Shifting Life Zones

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Shifting Life Zones

May 24, 2025-April 30, 2026

The last known occurrence of pinyon pine in Wupatki National Monument clings to a rockface. (Photo by Amy Martin)

Museum of Northern Arizona botanists have been monitoring a population of Peebles Navajo Cactus since the 1980s. This tiny, endangered cactus lives in very specific areas that are being impacted by drought, warming temperatures, and other disturbances. (Photo by Nancy Wiechec)

"Corn People" sandpainting by James Joe (Navajo)

"Aspen" by Lone Wolf/Hart Merriam Schultz (Blackfoot-Anglo). The artist was named after Clinton Hart Merriam, the American scientist who developed the life zones concept.

Shifting Life Zones invites visitors to explore changes unfolding in the landscapes of northern Arizona—home to the very concept of life zones. In this region of dramatic elevation shifts and ecological diversity, plant communities are on the move, responding to the accelerating impacts of a warming world.

Through vivid displays, interactive elements, and insights from Museum of Northern Arizona scientists, the exhibition reveals how climate change is reshaping where and how plants live from the Museum of Northern Arizona campus to the greater Colorado Plateau. Discover the delicate struggle of a tiny, endangered cactus, learn practical ways to support native plant life, and explore artwork inspired by the resilience and beauty of the region’s ecosystems.