Conceptual Models and Recommendations for Monitoring Riparian Plant Communities within Riverine Parks of the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network
Podniesinski GS, Furedi MA, Eichelberger BA, Perles SJ. 2010. Conceptual Models and Recommendations for Monitoring Riparian Plant Communities within Riverine Parks of the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NER/NRR—2010/023. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Northeast Region. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program within the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network (ERMN) has identified a number of vital signs to monitor the health of terrestrial and aquatic systems. Riparian plant communities are one of fourteen vital signs identified by the ERMN for long-term ecological moniroting. The purpose of this report is to provide background information on these communities for the five riverine parks included within ERMN: Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UPDE), Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area (DEWA), Bluestone National Scenic River (BLUE), Gauley River National Recreation Area (GARI), and New River Gorge National River (NERI), for use in developing a monitoring program for riparian plant communities.This report describes the settings of the river systems and general principles affecting riparian community structure and function. In addition, conceptual models encompassing both the geomorphic settings of each system and associated plant communities are discussed. Based on the presented background information and conceptual models, recommendations for developing a monitoring program for riparian plant communities are included in the final section of this report. These recommendations include: designing a monitoring program that integrates size, condition, and context of rare plant communities too examine long-term vegetation trends, use of historical and current aerial imagery to assess vegetation dynamics over time, and the examination of interrelated vital signs and their influence on the distribution and overall health of riparian plant communities.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Podniesinski, Gregory; Furedi, Mary; Eichelberger, Bradley; Perles, Stephanie
- Date of Issue
- 2010-03
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Northeast Region
- Units
- BLUE , DEWA , ERMN , GARI , NERI , UPDE
- Keywords
- Communities, Monitoring, Plant, Riverine, Vegetation