Marmot Treasure
Species: Silky Phacelia (Phacelia sericea), Yellow-bellied Marmot
Location: San Juan Mountains, near Silverton, Colorado
Public Land: San Juan National Forest, Colorado
Description: Silky Phacelia surrounds a female yellow-bellied marmot hiding her pups in her burrow. Marmots are generalist herbivores that eat a wide variety of plants, including grasses, flowers, and insects. The field of Silky phacelia is likely intact as it produces hydrogen cyanide, which can be lethal to herbivores.While marmots might nibble on it occasionally, they are likely to spit it out and avoid it.
Approximately 500 plant species are known as hyperaccumulators, which are able to grow in soils with high concentrations of heavy metals. Silky phacelia has the special talent of hyperaccumulating gold and has been noted to occur frequently on soils at and near gold mines. Read more at this link.
Yellow-bellied marmot are a charismatic habitant of high elevation meadows in the mountains of the Southwest. With warming temperatures, marmots are waking from hibernation earlier in the spring. With a longer growing season, they’re getting fatter. Whether that will help or hurt is uncertain. Being awake longer may mean more vulnerability to predators and other threats. The alpine regions across the globe are changing fast. Scientists at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory are studying these changes to learn what the future holds for the Southern Rockies.
Fine art print on acid free, 100% cotton rag paper in warm or bright white, textured surface, archival quality.
Please note that print sizes are the inked area, the paper is larger to provide a 1” border to accommodate matting and framing.
13 × 19 paper, 11 × 17 inked area
16 × 24 paper, 14 × 22 inked area
Species: Silky Phacelia (Phacelia sericea), Yellow-bellied Marmot
Location: San Juan Mountains, near Silverton, Colorado
Public Land: San Juan National Forest, Colorado
Description: Silky Phacelia surrounds a female yellow-bellied marmot hiding her pups in her burrow. Marmots are generalist herbivores that eat a wide variety of plants, including grasses, flowers, and insects. The field of Silky phacelia is likely intact as it produces hydrogen cyanide, which can be lethal to herbivores.While marmots might nibble on it occasionally, they are likely to spit it out and avoid it.
Approximately 500 plant species are known as hyperaccumulators, which are able to grow in soils with high concentrations of heavy metals. Silky phacelia has the special talent of hyperaccumulating gold and has been noted to occur frequently on soils at and near gold mines. Read more at this link.
Yellow-bellied marmot are a charismatic habitant of high elevation meadows in the mountains of the Southwest. With warming temperatures, marmots are waking from hibernation earlier in the spring. With a longer growing season, they’re getting fatter. Whether that will help or hurt is uncertain. Being awake longer may mean more vulnerability to predators and other threats. The alpine regions across the globe are changing fast. Scientists at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory are studying these changes to learn what the future holds for the Southern Rockies.
Fine art print on acid free, 100% cotton rag paper in warm or bright white, textured surface, archival quality.
Please note that print sizes are the inked area, the paper is larger to provide a 1” border to accommodate matting and framing.
13 × 19 paper, 11 × 17 inked area
16 × 24 paper, 14 × 22 inked area
Species: Silky Phacelia (Phacelia sericea), Yellow-bellied Marmot
Location: San Juan Mountains, near Silverton, Colorado
Public Land: San Juan National Forest, Colorado
Description: Silky Phacelia surrounds a female yellow-bellied marmot hiding her pups in her burrow. Marmots are generalist herbivores that eat a wide variety of plants, including grasses, flowers, and insects. The field of Silky phacelia is likely intact as it produces hydrogen cyanide, which can be lethal to herbivores.While marmots might nibble on it occasionally, they are likely to spit it out and avoid it.
Approximately 500 plant species are known as hyperaccumulators, which are able to grow in soils with high concentrations of heavy metals. Silky phacelia has the special talent of hyperaccumulating gold and has been noted to occur frequently on soils at and near gold mines. Read more at this link.
Yellow-bellied marmot are a charismatic habitant of high elevation meadows in the mountains of the Southwest. With warming temperatures, marmots are waking from hibernation earlier in the spring. With a longer growing season, they’re getting fatter. Whether that will help or hurt is uncertain. Being awake longer may mean more vulnerability to predators and other threats. The alpine regions across the globe are changing fast. Scientists at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory are studying these changes to learn what the future holds for the Southern Rockies.
Fine art print on acid free, 100% cotton rag paper in warm or bright white, textured surface, archival quality.
Please note that print sizes are the inked area, the paper is larger to provide a 1” border to accommodate matting and framing.
13 × 19 paper, 11 × 17 inked area
16 × 24 paper, 14 × 22 inked area