Botanical survey at Reed River Hot Springs, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve (GAAR)
Strecker L. 2016. Botanical survey at Reed River Hot Springs, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve (GAAR). Natural Resource Report. NPS/GAAR/NRR—2016/1136. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report describes the results of a study that described the native vegetation and investigated the level and potential risk of invasive plant infestation at the Reed River Hot Springs in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. The report gives a summary of the historical human use of the hot springs area in order to assess the potential anthropogenic impact on the physical features of the hot springs as well as the local plant composition. It also contains a description of the visible modification of the hot springs area by animals. Due to the geothermal influence, the hot springs host a range of azonal and rare plants and potentially attract non-native plants. After giving a brief general introduction to geothermally caused azonal plant communities and vegetation zonation, the report outlines the research methods of the study. No vegetation zonation was found, however, seven plant communities and three rare species were described. The researchers did not detect any non-native plants in the entire hot springs area. It was recommended to keep anthropogenic modification at a minimum and to eliminate or reduce the risk of potential introductions of non-native plant propagules.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Strecker, Lisa
- Date of Issue
- 2016-02
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- GAAR , NRSS