Grassland ecosystems of Petrified Forest National Park: A literature review
DeCoster JK. 2019. Grassland ecosystems of Petrified Forest National Park: A literature review. Natural Resource Report. NPS/SCPN/NRR—2019/2011. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This literature review was written to provide 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 grasslands and shrublands of Petrified Forest 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 discussion of the physical environment (climate, geology and soils), vegetation history (from paleo-history through Euro-American settlement), vegetation classification, spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation, and species of concern. The impact of natural and human disturbances on vegetation and soils are also examined: these include nonnative species, grazing, drought, soil erosion, and fire. 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
- 2019-10
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- NRSS , PEFO , SCPN