Authors:
Abella, S.R. and W.W. Covington
Publication Date:
2006
Abstract/Summary:
Several lines of evidence suggest that although species composition may have been altered since settlement, the same basic ecosystems occurred on this landscape in pre-settlement forests, providing reference information for ecological restoration. Red cinders/Bahia ecosystems were rare historically and > 30% of their area has been burned by crown fires since 1950, indicating that priority could be given to restoring this ecosystem’s remaining mapping units. Ecosystem classifications may be useful as data layers in gap analyses to identify restoration and conservation priorities. Ecosystem turnover occurs at broad extents on this landscape, and restoration must accordingly operate across large areas to encompass ecosystem diversity. By incorporating factors driving ecosystem composition, this ecosystem classification represents a framework for estimating spatial variation in ecological properties, such as species diversity, relevant to ecological restoration.
Resource Type:
Peer-reviewed Article
Source:
Journal of Biogeography
Link:
http://library.eri.nau.edu/gsdl/collect/erilibra/index/assoc../HASH01d3.dir/doc.pdf