Ecological systems of Montana

Multiple ecosystems in Gallatin National Forest

There are 62 named ecological systems of Montana described in the Montana Field Guides.[1][2]

Definition

An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving, physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight.[3] It is all the organisms in a given area, along with the nonliving (abiotic) factors with which they interact; a biological community and its physical environment.[3]

As stated in an article from Montana State University in its Institute on Ecosystems: "An ecosystem can be small, such as the area under a pine tree or a single hot spring in Yellowstone National Park, or it can be large, such as the Rocky Mountains, the rainforest or the Antarctic Ocean."[4]

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks called the state's main ecosystems montane forest, intermountain grassland, plains grassland and shrub grassland.[4] The Montana Agricultural Experiment Station categorized Montana's ecosystems based on the different rangelands and recognized 22 different ecosystems; the Montana Natural Heritage Program recognizes 62 for the entire state.[4]

Forest and woodland

  • Northern Rocky Mountain Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest[5]
  • Rocky Mountain Subalpine Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland[6]
  • Northwestern Great Plains - Black Hills Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna[7]
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest[8]
  • Rocky Mountain Foothill Limber Pine - Juniper Woodland[9]
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Foothill Conifer Wooded Steppe[10]
  • Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Forest[11]
  • Middle Rocky Mountain Montane Douglas-Fir Forest and Woodland[12]
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna[13]
  • Rocky Mountain Poor Site Lodgepole Pine Forest[14]
  • Rocky Mountain Subalpine Dry-Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland[15]
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Subalpine Woodland and Parkland[16]
  • Rocky Mountain Aspen Forest and Woodland[17]
  • Western Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine[18]
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Mountain Mahogany Woodland and Shrubland[19]
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Aspen Mixed Conifer Forest-Woodland[20]

Alpine

  • Rocky Mountain Alpine Dwarf-Shrubland[21]
  • Rocky Mountain Alpine Turf[22]
  • Rocky Mountain Alpine Bedrock and Scree[23]
  • Rocky Mountain Alpine Fell-Field[24]
  • North American Alpine Ice Field[25]

Shrubland, steppe and savanna

  • Northwestern Great Plains Shrubland[26]
  • Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill Shrubland[27]
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Deciduous Shrubland[28]
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Subalpine Deciduous Shrubland[29]
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe[30]
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe[31]
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland[32]
  • Wyoming Basins Dwarf Sagebrush Shrubland and Steppe[33]
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Mat Saltbush Shrubland[34]
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Mixed Salt Desert Scrub[35]

Grassland

  • Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie[36]
  • Western Great Plains Sand Prairie[37]
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane, Foothill and Valley Grassland[38]
  • Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Mesic Meadow[39]
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Upper Montane Grassland[40]

Sparse and barren

  • Inter-Mountain Basins Active and Stabilized Dune[41]
  • Western Great Plains Badlands[42]
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Shale Badland[43]
  • Western Great Plains Cliff and Outcrop[44]
  • Rocky Mountain Cliff, Canyon and Massive Bedrock[45]
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Cliff and Canyon[46]

Open-water and riparian

  • Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen[47]
  • Western Great Plains Closed Depressional Wetland[48]
  • Western Great Plains Open Freshwater Depression Wetland[49]
  • Great Plains Prairie Pothole[50]
  • Western Great Plains Saline Depression Wetland[51]
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Wooded Vernal Pool[52]
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Greasewood Flat[53]
  • Northwestern Great Plains Floodplain[54]
  • Northwestern Great Plains Riparian[55]
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland[56]
  • Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland[57]
  • Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland[58]
  • Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland[59]
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Conifer Swamp[60]
  • North American Arid West[61]
  • Geysers and Hot Springs[62]
  • Open Water[63]
  • Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow[64]

Further reading

  • Comer, P.; Faber-Langendoen, D.; Evans, R.; Gawler, S.; Josse, C.; Kittel, G.; Menard, S.; Pyne, M.; Reid, M.; Schulz, K.; Snow, K.; Teague, J. (June 2003). Ecological Systems of the United States: A Working Classification of U.S. Terrestrial Systems (PDF) (Report). Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe.
  • Noss, Reed F.; LaRoe, Edward T. III; Scott, J. Michael (1995). Endangered Ecosystems of the United States: A Preliminary Assessment of Loss and Degradation (Report). National Biological Service. Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  • Management of riparian and wetland forested ecosystems in Montana: fourth annual Montana Riparian Association Workshop, September 5-7, 1990. Missoula, Montana: School of Forestry, University of Montana. 1990.
  • Schmitz, Oswald J. (2010). Resolving Ecosystem Complexity. Monographs in population Biology - 47. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-1-4008-3417-4.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Montana Field Guides". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  2. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Ecological Systems Field Guide Help". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  3. ^ a b "Biology Concepts & Connections Sixth Edition", Campbell, Neil A. (2009), page 2, 3 and G-9. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  4. ^ a b c "Montana's Ecosystems - Institute on Ecosystems | Montana State University". www.montana.edu. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  5. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  6. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  7. ^ "Montana Field Guide- Great Plains Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  8. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  9. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Foothill Limber Pine - Juniper Woodland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  10. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Foothill Woodland-Steppe Transition". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  11. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Forest". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  12. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Montane Douglas-Fir Forest and Woodland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  13. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  14. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Poor Site Lodgepole Pine Forest". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  15. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine Dry-Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  16. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine Woodland and Parkland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  17. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Aspen Forest and Woodland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  18. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  19. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Mountain Mahogany Woodland and Shrubland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  20. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Aspen Mixed Conifer Forest-Woodland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  21. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Alpine Dwarf Shrubland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  22. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Alpine Turf". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  23. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Alpine Bedrock and Scree". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  24. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Alpine Fell-Field". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  25. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Alpine Ice Field". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  26. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Shrubland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  27. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill Shrubland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  28. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Deciduous Shrubland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  29. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine Deciduous Shrubland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  30. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Big Sagebrush Steppe". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  31. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Montane Sagebrush Steppe". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  32. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Big Sagebrush Shrubland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  33. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Low Sagebrush Shrubland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  34. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Mat Saltbush Shrubland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  35. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Mixed Salt Desert Scrub". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  36. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  37. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Sand Prairie". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  38. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Lower Montane, Foothill and Valley Grassland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  39. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Mesic Meadow". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  40. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Upper Montane Grassland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  41. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Active and Stabilized Dune". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  42. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Badlands". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  43. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Shale Badland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  44. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Cliff and Outcrop". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  45. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Cliff, Canyon and Massive Bedrock". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  46. ^ "Montana Field Guide- Wyoming Basins Cliff and Canyon". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  47. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  48. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Closed Depressional Wetland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  49. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Open Freshwater Depression Wetland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  50. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Prairie Pothole". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  51. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Saline Depression Wetland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  52. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Wooded Vernal Pool". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  53. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Greasewood Flat". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  54. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Floodplain". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  55. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Riparian". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  56. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  57. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  58. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  59. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  60. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Conifer Swamp". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  61. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Emergent Marsh". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  62. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Geysers and Hot Springs". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  63. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Open Water". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  64. ^ "Montana Field Guide-Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow". Montana Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 2011-06-14.