Monday, 7 November 2005
8

Soil-Landscape-Vegetation Relationships in the Southern Wind River Range, Wyoming.

Brian M. McMullen1, J Boettinger1, and Kent Houston2. (1) Utah State University, 4820 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-4820, (2) United States Forest Service, 808 Meadow Lane, Cody, WY 82414

The Wind River Mountains of western Wyoming offer an ideal setting to study soil formation in relation to vegetation and landscape. Results are presented from two summers of a comprehensive soil and vegetation survey following the Terrestrial Ecosystem Unit Inventory (TEUI) protocols of the United States Forest Service. Plot selection was based on differences in slope, aspect, vegetation, and parent material using Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and Landsat 7 remotely sensed spectral data. Mapping unit were developed and refined based on soil taxonomic classification and ecological community type. Four soil orders are represented and an overview of the major subgroups are detailed. Data are available from the 2004 field season (117 plots total); results from the 2005 field season will be incorporated by Fall 2005, bring the total number of sites classified to over 250. The logistics of conducting this remote, high-elevation ecological survey are detailed, as well as the cooperative efforts between government land management agencies and Utah State University in completing the mapping efforts.


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