Potential effects of global climate change on ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest

Conference · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States)

OSTI ID:6201602

Peterson, D L; Woodward, A; Ettl, G J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle (United States)

The global climate change research program at the University of Washington Cooperative Park Studies Unit is examining the response of ecosystems in parks of the Pacific Northwest. Research is based on the concept that ecotones may be most sensitive to climate. We have focused particularly on ecotones defining alpine and subalpine vegetation, and montane and lowland forests. Results obtained from the subalpine ecotone where changes in plant distribution are easily identified, indicate that tree growth and establishment will increase in response to predicted climate change. Other ecotones and hydrologic/vegetation relationships of Crater Lake are the subject of ongoing palynological and dendrochronological studies of forest distribution, response of tree growth to climate, and physiological studies of plant tolerance. This information will be the basis for modelling efforts to predict the effect of climate change on these systems.

• OSTI ID: 6201602
• Report Number(s): CONF-930798--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States) Journal Volume: 74:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
FORECASTING
FORESTS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GROWTH
HYDROLOGY
NORTH AMERICA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TREES
USA
WASHINGTON