Grantee Research Project Results
1997 Progress Report: Modeling Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Montane Meadows and Biodiversity in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
EPA Grant Number: R825155Title: Modeling Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Montane Meadows and Biodiversity in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Investigators: Debinski, Diane , Jakubauskas, Mark E. , Kindscher, Kelly
Institution: Iowa State University , University of Kansas
Current Institution: Iowa State University , University of Kansas , University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1999
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1997
Project Amount: $709,640
RFA: Ecological Assessment (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Aquatic Ecosystems , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration
Objective:
Montane meadow communities can function as early indicators of change because they are highly sensitive to variations in precipitation and temperature. However, before an accurate estimation of directional change rates may be made with confidence, the seasonal and interannual rates of change inherent to a system must be quantified. We are using a time series of satellite multispectral imagery for monitoring the extent, condition, and spatial pattern of montane meadows in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem on a seasonal and interannual time scale. Spectrally-based, spatially-explicit models are being developed for six meadow types using a GIS to stratify the study area by topography and geology. The objectives of this research are to: 1) quantify the spatial and temporal variability in montane meadow communities; 2) develop a spectrally-based spatially-explicit model for predicting plant and animal species diversity patterns in montane meadows; and 3) test the spectrally-based spatially- explicit model for predicting plant and animal species diversity patterns in montane meadows.
Progress Summary:
Spectrally-based, spatially-explicit models are being developed for six meadow types using a GIS to stratify the study area by topography and geology. Field sampling is being used to collect data on the distribution of plant, bird, and butterfly species. We have sampled for two years in two regions of the ecosystem: the northern part of the ecosystem, hereafter termed the Gallatin study area, included the Gallatin National Forest and northwestern portion of Yellowstone National Park; the southern part of the ecosystem, hereafter termed Teton study area, included Grand Teton National Park. Twenty five sample sites were located in the Tetons and thirty sample sites were located in the Gallatins. Birds, butterflies, and plants were surveyed at each of the sites. The bird community showed a 47-59% similarity between the Gallatins and the Tetons. Bird species composition in the hydric meadow type was the most accurately predicted in both study areas. The butterfly community showed 60-65% similarity in species composition between the two sampling areas. If meadows were collapsed into three categories rather than five, meadow types at the two extremes of the gradient were 90-100% predictable while the mesic (middle gradient) meadow type was less easily predicted.
Future Activities:
Our work is approximately two-thirds completed at this point. The final year of the grant will be spent primarily on data analysis and writing of manuscripts. During the summer of 1999, we intend to mount a field campaign that will allow us to begin to test the predictability of our models within each region. We will visit a minimum of five new sites of each meadow type in each sampling area for collection of bird, butterfly, and plant data. This field season will focus on data collection that is extensive rather than intensive (i.e., sampling many new sites and collecting data once at each site).
Journal Articles on this Report : 4 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 39 publications | 11 publications in selected types | All 10 journal articles |
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Debinski DM, Kindscher K, Jakubauskas ME. A remote sensing and GIS-based model of habitats and biodiversity in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. International Journal of Remote Sensing 1999;20(17):3281-3291. |
R825155 (1997) R825155 (1999) R825155 (Final) |
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Jakubauskas M, Kindscher K, Debinski D. Multitemporal characterization and mapping of montane sagebrush communities using Indian IRS LISS-II imagery. Geocarto International 1998;13(4):65-74. |
R825155 (1997) R825155 (1999) R825155 (Final) |
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Jakubauskas M, Kindscher K, Fraser A, Debinski D, Price KP. Close-range remote sensing of aquatic macrophyte vegetation cover. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2000;21(18):3533-3538. |
R825155 (1997) R825155 (Final) |
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Jakubauskas M, Kindscher K, Debinski D. Spectral and biophysical relationships of montane sagebrush communities in multi-temporal SPOT XS data. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2001;22(9):1767-1778. |
R825155 (1997) R825155 (1999) R825155 (Final) R826110 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
landscape, indicator, scaling, montane meadow, biodiversity, modeling, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, remote sensing., RFA, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Air, Geographic Area, Ecological Indicators, State, Ecosystem Protection, Atmosphere, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, exploratory research environmental biology, Monitoring/Modeling, Air Pollution Effects, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Ecological Effects - Human Health, climate change, Chemical Mixtures - Environmental Exposure & Risk, ecological effects, landscape characterization, biodiversity, ecosystem assessment, modeling biological effects, ecological assessment, risk assessment, environmental monitoring, habitat, Yellowstone, scaling, predictive species model, Montane Lotic ecosystem, spatial and temporal patternsRelevant Websites:
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~debinski/homepage.html Exit
http://www.kars.ukans.edu Exit
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~mobes/aeclgis2.html Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.