Pattern and Process in Northern Rocky Mountain Headwaters: Ecological Linkages in the Headwaters of the Crown of the Continent 1
Pattern and Process in Northern Rocky Mountain Headwaters: Ecological Linkages in the Headwaters of the Crown of the Continent 1
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落基山脉北部源头的模式和过程：大陆皇冠源头的生态联系 1
DOI：
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发表时间：
2007
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
M. Lorang
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
F. Hauer;J. Stanford;M. Lorang
摘要：大陆之冠是北美首屈一指的生态系统之一，包括沃特顿-冰川国际和平公园、蒙大拿州的鲍勃·马歇尔-大熊- Scapegoat荒野综合体、不列颠哥伦比亚省和阿尔伯塔省的多个省级公园、美国的几个国家和州林地以及加拿大的皇冠地。该地区也是三条大河的源头：分别流入太平洋、大西洋和北冰洋的哥伦比亚河、密苏里河和萨斯喀彻温河。源头发源于高海拔的高山地区，冬季积雪较多，夏季暴雨较多。该地区的大部分水源含有高质量的水，溶液中离子少，营养物质浓度极低。高山溪流的水生生物种类很少；然而，它们往往拥有稀有物种，并具有水文地貌特征，使它们容易受到气候变化的影响。大陆之冠生态系统（CCE）的亚高山和谷底溪流流经森林茂密的流域。沿高程梯度，CCE的溪流和河流流经一系列围闭和非围闭山谷，形成明显的峡谷和洪泛区。冲积洪泛平原的特点是物种多样性高，生物产量由生境的水文联系维持。CCE的溪流和河流的营养物质浓度较低，但可能受到野火、各种资源开采活动（如伐木或采矿）和郊区侵占的显著影响。野火已被证明会增加河流中的营养负荷，无论是在火灾期间还是火灾后长达5年。采伐活动增加了营养物负荷和溪流周边植物的藻类产量。众所周知，伐木和相关的道路也会增加沉积物进入大陆之冠溪流，直接影响本地鳟鱼的产卵成功。CCE是美国发展最快的地区之一，因为该地区有许多娱乐设施。而且，虽然该地区有许多非常原始的源头溪流和接收河流，但对水质和水量仍有许多悬而未决的威胁。最紧迫的威胁之一来自欧洲大陆之冠北部的煤田和天然气田，那里的煤矿被提议进行山顶移除和露天采矿作业。这将对该地区的水域、当地的动植物和人民的生活质量产生重大影响。
Abstract: The Crown of the Continent is one of the premiere ecosystems in North America containing Waterton‐Glacier International Peace Park, the Bob Marshall‐Great Bear‐Scapegoat Wilderness Complex in Montana, various Provincial Parks in British Columbia and Alberta, several national and state forest lands in the USA, and Crown Lands in Canada. The region is also the headwater source for three of the continent’s great rivers: Columbia, Missouri and Saskatchewan that flow to the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, respectively. Headwaters originate in high elevation alpine environs characterized by high snow accumulations in winter and rainstorms in summer. Most headwaters of the region contain high quality waters with few ions in solution and extremely low nutrient concentrations. Alpine streams have few species of aquatic organisms; however, they often possess rare species and have hydrogeomorphic features that make them vulnerable to climatic change. Subalpine and valley bottom streams of the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem (CCE) flow through well forested watersheds. Along the elevation gradient, the streams and rivers of the CCE flow through series of confining and nonconfining valleys resulting in distinct canyon and floodplain reaches. The alluvial floodplains are characterized by high species diversity and bioproduction maintained by the hydrologic linkages of habitats. The streams and rivers of the CCE have low nutrient concentrations, but may be significantly affected by wildfire, various resource extraction activities, such as logging or mining and exurban encroachment. Wildfire has been shown to increase nutrient loading in streams, both during a fire and then following the fire for as much as 5 years. Logging practices increase nutrient loading and the algal productivity of stream periphyton. Logging and associated roads are also known to increase sediment transport into Crown of the Continent streams directly affecting spawning success of native trout. The CCE is one of the fastest growing regions in the USA because of the many recreational amenities of the region. And, while the region has many remarkably pristine headwater streams and receiving rivers, there are many pending threats to water quality and quantity. One of the most urgent threats comes from the coal and gas fields in the northern part of the Crown of the Continent, where coal deposits are proposed for mountain‐top removal and open‐pit mining operations. This will have significant effects on the waters of the region, its native plants and animals and quality of life of the people.