the mountain that stands alone
A treeless summit rises up from the landscape, glistening silver on a sunny day. For residents of Jaffrey, Marlborough, Keene, Dublin, and other southwestern New Hampshire towns, Mount Monadnock stands alone as a prominent peak. Its dramatic presence has impressed and captivated local people for centuries, inspiring an abundance of folklore, art, music, and writing. The mountain draws affection from outside the region, too. Relatively small and easy to summit, at 3,165 feet, Monadnock is the popular hiking destination for over 100,000 visitors each year. That tally places Mount Monadnock as the second most climbed mountain in the world, after Mount Fuji.
In addition to having aesthetic, recreational, and economic importance, Mount Monadnock is ecologically diverse. All three of New Hampshire’s biomes (alpine tundra, boreal forest, and eastern-deciduous forest) can be found on the mountain. These biomes include plant communities that are typically found at more northern latitudes and higher altitudes.
For instance, the high-elevation spruce-fir forests on Monadnock’s upper slopes replicate lowland forests of the White Mountains further north. The rocky balds are home to communities found at higher elevations in the White Mountains.
In addition to having aesthetic, recreational, and economic importance, Mount Monadnock is ecologically diverse. All three of New Hampshire’s biomes (alpine tundra, boreal forest, and eastern-deciduous forest) can be found on the mountain. These biomes include plant communities that are typically found at more northern latitudes and higher altitudes.
For instance, the high-elevation spruce-fir forests on Monadnock’s upper slopes replicate lowland forests of the White Mountains further north. The rocky balds are home to communities found at higher elevations in the White Mountains.
Such unique features make Mount Monadnock ideal for scientific study and educational outreach in the region. The mountain is rich with opportunities for Antioch University New England graduate students studying environmental science. In addition, Mount Monadnock can serve as an indicator for future changes in Northeastern forests. The mountain’s cold-loving plant communities, such as the spruce-fir forests, that continue to be monitored to measure the effects of climate change.
As the climate warms, these communities might be affected on Mount Monadnock sooner than at more northern climates. Such data will inform scientists and resource managers of oncoming challenges facing the region’s forests.
The annual flood of summer and autumn hikers impacts the mountain’s trails and summit. Knowing what plants exist and in what locations allows managers of Mount Monadnock State Park to protect rare or vulnerable communities. Such information is also valuable in enhancing visitors’ appreciation and respect for the mountain’s ecology.
Baseline data of present-day conditions allows scientists to measure changes in forest composition and health over time. Student and faculty researchers will compare current and future data with climate trends and other environmental information. Thus, they will see how climate change affects the mountain’s ecology and forests throughout the region.
As the climate warms, these communities might be affected on Mount Monadnock sooner than at more northern climates. Such data will inform scientists and resource managers of oncoming challenges facing the region’s forests.
The annual flood of summer and autumn hikers impacts the mountain’s trails and summit. Knowing what plants exist and in what locations allows managers of Mount Monadnock State Park to protect rare or vulnerable communities. Such information is also valuable in enhancing visitors’ appreciation and respect for the mountain’s ecology.
Baseline data of present-day conditions allows scientists to measure changes in forest composition and health over time. Student and faculty researchers will compare current and future data with climate trends and other environmental information. Thus, they will see how climate change affects the mountain’s ecology and forests throughout the region.