Research Mentor(s)

Bach, Andrew J.

Description

Glacial forelands provide excellent landscapes for studying vegetation succession. A glacial foreland is the distinct area of newly exposed land in front of a glacier terminus that was previously ice covered. With increasing distance from the glacier terminus, surface age of exposure increases, allowing for a spatial representation of temporal change of vegetation and soils (chronosequence). It is within this chronosequence relationship that succession can be studied in a glacial foreland. Patterns of vegetation succession vary among studied forelands around the world; however, there have been few studies documenting vegetation in the glacial forelands in the Cascade Mountain Range of North America. This research will document patterns of vegetation succession in the Easton glacial foreland on Mount Baker, Washington. The Easton glacier has retreated about 1.6 kilometers over the last 100 years due to climate change impacts. We will identify and quantify the patterns in community composition, vegetation cover, richness, and diversity in the Easton foreland. We expect to find community composition, vegetation cover, richness, and diversity to increase as surface age of exposure increases. The results of this research will contribute to the existing knowledge of glacial foreland vegetation and adds a new dimension due to the location of Mount Baker.

Document Type

Event

Start Date

15-5-2015 10:00 AM

End Date

15-5-2015 2:00 PM

Department

Environmental Studies

Genre/Form

student projects; posters

Subjects – Topical (LCSH)

Plant succession--Climatic factors--Washington (State)--Baker, Mount; Glaciers--Climatic factors--Washington (State)--Baker, Mount; Mountain ecology--Washington (State)--Baker, Mount

Geographic Coverage

Baker, Mount (Wash.)

Type

Image

Keywords

Alpine ecosystem, Primary succession, Pacific Northwest, Glacier retreat

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this documentation for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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May 15th, 10:00 AM May 15th, 2:00 PM

One Hundred Years of Vegetation Succession in the Easton Glacial Foreland, Mount Baker, Washington, USA

Glacial forelands provide excellent landscapes for studying vegetation succession. A glacial foreland is the distinct area of newly exposed land in front of a glacier terminus that was previously ice covered. With increasing distance from the glacier terminus, surface age of exposure increases, allowing for a spatial representation of temporal change of vegetation and soils (chronosequence). It is within this chronosequence relationship that succession can be studied in a glacial foreland. Patterns of vegetation succession vary among studied forelands around the world; however, there have been few studies documenting vegetation in the glacial forelands in the Cascade Mountain Range of North America. This research will document patterns of vegetation succession in the Easton glacial foreland on Mount Baker, Washington. The Easton glacier has retreated about 1.6 kilometers over the last 100 years due to climate change impacts. We will identify and quantify the patterns in community composition, vegetation cover, richness, and diversity in the Easton foreland. We expect to find community composition, vegetation cover, richness, and diversity to increase as surface age of exposure increases. The results of this research will contribute to the existing knowledge of glacial foreland vegetation and adds a new dimension due to the location of Mount Baker.

 

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