PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 14: GIS and Remote Sensing
Tuesday, August 9, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal
80 Years of Vegetation Change in Southwest Wyoming.
Hill, Augustine*,1, Redmond, Roland1, Winne, Chris1, Gustafson, Will1, Mason, Shane1, Schumacher, Jim1, 1 The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
ABSTRACT- We compared changes in vegetation from 1913 to 1993 for an area in Southwestern Wyoming using a historical map and a dataset derived from satellite imagery. Our goal was to identify vegetation changes over an 80 year time period. We compared the historical map and the map derived form satellite imagery with geographic information systems (GIS) technology. Integrating the two maps into one final map enabled us to make comparisons in vegetation change. Results indicate coniferous types increased from 35.9% to 51.5% of the total area. Aspen and sagebrush declined from 49.2% to 36.6% of the total area and sub-alpine forest types increased by 300% of the total area. The principal change was due to conifer encroachment with shrubs and grasses following. However, vegetation change was primarily due to fire suppression and other disturbances. Over the 80 year time period lodgepole pine remained the predominant forest type, although the age structure appeared to increase in favor of older stands.
Key words: vegetation, GIS, change