us interns as spruce– fir forests, being primarily composed of red spruce (Picea rubens) and Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) (Berry and Smith 2012, White et al. 2012). Other hardwoods can reside in these areas such as the North American beech (Fagus grandifolia), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), mountain ash (Sorbus americana), Catawba rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense), and mountain maple (Acer spicatum), but can only survive at certain elevations (Newell and Peet 1996). Fraser fir dominate the peaks by thriving in shallow soils and requiring disturbances such as wind and ice, but they are endangered despite commonly being planted as Christmas trees (White et al. 2012, Cory et al. 2017). Fraser fir only exist on a few mountain tops, including Roan Mountain, Beech Mountain, Grandfather Mountain, Unaka Mountain, Whitetop Mountain, Mount Mitchell, Great Smoky Mountains, and the Great Balsams. With these populations being so far apart, they harbor other endangered, endemic, or disjunct species such as the Carolina northern flying squirrel, Blue Ridge goldenrod, Heller’s blazing star, Weller’s salamander, spruce–fir moss spider, Gray’s lily, and northern saw-whet owl (White et al. 2012, Kaylor 2015, NC Wildlife Resources Commission 2018, USDA 2018). This habitat has endured much in the past, including extensive logging at the beginning of the twentieth century (White et al. 2012, USDA 2018, NC Wildlife Resources Commission 2018) and the introduction of balsam woolly adelgid in the 1950s (White et al. 2014). Climate change poses a new threat to species as deciduous trees encroach into higher elevations, slowly replacing spruce–fir habitat and the endemic species that reside in them (Newell and Peet 1996). [End Page 283] The GMSF aims to conserve this habitat through education and providing space for visitors to respectfully explore and discover the sky island. These ideas stuck with me and led me to combine my biogeography, geology, and climatology knowledge to understand this area better and to aid the mission of conservation through my thesis research at East Tennessee State University. What happened to this habitat in the past when it was warmer than now? What about when it was cooler? How fast did red spruce and Fraser fir migrate? Where could they be heading in the future? Is that migration rate any different than before? These questions may be answered through ecological niche modeling (Aldy et al. 1999, Hijmans et al. 2006, Dietl and Flessa 2009, Koo et al. 2014, Chemura et al. 2015) and can advance conservation efforts for this unique habitat. Science helps me understand the wonders of nature and how they come to be, but it is not the only medium I use to converse ideas, start conversations, and inspire. Painting has been a lifetime passion, with landscapes being one of my favorite subjects. Both science and art require being observant, but art allows us to observe a subject in a different light. Art can also be utilized to help inform the public about conservation efforts, general science, and to incite wonder and curiosity. I have illustrated scientific processes for soil and planting trees for The Garden Club of America and created paintings for places like the Linville Peak at Grandfather Mountain with Catawba rhododendron in the foreground, rare species such as the Heller’s blazing star, and other Appalachian locations such as Watauga Lake. Grandfather Mountain is...