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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #233977
Title: Understanding global warming impacts to forest and rangeland landscapes with benchmark ecological sites

Author
item YPSILANTIS, WILLIAM - BLM
item KARL, MICHAEL - BLM
item BOTTOMLEY, TIM - BLM
item BIGGAM, PETE - USDI - NPS
item O'GREEN, ANTHONY - UNIV. OF CALIF - DAVIS
item TALBOT, CURTIS - NRCS
item TOWNSEND, LYN - NRCS
item Bestelmeyer, Brandon
item DAVIS, RANDY - US FOREST SERVICE
item GILGERT, WENDELL - NRCS
item DIBENEDETTO, JEFF - US FOREST SERVICE
item RENTHAL, JAMES - BLM

Submitted to: Geological Society of America Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2008
Publication Date: 10/5/2008
Citation: Ypsilantis, W., Karl, M., Bottomley, T., Biggam, P., O'Green, A., Talbot, C., Townsend, L., Bestelmeyer, B.T., Davis, R., Gilgert, W., Dibenedetto, J., Renthal, J. 2008. Understanding global warming impacts to forest and rangeland landscapes with benchmark ecological sites [abstract]. Geological Society of America Meeting, 2008 Joint Meeting, October 5-9, 2008, Houston, Texas. 766-1. CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A benchmark ecological site is one that has the greatest potential to yield data and information about ecological functions, processes, and the effects of management or climate change that can apply to a broad area or critical ecological zone. A benchmark ecological site represents other similar sites in a major land resource area (MLRA). Information gathered about benchmark ecological sites can address many different ecological, social, and resource management issues. One of the purposes of designating benchmark ecological sites is to promote greater understanding of the potential impacts of global climate change on rangeland and forest ecosystem dynamics and soils. Measures of ecosystem change against reliable benchmarks will allow land managers to use adaptive management to provide for sustainability of natural resources on these landscapes. Examples of resource issues that could be addressed include impacts of climate change and management actions on threatened, endangered, and other plant and animal species of concern; soil erosion, sedimentation, and runoff; soil ecology; plant community composition and productivity; and habitat reclamation potential.