Development of a Science-Based Decision Making Model For Restoration of Pinyon-Juniper Ecosystems
Ecosystems dominated by species of pinyon and juniper trees represent one of the
dominant vegetation types administered by federal land-management agencies in the
West. Historic changes have occurred in the structure (thickening woodlands) and extent
(tree establishment in adjacent grasslands and shrub steppe) of pinyon-juniper
ecosystems, with resulting impacts on fire risk, forage production for livestock, wildlife
habitat, and watershed conditions. These changes and impacts have caused concern
among managers, leading to a sharp increase in acreages treated to remove overstory
trees and restore understory vegetation communities and associated values. Tremendous
investments of fiscal and human resources are devoted to treatment programs. Our
primary research goal is to provide the scientific information about constraints to
restoration success and ecological risks associated with various treatment alternatives.
PINYON-JUNIPER ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
Canyon Country Science Symposium, Moab, Utah, March, 2012
The Canyon Country Science Symposium was conducted as a series of research presentations over a two-day period in March of 2012 at the Red Cliffs Lodge in Utah. The overarching goal of the symposium was to bring together researchers that have on-going projects in the Canyon Country area to share their findings not only with other researchers working in the region but with local land managers. We had a fantastic showing with 100+ researchers and land managers in attendance on the first day. We also had a great discussion related to doing science that supports management needs in the region. Due to the clear need for this symposium, it is our hope to have a bi-annual science symposium in the future. Please contact Nichole Barger (nichole.barger@colorado.edu) for any additional questions or information.
Baker B. : Canyonlands Research Center. Presentation
Belnap J. : The roles of soil surfaces in dryland ecosysstems. Presentation
Bowker M.A., Miller M.E., Belote T. : Assessing the provisioning of multiple ecosystem services in semi-arid rangelands. Presentation
Brasher A., Miller M., Scott M., Beisner K. : Integrated assessment of the impacts of vehicle. Presentation
Brunson M. : Dust, crust, plants & people. Presentation
Duniway M. C. : Shallow soils, roots in rocks and plantwater availability. Presentation
Flagg C. : Spatio-Temporal Variation of Fugitive Dust Flux from Colorado Plateau landscapes. Presentation
Graham T. : Ant community structure in Salt Creek, Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Presentation
Guenther H. S., Barger N. N. : Fuel Reduction Effects on Plant Communities in Upland Pinon-Juniper Woodlands. Presentation
Hoffmann S. L., Brunson W.M. : Dynamics of fugitive dust in Arches National Park. Presentation
Miller M., Brasher A. : Assessing watershed condition streams and rivers of the semi-arid Colorado Plateau. Presentation
Northen T. : Metabolic dynamics of Colorado Plateau Biological Soil Crusts. Presentation
Redmond M. D., Barger N. N. : The influence of climate on annual variations in cone production among Pinyon Pine. Presentation
Reed S. et al. : Ecosystem consequences of nitrogen deposition in the Four Corner region. Presentation
Reheis M. et al : Seasonal Deposition Rates and Compositions of Aeolian Dust in the Canyonlands Area. Presentation
Reynolds R. et al : Distribution of mineral dust and related fertility in dryland soils. Presentation
Van Scoyoc M., Schupp E. : Ecosystem Assessment on the Monticello Ranger District Manti-La Sal National Forest. Presentation
Weissinger R., Perkind D. : Springs monitoring in Northern Colorado Plateau Network national park units. Presentation
Westin T., Reed S., Belnap J. : Increased temperature negatively affects carbon assimilation and growth of Achantherum hymenoides bunchgrass. Presentation
Witwicki D., Perkins D. : Long-term ecological monitoring to detect trends in northern Colorado Plateau uplands. Presentation
Wood T. : Population Genetics Analysis of Two Canyon Country Plant Species. Presentation
Robinson W. : Biocontrol with Tamarisk Beetles. Presentation
Zelikova T. J. : Livestock grazing on the Colorado Plateau: Impacts for above and below ground carbon stocks. Presentation
Goldstein H. J. et al : Loess deposits in the Hatch Point-Canyon Rims area: physical characteristics and correlation to aeolian and fluvial records in southeastern Utha. Presentation
Urban F. E. et al : Local and Regional Airborne Dust in the Canyonlands Region. Presentation