Science & Research

An aquatic ecologist takes snow samples at Mount Rainier to test for microplastics.

NPS Photo

Scientific research is key to protecting the natural and cultural wonders of our national parks. To make sound decisions, park managers need accurate information about the resources in their care. They also need to know how park ecosystems change over time, and what amount of change is normal. But park staff can’t do it alone.

Like a physician monitoring a patient's heartbeat and blood pressure, scientists with the North Coast & Cascades Network collect long-term data on Mount Rainier National Park’s “vital signs.” They monitor key resources, like water quality, subalpine vegetation, mountain lakes, landscape change, land birds, glaciers, and climate. Then they analyze the results and report them to park managers. Knowing how key resources are changing can provide managers with early warning of potential problems. It can also help them to make better decisions and plan more effectively.

Studying park vital signs is only part of the picture. Park staff also conduct research, with support from the nine other divisions and programs of the NPS Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate, other state and federal agencies, university professors and students, and independent researchers.

Because many parks prohibit activities that occur elsewhere, scientists can use the parks as areas for determining the effects of these activities where they do occur. National park lands often serve as the best model for what a relatively undisturbed landscape looks like. You can learn about recent research or generate a park species list below.

 

Who Needs a Research Permit?

A Scientific Research and Collecting Permit is required for activities pertaining to research studies, including social science studies in National Park System areas that involve fieldwork, specimen collection, and/or have the potential to disturb resources or visitors. Thus, social science surveys, monitoring, and collecting activities all require a Research Permit, as does traditional, hypothesis-driven, research. To discuss your particular situation, please email the park's Research Coordinator.

Please go to the National Park Service Permit System to apply for a Research Permit.

Information Specific to Social Scientists

If you plan to conduct surveys in Mount Rainier National Park, you may need to obtain clearance for you survey instrument form the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Detailed instructions for obtaining OMB clearance can be found at the NPS Social Science Program.

You must obtain a Research Permit from the park as well. Mount Rainier National Park has many surveys being conducted, most occurring in June, July, and August. To minimize the likelihood that visitors will be approached by multiple surveyors, the park carefully considers both the location and timing of survey distribution. The Research Coordinator will contact you to discuss details after they receive your permit application.

 

Articles about Mount Rainier Science

Ongoing and Past Research

 

Published Reports on Mount Rainier National Park

Source: Data Store Saved Search 5722 (results presented are a subset). To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

 

Park Species Lists

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

Select a Park:

Mount Rainier National Park

Select a Species Category (optional):

All Amphibians Birds Fish Mammals Reptiles Vascular Plants

Get Checklist Get Full List List Differences

Species attribute definitions

Search results will be displayed here.

Visit NPSpecies for more comprehensive information and advanced search capability. Have a suggestion or comment on this list? Let us know.