Journal article
Spatial and compositional pattern of alpine treeline, Glacier National Park, Montana
Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, Vol.62(November), pp.1261-1268
1996
Abstract
This study sought to quantify the complex patterns of alpine treeline across an extensive area of Glacier National Park, Montana. Satellite image classification, digital terrain modeling, and geographic information system (GIS) measurements of landscape structure provided important tools for the analysis. The study area was topographically partitioned into watersheds and hillslope units in which to measure treeline patterns. Cluster analysis of selected spatial and compositional pattern metrics was used to infer major alpine treeline forms. Six significant treeline types were differentiated using patch richness, contagion, contrast, number of patches, fractal dimension, relative edge density, and forest-tundra juxtaposition. Clusters were validated using split-sample replication and discriminant analysis. Patterns were found to differ among types of terrain, affirming hypothesized sensitivities to topoclimatic gradients, natural disturbances, and geologic substrate.
Details
- Title
- Spatial and compositional pattern of alpine treeline, Glacier National Park, Montana
- Authors
- T R Allen (Author) - Old Dominion University, United StatesStephen J Walsh (Author) - University of North Carolina, United States
- Publication details
- Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, Vol.62(November), pp.1261-1268
- Publisher
- American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
- Date published
- 1996
- ISSN
- 0099-1112
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449142302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
623 Record Views