Teaching Change: Bringing Montana’s Climate and Ecology Into The Classroom
Annie Gustafson on a whitebark pine. Photo courtesy of Annie Gustafson.
By Annie Gustafson. This story was collected as part of a 2023 open call for submissions. It is one of 17 stories that were selected to be published.
Temperature is often an abiotic limiting factor for life. In other words, temperature can restrict the size of a population. Whether we are talking about our native Bull trout and the temperature of the water they live in, or our own human body temperature range, degrees of difference matter for survival. For the threatened Bull trout, they need water below 48 degrees Fahrenheit to spawn. For us humans, a rise of a few degrees in core body temperature means a trip to the emergency room. Small changes in temperature correspond to big changes in life.
We know that greenhouse gases trap thermal energy from the sun, causing our Earth's average temperature to rise. And we know this is happening at an alarming rate, our carbon dioxide levels have not changed this quickly in the past. It’s important to consider the rate of change because species need time to evolve. The faster the average temperature rises, the more environmental pressure for genetic adaptation to occur quickly. Changes in the environment have always shaped the evolution of new adaptations, but for most species, this cannot happen overnight. Take Montana’s whitebark pine tree for example, a keystone species that grows at high elevations, in subalpine ecosystems. Over 110 different species of animals use the whitebark pine for food or shelter. It is a long-living tree, up to thousands of years, and typically doesn’t start producing mature cones until it’s 50 years old! This important tree and all that depend on it for survival needs time on its side.
Over the past century, most of Montana has warmed by about two degrees Fahrenheit and snowpack has declined significantly since the 1980s. Shifts in climate are expanding Montana’s growing season. Higher temperatures and longer warming seasons are likely to increase wildfire severity and frequency. Temperature also influences the range and life cycle of insects such as the mountain pine beetle. Warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons equate to less winter mortality in insects and diseases that destroy millions of trees in Montana, including our iconic whitebark. This endangered tree, planted by Clark’s Nutcrackers, not only feeds and shelters the animals of the subalpine, but also plays an important role in gradual snowmelt. The structure of the tree from how it was planted by Clark’s Nutcrackers to the shape of the crown, allows snow to remain around the base of the tree long into the summer months. Gradual snowmelt contributes to cold oxygenated streamflow well into the heat of summer, vital for our threatened Bull Trout to spawn. See the pattern! It’s all connected.
I’ve been studying climate science for the past 20 years; as a biological technician in Glacier National Park, as a student in the classroom, and on my own for fun. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to walk 5,000 miles across two countries to experience nature at a pace only my legs could sustain. These experiences ultimately led me to know that the biggest contribution I can make to fighting climate change is to teach. Teach students about water quality parameters, the importance of biodiversity, working with Nature through bioengineering, the marvels of biomimicry design, and the trout, trees, birds, insects, and natural processes that make our state such a special place to live.
The Flathead Valley is surrounded by our public lands in all directions. It is also the most ecologically intact landscape in the Continental United States! This SHOULD be our classroom. I strive to bring the Northern Rockies alive within the walls of my middle school. We love living in Montana because of the rivers we recreate on, the mountains we climb, the animals we hunt and admire, and the endless opportunities for time in nature. We cherish these adventures, our economy depends on them, and our planet wouldn’t sustain 8 billion people without the ecosystems that bring these adventures to life. I utilize the riches of Montana ecology to focus my teaching efforts, hoping to instill an appreciation for science and the natural environment into our next generation of students. When students leave my classroom they know how climate change is affecting our Montana ecosystems and interconnected health of the subalpine forest, its birds and insects, and how they matter for the health of the water we play in and the fish we catch. I hope that in understanding how it’s all connected the next generation will vote for the planet.
Last year, one of my after-school science club students gave me the book, The Soil Will Save Us. She wrote on the inside, “The soil will save us but dedicated teachers will too.” It’s future scientists like her that keep me in the classroom and make me optimistic for the future of mother earth.
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Annie Gustafson graduated from Fordham University (Bronx, NY) with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Environmental Science. After school she moved to the Flathead Valley where she worked for Glacier National Park as a biological science technician. Her days consisted of tree climbing, hiking, water sampling, planting, collecting data, and educating school groups on the importance of biodiversity. She turned to teaching six years ago obtaining her teaching certificate from the University of Montana. When she's not working on science, Annie likes to trail run, ski, and backpack.