USDA Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain
Research Station. It shows how the ecoregion
map identified forests/ranges that fall into groups
with similar ecology. We say similar ecology
because an ecoregion is a climatic region within
which specific plant successions occur upon specific landform positions. The most probable vegetation growing on a site within an ecoregion can
be predicted from landform information if one
knows the vegetation–landform relationships in
various ecoregions. (Refer to Douglas-fir example in preceding subsection.) Figure 12.8 shows
the relationship between elevation-topography
and climax plant communities. These
relationships provide a blueprint for site analysis
and management of native vegetation. Understanding the plant community gradients with
respect to elevation and topography also provides
a basis for separating climax from successional
stands. For example, lodgepole pine forest occurring in the Douglas-fir forest zone in the Rockies
may be successional following fire.
12.2.6 Determining Suitable Locations
for Seed Transfer
Seed transfer zones are geographic areas within
which plant materials can be moved freely with
little disruption of genetic patterns or loss of
local adaptation. Ecoregions have been
suggested as potential seed transfer zones (Miller
et al. 2011; Jones 2005) because they encompass
areas with similar elevation and climate. Elevation and climate gradients appear to contribute
significantly to geographic patterns of genetic
variation and adaptation in many plants including trees (Post et al. 2003), shrubs, forbs, and
grasses (Casler 2012).
1 One proposed refinement
to the use of ecoregions as areas of plant movement has been to combine them with plant hardiness zones (Cathey 1990; revised Agricultural
Fig. 12.8 Diagrammatic distribution of vegetation types in the mountains of the Front Range in Boulder County, CO.
From Gregg (1964)
1 Hancock et al. (2010) found that ecoregions contribute
to geographic patterns of genetic variation and adaptation
of humans.
118
12 Applications of Ecoregional Patterns
Research Station. It shows how the ecoregion
map identified forests/ranges that fall into groups
with similar ecology. We say similar ecology
because an ecoregion is a climatic region within
which specific plant successions occur upon specific landform positions. The most probable vegetation growing on a site within an ecoregion can
be predicted from landform information if one
knows the vegetation–landform relationships in
various ecoregions. (Refer to Douglas-fir example in preceding subsection.) Figure 12.8 shows
the relationship between elevation-topography
and climax plant communities. These
relationships provide a blueprint for site analysis
and management of native vegetation. Understanding the plant community gradients with
respect to elevation and topography also provides
a basis for separating climax from successional
stands. For example, lodgepole pine forest occurring in the Douglas-fir forest zone in the Rockies
may be successional following fire.
12.2.6 Determining Suitable Locations
for Seed Transfer
Seed transfer zones are geographic areas within
which plant materials can be moved freely with
little disruption of genetic patterns or loss of
local adaptation. Ecoregions have been
suggested as potential seed transfer zones (Miller
et al. 2011; Jones 2005) because they encompass
areas with similar elevation and climate. Elevation and climate gradients appear to contribute
significantly to geographic patterns of genetic
variation and adaptation in many plants including trees (Post et al. 2003), shrubs, forbs, and
grasses (Casler 2012).
1 One proposed refinement
to the use of ecoregions as areas of plant movement has been to combine them with plant hardiness zones (Cathey 1990; revised Agricultural
Fig. 12.8 Diagrammatic distribution of vegetation types in the mountains of the Front Range in Boulder County, CO.
From Gregg (1964)
1 Hancock et al. (2010) found that ecoregions contribute
to geographic patterns of genetic variation and adaptation
of humans.
118
12 Applications of Ecoregional Patterns