Collaborative Research on Topological Relationships at Alpine Treeline

对整个非洲气候条件变化前景的关切 地球仪为确定区域的调查提供了新的动力 这些变化的影响可以很容易地监测和分析。 一组这样的地带是高山树线交错带， 森林逐渐让位于贫瘠的山坡或高山冻原。 先前 研究表明，这些地区即使是小气候， 气候变化可引起植被格局的深刻变化。 这 合作研究项目将进行深入分析， 树线物种的模式，并将探讨 影响物种数量和位置的各种因素。 研究将集中在蒙大拿州冰川国家公园的遗址上。 数据 将从卫星图像和实地观察中收集 气候变量以及土壤和基岩条件。 数据从数字 海拔模型和树木年轮也将用于构建和测试 统计和路径模型来表示树线分布 随着时间的推移，对不同变量之间的相互作用做出反应。 该合作项目将提供新的数据和模型， 提高对高山生态系统中不同因子之间相互作用的认识 森林地带，无论是在研究地点和许多其他山区 环境. 该项目可能会提供新的指标， 气候条件变化的影响，它也将探索新的 监测和评价遥感数据使用的方法， 植被建模中的地理信息系统。

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.