Monitoring Vegetation Composition, Structure and Function in the Parks of the Klamath Network |
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| Author:
| National Park Service Staff, |
| ISBN: | 978-1-4921-8271-9 |
| Publication Date: | Aug 2013 |
| Publisher: | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
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| Book Format: | Paperback |
| List Price: | USD $15.99 |
Book Description:
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The development of the Klamath Network vital signs monitoring has emphasized the importance of documenting status and trends in the composition, structure, and function of ecosystems. Vegetation is a foundation for terrestrial ecosystem composition, structure, and function. Vegetation also ranked among the highest potential vital signs for monitoring in the Network's vital signs selection process. The reasons are simply that vegetation dominates biomass and energy pathways and defines...
More DescriptionThe development of the Klamath Network vital signs monitoring has emphasized the importance of documenting status and trends in the composition, structure, and function of ecosystems. Vegetation is a foundation for terrestrial ecosystem composition, structure, and function. Vegetation also ranked among the highest potential vital signs for monitoring in the Network's vital signs selection process. The reasons are simply that vegetation dominates biomass and energy pathways and defines the habitat for most other forms of life. Changes in vegetation composition, structure, and function will therefore have a profound effect on ecosystems. Monitoring vegetation change is thus imperative to detecting and understanding status and trends in park ecosystem vital signs, the overriding goal of NPS Inventory and Monitoring.