Collaborative Research on Topological Relationships at Alpine Treeline

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Concerns about prospects for changing climatic conditions across the globe have given new impetus to inquiries that would identify zones where the impacts of such changes can be readily monitored and analyzed. One such set of zones are alpine treeline ecotones, where montane forests gradually give way to barren slopes or alpine tundra. Previous studies have shown these areas to be locales where even minor climatic changes can induce profound changes in vegetation patterns. This collaborative research project will conduct intensive analyses of patterns of treeline species and will explore relationships among various factors that affect the number and location of species. Research will focus on sites in Glacier National Park of Montana. Data will be gathered from satellite images and field observations of climatic variables and soil and bedrock conditions. Data from digital elevation models and tree rings also will be used to construct and test statistical and path models that represent how treeline distributions respond to interactions among different variables over time. This collaborative project will provide new data and models that enhance knowledge about interactions among different factors in alpine treeline zones, both at the study site and in many other mountainous environments. This project may provide new metrics for identifying the impacts of changing climatic conditions, and it also will explore new methods for monitoring and evaluating the use of remote sensed data and geographic information systems in vegetation modelling.