Alpine and subalpine vegetation monitoring in the North Coast and Cascades Network: 2010 - 2013 data summaries
Rochefort RM, Bivin MM, Boetsch JR, Acker SA, Whiteaker L. 2015. Alpine and subalpine vegetation monitoring in the North Coast and Cascades Network: 2010 - 2013 data summaries. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/NCCN/NRDS—2015/746. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Subalpine and alpine are ecologically important vegetation zones that provide popular recreational opportunities for visitors to the three mountain parks in the North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN): Mount Rainier National Park (MORA), North Cascades National Park Service Complex (NOCA), and Olympic National Park (OLYM). In the Pacific Northwest (PNW), these zones are among the most vulnerable to climate change because climate models project winters with lower snowpacks followed by warmer and drier summer seasons. These climate conditions will result in longer and drier growing seasons that facilitate rapid vegetation changes including tree establishment at higher elevations, expansion of shrub cover, and increased grass cover (vs. forbs). In 2012, the NCCN finalized and published a protocol to monitor long-term changes in subalpine and alpine vegetation communities (Rochefort et al. 2012). Concurrent with protocol development, a sampling strategy was identified and potential monitoring points were identified using a Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) sample. Prior to the establishment of permanent plots, a two-step process was used to review potential plot locations. All GRTS points were first screened in the office using aerial photography to determine if they are in the target vegetation type and if they could be safely accessed. Points which passed office screening were then evaluated in the field using pre-determined criteria. Finally after successful field evaluation, points were rank-ordered by using GRTS and were selected in sequence for establishment of permanent monitoring plots, with a target population of 20-30 plots per park. Initially panels of 1,500 GRTS points were generated for each park, a total of 4,500 for the NCCN. Between 2010 and 2013, office screening was conducted on 1,544 of the GRTS points and 1,255 passed and were recommended for field evaluation. Three hundred eighty five (385) points were evaluated in the field and 162 points passed this step. In 2013, six plots were established in the network: one subalpine plot in MORA, one subalpine and one alpine in NOCA, and three subalpine plots in OLYM. Field and office screening will continue on points in the priority order generated by GRTS before more plots are selected and established.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Rochefort, Regina; Bivin, Mignonne; Boetsch, John; Acker, Steven; Whiteaker, Lou
- Date of Issue
- 2015-01
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- MORA , NOCA , NRSS , OLYM
- Keywords
- Aerial, Alpine, Climate Change, Community, Composition, Distribution, ecotone, Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified, GRTS, Monitoring, Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park, Photograph, plot, Quadrat, Reconnaissance, Snow cover, Soil Temperature, Status, Structure, Subalpine, Subalpine Vegetation Monitoring, Vegetation, Whitebark Pine
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Sparsely Vegetated Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Vegetation Complex