Determinants of Biodiversity, Social and Economic Patterns in Montane EcoÐystems

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

9554501 Stanford A pilot project to initiate multidisciplinary research needed to determine links and conflicts between long-term economic growth and sustainability of ecosystem integrity is proposed. The vehicle to accomplish this end is an experimental collaboration of some 80 scientists called the Consortium for Study of North Temperate Montane Ecosystems. The group is composed of scholars at The University of Montana, Montana State University and participating institutions. The Consortium will be advised by members of relevant land management agencies and informed citizens. Existing and new basic research efforts will coalesce under the Consortium umbrella around a common, integrativeresearch theme. Examination of biodiversity patterns and processes, including natural, social and economic attributes in a regional ecosystem context, is the unifying principle. Work will be focused on the Crown of the Continent (CCE) and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystems (GYE). The GYE and CCE represent the largest, relatively intact ecosystems in temperate latitudes of the world. They are among the last vestiges of "natural" Montana ecosystems and encompass mountains and river valleys where altitudinal, climatic and associated gradients lead to a diverse assemblage of animals, plants and human communities. Both ecosystems are rapidly becoming affected by human influences at local to regional scales as a consequence of shifting demographic and economic patterns. The biodiversity unifier will be used to guide assembly, analysis and modeling of massive regional data bases required to accomplish an integrated synthesis that, in the long run, will offer predictions about future conditions as a consequence of current practices and policies. The primary goal of the Consortium is to sufficiently understand linkages and conflicts between natural and social components to begin to predict the long- and short-term consequences of environmental and social change within and between these two enormously valuable ecosystems.