Research Service 2012) to map plant adaptation
regions (Vogel et al. 2005). In a comparison of
five region-scale ecological classification
schemes, Steiner and Greene (1996) concluded
that the author’s ecoregion scheme was the best
descriptor for regional classification of germplasm because of its hierarchical arrangement;
the number of distinctive classes based on soils,
landform, and natural vegetation; and its availability in a geographic information system
format.
Ecoregions can also be used to design
research. For example, Dey et al. (2009) reported
that when treatment plots are located so as to
account for regional differences, the results can
be used to improve a manager’s ability to predict
oak regeneration successes and failures following given silvicultural practices.
12.2.7 Understanding Landscape
Fragmentation
Historically, a high level of landscape heterogeneity was caused by natural disturbance and
environmental gradients. Now, however, many
forest landscapes appear to have been
fragmented due to management activities such
as timber harvesting and road construction. To
understand the severity of this fragmentation, the
nature and causes of the spatial patterns that
would have existed in the absence of such
activities should be considered. This provides
insight into forest conditions that can be attained
and perpetuated.
12.2.8 Choosing Planting Strategies for
Landscaping and Restoration
Understanding the patterns of sites also can
inspire design for urban and suburban landscapes
that are in harmony with the region they are
embedded within. For example, desert plants
thrive on the arid south side of houses in the
southwestern United States. The north side is
moist and humid and can support larger, denser
plants.
Furthermore, like streams, cities do not exist
independently of what surrounds them. Ramage
et al. (2012) found that urban trees were consistently related to the surrounding biome
(ecoregions). Classifying metropolitan areas by
ecoregion forms a baseline for selecting native
plants for landscaping or to restore natural
conditions as well as transferring information
among similar cities (Sanders and Rowntree
1983). A source of native plant information can
be found in Description of the Ecoregions of the
United States (Bailey 1995). This information is
an important guide to knowing which plants will
thrive in a particular ecoregion.
Gardens can be seen as extensions of the
surrounding landscape and responsive to the various regions of the country. Designing urban and
suburban landscapes that mimic the native vegetation by using regionally appropriate plants is
the safest course to ensure landscape
sustainability. By using an ecoregional pollinator
guide, one can learn what native plants can be
found in one’s ecoregion and what pollinators
they attract. These guides are published online
by the Pollinator Partnership at http://www.polli
nator.org/guides.htm
12.2.9 Environmental Risk Assessment
Ecological risks associated with human activity
will vary depending upon the activity and where
it takes place. The plants and animals of different
regions respond differently to the same environmental stress. For example, Pidgeon et al. (2007)
found the effect of housing development on bird
species richness across the USA varied by
ecoregions. Many ecoregional differences in
hydrologic responses to human-modified land
cover were reported by Poff et al. (2006). In the
late 1970s, the ecoregion concept was used to
stratify the United States into seven hydrologic
regions in order to better predict the effects of
silvicultural activities on non-point source pollution (Troendle and Leaf 1980) and later to
predict the hydrologic effects of forest disturbance, including fuel reduction treatments
(Troendle et al. 2010).
Hazards occur extensively in certain
regions—landslides in southern California—creating a regional problem (Radbruch-Hall et al.
12.2 Significance to Ecosystem Management
119
regions (Vogel et al. 2005). In a comparison of
five region-scale ecological classification
schemes, Steiner and Greene (1996) concluded
that the author’s ecoregion scheme was the best
descriptor for regional classification of germplasm because of its hierarchical arrangement;
the number of distinctive classes based on soils,
landform, and natural vegetation; and its availability in a geographic information system
format.
Ecoregions can also be used to design
research. For example, Dey et al. (2009) reported
that when treatment plots are located so as to
account for regional differences, the results can
be used to improve a manager’s ability to predict
oak regeneration successes and failures following given silvicultural practices.
12.2.7 Understanding Landscape
Fragmentation
Historically, a high level of landscape heterogeneity was caused by natural disturbance and
environmental gradients. Now, however, many
forest landscapes appear to have been
fragmented due to management activities such
as timber harvesting and road construction. To
understand the severity of this fragmentation, the
nature and causes of the spatial patterns that
would have existed in the absence of such
activities should be considered. This provides
insight into forest conditions that can be attained
and perpetuated.
12.2.8 Choosing Planting Strategies for
Landscaping and Restoration
Understanding the patterns of sites also can
inspire design for urban and suburban landscapes
that are in harmony with the region they are
embedded within. For example, desert plants
thrive on the arid south side of houses in the
southwestern United States. The north side is
moist and humid and can support larger, denser
plants.
Furthermore, like streams, cities do not exist
independently of what surrounds them. Ramage
et al. (2012) found that urban trees were consistently related to the surrounding biome
(ecoregions). Classifying metropolitan areas by
ecoregion forms a baseline for selecting native
plants for landscaping or to restore natural
conditions as well as transferring information
among similar cities (Sanders and Rowntree
1983). A source of native plant information can
be found in Description of the Ecoregions of the
United States (Bailey 1995). This information is
an important guide to knowing which plants will
thrive in a particular ecoregion.
Gardens can be seen as extensions of the
surrounding landscape and responsive to the various regions of the country. Designing urban and
suburban landscapes that mimic the native vegetation by using regionally appropriate plants is
the safest course to ensure landscape
sustainability. By using an ecoregional pollinator
guide, one can learn what native plants can be
found in one’s ecoregion and what pollinators
they attract. These guides are published online
by the Pollinator Partnership at http://www.polli
nator.org/guides.htm
12.2.9 Environmental Risk Assessment
Ecological risks associated with human activity
will vary depending upon the activity and where
it takes place. The plants and animals of different
regions respond differently to the same environmental stress. For example, Pidgeon et al. (2007)
found the effect of housing development on bird
species richness across the USA varied by
ecoregions. Many ecoregional differences in
hydrologic responses to human-modified land
cover were reported by Poff et al. (2006). In the
late 1970s, the ecoregion concept was used to
stratify the United States into seven hydrologic
regions in order to better predict the effects of
silvicultural activities on non-point source pollution (Troendle and Leaf 1980) and later to
predict the hydrologic effects of forest disturbance, including fuel reduction treatments
(Troendle et al. 2010).
Hazards occur extensively in certain
regions—landslides in southern California—creating a regional problem (Radbruch-Hall et al.
12.2 Significance to Ecosystem Management
119