SWAN Monitoring Vegetation Composition and Structure

Hannam M and Miller A. SWAN Monitoring Vegetation Composition and Structure. 2009. National Park Service

Vegetation is fundamental to ecosystem function, energy transfer, and element cycling. It drives ecosystem productivity, provides habitat and forage for wildlife, and food and materials for subsistence. Because vegetation responds directly to environmental drivers, it serves as a useful indicator of environmental change. Both remote sensing and ground-based monitoring approaches are being used to track changes in vegetation in focal plant communities, including sensitive communities. Monitoring objectives include the following: Map and quantify long-term, landscape-level changes in the distribution and extent of major land cover classes using satellite imagery and aerial photographs. Estimate long-term changes in species richness, abundance, and cover in focal ecosystems. Estimate long-term changes in vegetation structure (physiognomy) and demography, including patterns of recruitment and mortality, and changes in above-ground biomass. Vegetation composition and structure is monitored in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, and Kenai Fjords National Park.

Type
Project
Authors
Hannam, Michael; Miller, Amy
Publisher
National Park Service
Units
KATM , KEFJ , LACL , SWAN

Program

Products

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