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Science Program Areas
The Rocky Mountain Research Station is evolving from a
Station with 30 research work units (including ecosystem management
units and national programs) to a comprehensive programmatic
structure consisting of eight Science Program areas
and several Research, Development and Applications programs.
Descriptions of the Science Program areas follow below.
Air, Water and Aquatics Science
Air quality, water availability, water quality, and
aquatic habitats are critical issues within the rapidly changing Western United States.
The
Air, Water and Aquatics Science program is committed to the development of knowledge and science applications related to air and water quality,
as well as the habitat quality, distribution, diversity, and persistence of fish and other aquatic species.
Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute
The
Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, utilizing its expertise in wilderness
law, policy, and management,
works to assure
that the science necessary for the understanding and stewardship of designated wilderness and similarly managed wild
ecosystems is developed, delivered and applied to those responsible for managing such lands.
Fire, Fuel and Smoke Science
The
Fire, Fuel and Smoke Science program works to improve the safety and effectiveness of
fire management through the creation and dissemination of basic fire science knowledge.
The program invsetigates the impacts of fires on the environment by means of fundamental and applied research for understanding
and predicting fire behavior, its effects on ecosystems, and its emissions into the atmosphere.
Forests and Woodlands Ecosystems Research
Forests and woodlands are increasingly
being impacted by large scale urbanization and human developments, uncharacteristically large and severe wildfires, insect
and disease outbreaks, exotic species invasions, and drought, and interactions of multiple stressors at local, landscape,
and regional scales. The
Forests and Woodlands Ecosystems Research program acquires, develops, and delivers
the scientific knowledge for sustaining and restoring forests and woodlands
landscape health, biodiversity, productivity, and ecosystem processes.
Grassland, Shrubland and Desert Ecosystems
Disruptions by large-scale clearing for agriculture, water diversions, extensive
grazing, changes in the native fauna, the advent of alien weeds, altered fire regimes,
and increases in human-caused insect and disease epidemics have contributed to produce areas that are in unsuitable condition.
The
Grassland, Shrubland and Desert Ecosystems program addresses the biology, use, management, and restoration of
these grass and shrublands.
Inventory, Monitoring and Analysis Science
The
Inventory, Monitoring and Analysis Science program provides the resource data, analysis, and tools needed to effectively
identify current status and trends, management options and impacts, and threats and impacts of fire, insects,
disease, and other natural processes.
Human Dimensions
The
Human Dimensions program provides social and
economic science based innovation to human societies as they develop a sustainable relationship with their environment.
Major issues confronting societies across the globe such as global climate change, energy, fire, water, and ecosystem
services all have important social-economic dimensions that will be explored and addressed by this program.
Wildlife and Terrestrial Ecosystems
The
Wildlife and Terrestrial Ecosystems program is engaged in
sustaining species and ecosystems of concern through studies of
ecological interactions within and between plant, aquatic, and terrestrial animal communities;
understanding public use effects through
studies elucidating social and economic values associated with consumptive and non-consumptive uses of fish and wildlife;
managing terrestrial and aquatic habitats; and
evaluating outcomes of land and water uses and natural disturbances.
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