Chapter 2 The Central Yellowstone Landscape: Terrain, Geology, Climate, Vegetation

摘要: Theme Ecological research can be defined as the study of interactions between organisms and their environment. While individuals, species, communities are typically dynamic complex, backdrop landscape climate variables upon which these occur also assume significant importance equal complexity. Variation in a system's terrain, geology, soils, climate, snow pack, vegetation at fine broad spatial temporal scales create considerable heterogeneity, potentially affecting distribution abundance resources influencing spatial, demographic, behavioral dynamics organisms. Therefore, adequately characterizing heterogeneity is an important aspect understanding ecological processes that it. We described highly heterogeneous strongly influenced by severe winters, geological processes, natural disturbances central portion Yellowstone National Park. Using data on hydrology, vegetation, we created detailed Landsat maps forest cover type to provide baseline composite landscape, large mammal evaluated.