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Terrestrial Ecosystem Classification in the Rocky Mountains, Northern Utah Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-2010 Terrestrial Ecosystem Classification in the Rocky Mountains, Northern Utah Antonin Kusbach Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Animal Sciences Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, and the Forest Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Kusbach, Antonin, "Terrestrial Ecosystem Classification in the Rocky Mountains, Northern Utah" (2010). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 679. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/679 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM CLASSIFICATION IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN UTAH by Antonin Kusbach A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Ecology Approved: ______________________ ______________________ James N. Long Helga Van Miegroet Co-Major Professor Co-Major Professor ______________________ ______________________ Karel Klinka Leila M. Shultz Committee Member Committee Member ______________________ ______________________ Janis L. Boettinger Byron R. Burnham Committee Member Dean of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2010 ii Copyright © Antonin Kusbach 2010 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Terrestrial Ecosystem Classification in the Rocky Mountains, Northern Utah by Antonin Kusbach, Doctor of Philosophy Utah State University, 2010 Major Professors: Dr. James N. Long, Dr. Helga Van Miegroet Department: Wildland Resources Currently, there is no comprehensive terrestrial ecosystem classification for the central Rocky Mountains of the United States. A comprehensive classification of terrestrial ecosystems in a mountainous study area in northern Utah was developed incorporating direct gradient analysis, spatial hierarchy theory, the zonal concept, and concepts of diagnostic species and fidelity, together with the biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification approach used in British Columbia, Canada. This classification was derived from vegetation and environmental sampling of both forest and non-forest ecosystems. The SNOwpack TELemetry (SNOTEL) and The National Weather Service (NWS) Cooperative Observer Program (COOP) weather station network were used to approximate climate of 163 sample plots. Within the large environmental diversity of the study area, three levels of ecosystem organization were distinguished: (1) macroclimatic – regional climate; (2) mesoclimatic, accounting for local climate and moisture distribution; and (3) edaphic - soil fertility. These three levels represent, in order, the L+1, L, and L-1 levels in a spatial hierarchy. iv Based on vegetation physiognomy, climatic data, and taxonomic classification of zonal soils, two vegetation geo-climatic zones were identified at the macroclimatic (L+1) level: (1) montane zone with Rocky Mountain juniper and Douglas-fir; and (2) subalpine zone with Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir as climatic climax species. A vegetation classification was developed by combining vegetation samples (relevés) into meaningful vegetation units. A site classification was developed, based on dominant environmental gradients within the subalpine vegetation geo-climatic zone. Site classes were specified and a site grid was constructed. This site classification was coupled with the vegetation classification. Each plant community was associated with its environmental space within the site grid. This vegetation-site overlay allowed ecosystems to be differentiated environmentally and a structure, combining zonal, vegetation, and site classifications, forms a comprehensive ecosystem classification. Based on assessment of plant communities’ environmental demands and site vegetation potential, the comprehensive classification system enables inferences about site history and successional status of ecosystems. This classification is consistent with the recent USDA, Forest Service ECOMAP and Terrestrial Ecological Unit Inventory structure and may serve as a valuable tool not only in vegetation, climatic, or soil studies but also in practical ecosystem management. (221 pages) v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my major professors, Helga Van Miegroet and Jim Long, for their assistance, support, and patience through the entire study process. I would like to thank my mentor, Karel Klinka, for his advice, and mental and professional support. I would also like to thank my committee members, Leila Shultz and Janis Boettinger, for their willingness and invaluable help in the field of botany and soil science; Susan Durham for her statistical consultation; Mary Barkworth for her help in botanical recognition of graminoid species; and Michael Butkus for his help with a field accommodation. This project would not have been possible without the help of many field and laboratory technicians. Thank you. For financial assistance during the course of my doctoral dissertation I would like to acknowledge: the Utah State University Ecology Center and the USDA Forest Service, Wasatch-Cache National Forests, Forest Supervisor’s Office. I also acknowledge USDA Forest Service, Wasatch-Cache National Forests, Logan Ranger District for consultation and providing materials related to my study. For incredible support outside the academic environment I would like to thank my family and all my friends. Most especially, I am grateful for the help and patience of my wife, Jolly, and support of my parents far away in the Czech Republic, Europe. Antonin Kusbach vi CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. v LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 1 2 ORGANIZATION OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN UTAH ......................................... 6 3 VEGETATION GEO-CLIMATIC ZONATION IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN UTAH ...................................................... 43 4 DIAGNOSTIC SPECIES AND FIDELITY CONCEPT IN VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN UTAH ................................................................................ 90 5 COMPREHENSIVE ECOSYSTEM CLASSIFICATION IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN UTAH ..................................... 121 6 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS .................................................... 166 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................ 170 A ZONAL SOILS PROPERTIES AND CLASSIFICATION .................. 171 B PLANT SPECIES LIST ......................................................................... 185 C SYNOPTIC TABLE .............................................................................. 197 D ANALYSIS OF THE SYNOPTIC TABLE .......................................... 200 CURRICULUM VITAE ................................................................................................ 212 vii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 2.1 Research variables ............................................................................................... 30 2.2 PCA summary ...................................................................................................... 32 2.3 PCA loadings ....................................................................................................... 33 2.4 Comparison of USDA Forest Service land classification with ecosystem organization .......................................................................................................... 35 3.1 Climatic data for the northern Wasatch Range .................................................... 74 3.2 Vegetation analysis of tree communities ............................................................. 76 3.3 PCA summary ...................................................................................................... 78 3.4 PCA loadings ....................................................................................................... 79 3.5 Identification of vegetation groups ...................................................................... 81 3.6 Identification of vegetation geo-climatic zones ................................................... 82 4.1 Forest and woodland vegetation units ................................................................ 113 4.2 Non-forested vegetation units ............................................................................ 117 5.1 PCA summary .................................................................................................... 147 5.2 PCA loadings ..................................................................................................... 148 5.3 Site classification ................................................................................................ 150 5.4 Plant alliances and associations,
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