Mixed conifer and spruce-fir forests of Grand Canyon National Park: A literature review
DeCoster JK. 2019. Mixed conifer and spruce-fir forests of Grand Canyon National Park: A literature review. Natural Resource Report. NPS/GRCA/NRR—2019/2004. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This literature review provides an ecological background and context to the long-term vegetation and soils monitoring by the Southern Colorado Plateau Network. This review summarizes vegetation and soils research and other studies conducted in the mixed conifer and spruce-fir forests of Grand Canyon National Park. Other studies from across Southwestern United States are also discussed to fill in data gaps and to provide a regional context. This review includes discussions of the physical environment (climate, geology and soils), vegetation history (from paleo-history through Euro-American settlement), and the spatio-temporal patterns of the structure and composition of the vegetation. The effects of natural and human disturbances on vegetation and soils are also examined. These include fire regime alteration, grazing and browsing, insects and pathogens, nonnative species, and drought. Drought is examined in the context of how these ecosystems may respond to future climates. The goal of this review is to provide background information that will help develop hypotheses for analyzing trends in long-term vegetation and soils monitoring data.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- DeCoster, James
- Date of Issue
- 2019-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- GRCA , NRSS , SCPN
- Keywords
- disturbance, fire regime, mixed conifer, Monitoring, soils, spruce-fir, vegetation history
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Soil Quality | Soil Function and Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Forest/Woodland Communities