![]() NPS Photo/Baccus Olympic is vast—a largely roadless area nearly the size of Rhode Island encompassing complex natural systems from the rocky Pacific coast to glacier-capped peaks. To understand and protect this ever-changing wilderness, park managers need information. What changes are we observing? How much change is normal? Like a doctor feeling a patient’s heartbeat, scientists monitor ecological “vital signs” in Olympic and throughout the parks of the North Coast & Cascades Network. Shifts in vegetation, glaciers, intertidal communities, bird populations, and other sensitive environmental indicators can provide early signals of change. Tracking vital signs is only part of the picture. Olympic scientists also conduct a wide range of research and monitoring in collaboration with tribal, state, and federal agencies; university researchers; and other park partners. Some research, like northern spotted owl monitoring, is just one puzzle piece in a much larger conservation effort spanning the species’ range. Other projects, like the volunteer teams that collect observations of endemic Olympic marmots, are led by park biologists. Results from scientific study allow park managers to make better decisions and plan ahead to protect Olympic’s ecosystems against emerging issues. But data collected here is also valuable beyond park boundaries. Olympic’s geography means that clean air from the Pacific Ocean and unpolluted water from mountain snowmelt provide a baseline for water and air quality elsewhere. Meanwhile, low levels of human disturbance in the wilderness allows us to pinpoint signs of ecological disruption from human and other causes. As we move into a future beyond historical climate norms, scientific study will continue to provide us with the tools to be informed stewards of this living laboratory—and our interconnected planet. ![]() Glaciers and Climate Change
Scientists continually monitor the condition of Olympic's glaciers for climate change research. How are they changing? ![]() Fisher Reintroduction
Extirpated from the peninsula during the era of the fur trade, fishers were re-introduced in Olympic National Park in 2008. Elwha River Restoration
Discover the history and science of the largest dam removal in U.S. history. ![]() Marmot Monitoring
Teams of volunteers hike to locations within Olympic National Park to record up-to-date information about the Olympic Marmot. ![]() North Coast & Cascades Science Days
Explore recordings from a three-day virtual symposium in 2024 featuring science that spans parks, ecosystems, and fields of study. ![]() Inventory & Monitoring Network
Learn how long-term ecological monitoring is used to track the health of Olympic and national parks across the Pacific Northwest. Park Species ListSelect a Park:Select a Species Category (optional):
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Published Science ReportsSome reports listed below are published in the NPS Natural Resource Report Series or Science Report Series and not found in external journals. Publications by researchers not affiliated with the park are not included here, but can be found in many journals and academic databases. To learn more about research in the park, contact the North Coast & Cascades Research Learning Center. Source: Data Store Saved Search 5093 (results presented are a subset). To search for additional information, visit the Data Store. |
Last updated: June 12, 2024