Search USGS⌕ Search
Home/Archive/USGS

USGS · 70224313

Assessing spatial and temporal patterns in sagebrush steppe vegetation communities 2012-2018: Grand Teton National Park

Christian Stratton·Andrew Hoegh·Kathryn M. Irvine·Kristin Legg·Kelly McCloskey·Erin K. Shanahan·Mike Tercek·David Thoma
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Visual cover class data were collected on over 80 species across 30 permanent sampling frames in sagebrush steppe vegetation communities in Grand Teton National Park from 2012 to 2018. In this report, temporal and spatial patterns in species composition were assessed and used to inform potential sampling strategies for future monitoring. Specifically, the viability of a reduction in sampling effort was evaluated based on the similarity in species composition within each frame over time and among frames within each year. Using distance-based ordination techniques, we found little to no evidence of differences in species composition within each frame over time. Furthermore, there was little evidence of heterogeneity in species composition among frames within each year, though there was some evidence of differences in composition between the two principle sagebrush community types (sagebrush dry shrubland and sagebrush-bitterbrush) aggregated across frames. Based on these results, we propose that a reduction in sampling effort is viable and suggest a new monitoring schedule.

Explore related subjects

Natural Resource ReportReport
90° N90° S · 180° W ← longitude → 180° E
Source-reported bounding extent: 43.530629170442424° to 44.10139306449849° latitude; -110.91522216796875° to -110.41259765625° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Christian Stratton, Andrew Hoegh, Kathryn M. Irvine, Kristin Legg, Kelly McCloskey, Erin K. Shanahan, Mike Tercek, David Thoma. 2019. Assessing spatial and temporal patterns in sagebrush steppe vegetation communities 2012-2018: Grand Teton National Park. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70224313

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related USGS reports

USGS2024

Climate-resource scenarios to inform climate change adaptation in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve: Summary of 2021 climate change scenario planning

This report illustrates use of scenario planning as a climate change adaptation tool supporting Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve’s Resource Stewardship Strategy. The primary objective of scenario planning is to help resource managers and scientists make management and planning decisions informed by assessments of critical future uncertainties. This report outlines a process that synthesized future climate projections into three distinct but plausible and relevant climate summaries for the focal area and used them to develop climate-resource scenarios through participatory scenario planning. Initial steps identified the priority resource management topics and the corresponding related climate uncertainties. Next, local climate summaries were used to develop divergent climate futures: those that describe the broadest possible range of plausible conditions while capturing relevant uncertainty. The final phase further developed the climate futures and their resource implications. These participatory scenario planning exercises occurred virtually in fall (August–November) 2021. The climate-resource scenarios informed adaptation strategies in conjunction with the park’s Resource Stewardship Strategy development. The scope and complexity of this effort is unique but elements from the scenarios and resource implications have broad applicability to other large, protected areas in Alaska and Northwest Canada.

Alaska↗
USGS2023

Protocol for the reintroduction of California red-legged frogs to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Once common and widespread in Southern California, California red-legged frogs ( Rana draytonii ) began declining sometime in the middle of the 20th century. They were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1996. Three small and isolated populations remained in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties by the start of the 21st century. The nearest population of California red-legged frogs to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is critically small, located 15 km to the north, yet there is evidence of persistence, including successful reproduction each year it has been measured. A potential solution to alleviate small population size and isolation is to reintroduce a species back to habitable historical locations nearby. In 2011, we initiated a project to reintroduce California red-legged frogs back to the Santa Monica Mountains, where historical records showed they were once widespread. We developed a procedure to transfer partial egg masses into tadpole rearing pens located within streams determined to be suitable for the species. This translocation protocol outlines our procedure and results for the first five years of the project. It is our hope that this protocol will guide and inform similar conservation efforts for California red-legged frogs in other parts of their range as well as other amphibian conservation efforts throughout the world.

California↗