The Role of Soils in Recording Environmental Change at Alpine Treeline in Glacier National Park, Montana

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dc.contributor.advisorButler, David R.
dc.contributor.authorSchmid, Ginger Lee
dc.contributor.committeeMemberBryan, Deborah L.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberDixon, Richard W.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberMalanson, George
dc.date.accessioned2023-11-28T23:52:47Z
dc.date.available2023-11-28T23:52:47Z
dc.date.issued2004-12
dc.description.abstractThe alpine treeline ecotone is characterized as a zone of flagged and krummholz tree growth advancing into areas of alpine tundra. As a zone of ecosystem transition, the alpine treeline ecotone is sensitive to changes in environmental variables, including climate change. While serving as the medium for plant growth, soils develop over time reflecting the interaction of the available climate, organisms, relief, and parent material. If there has been sufficient climate change to promote treeline advance into the alpine tundra, soil characteristics should reflect these changes in the alpine environment. This research investigated the soils underlying advancing tree fingers and the adjacent alpine tundra to document climate change through changes in soil development. Lee Ridge and White Calf Mountain, located east of the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park, Montana were selected as representative alpine treeline ecotone sites. Soils pits were located in tree fingers and the adjacent tundra at seven different landscape positions: windward, leeward, and centrally within the tree fingers, and within the tundra in positions windward, leeward, upslope, and downslope of the invading tree fingers. Detailed field descriptions were recorded for each soil pit to a 50 cm depth. Ground cover was described at each of the soil pit locations and the vegetation was mapped to describe each of the tree fingers.
dc.description.departmentGeography and Environmental Studies
dc.formatText
dc.format.extent192 pages
dc.format.medium1 file (.pdf)
dc.identifier.citationSchmid, G.L. (2004). The role of soils in recording environmental change at alpine treeline in Glacier National Park, Montana (Unpublished dissertation). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/17219
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectsoils
dc.subjectMontana
dc.subjectGlacier National Park
dc.subjectclimate
dc.subjecttimberline
dc.titleThe Role of Soils in Recording Environmental Change at Alpine Treeline in Glacier National Park, Montana
dc.typeDissertation
thesis.degree.departmentGeography
thesis.degree.disciplineGeography
thesis.degree.grantorTexas State University-San Marcos
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy

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