Conserving Guadalupe Fescue in Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park boasts diverse habitats, including desert, mountains, and river ecosystems. The Chisos Mountains lie at the park’s core, hosting cooler forest systems with pinyon pines, junipers, and the endangered Guadalupe fescue.

Rising about 6,000 feet above the Chihuahuan Desert, these mountains form ‘sky islands.’ Such habitats are isolated from surrounding ecosystems, creating unique environments that are at risk. Within this park, located at the Texas-Mexico border, these islands house the only known U.S. populations of Guadalupe fescue. Their isolation has likely helped this grass species survive.

However, climate change poses a significant threat. As global temperatures climb, species reliant on these ‘sky islands’ face pressure to inhabit even higher altitudes. Eventually, they reach the limits of the mountains, according to scientists.

Carolyn Whiting, a Park Botanist at Big Bend, has monitored the Guadalupe fescue over the years. She discusses the park’s uniqueness and the importance of conserving even small species with Aaron Scott, the host of the show.

Big Bend National Park is the sole location for Guadalupe fescue in the U.S., classified as endangered in 2017.

The episode, produced by Rebecca Ramirez and edited by Gabriel Spitzer, highlights the research conducted on U.S. public lands. Further contributions came from Brit Hanson, Gisele Grayson, and Natasha Branch as the audio engineer.