- Rocky Mountain Research Station
- 240 West Prospect
- Fort Collins, CO 80526
- (970) 498-1100
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Home > Science Program Areas > Wildlife and Terrestrial Ecosystems
Wildlife and Terrestrial Ecosystems
The Wildlife and Terrestrial Ecosystems Program aligns well with the
national Wildlife and Fish SPA activities. Progress towards these activities
represents contributions from all station science programs, and not
just Wildlife and Terrestrial Habitats. Brief descriptions of the program
by SPA activities are provided below.
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Sustaining Species/Ecosystems of Concern— More ecosystems occur
within RMRS boundaries than any other station, spanning prairie,
temperate and tropical steppe, desert, coniferous and riparian forests,
and tundra. This diversity of ecosystems translates into a diversity of
plants and animals with the RMRS region supporting >16,800 plants
and animals. More than 3,800 species are of conservation concern, and
217 are formally listed as threatened or endangered. Because more than
90 percent of the appeals and litigation of land management decisions
are based on wildlife and fish concerns, studies that provide credible scientific
information are critical for meeting legal obligations and sustaining
threatened, endangered and sensitive species and their associated
ecosystems. Multi-scale studies identify a variety of factors that affect
the persistence of species, communities, and ecosystems of concern, such as
northern goshawks in southwestern ponderosa pine forests and forest carnivores
in the Northern Rockies. The context for most studies includes ecological
interactions within and between plant, aquatic, and terrestrial animal
communities in a wide variety of ecosystems throughout the Intermountain
West and beyond.
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Understand Public Use Effects— Research informs federal, state,
tribal, and local resource agencies on interactions between people and
fish/wildlife. It provides better understanding of public-use effects such
that they can be mitigated by appropriate management actions. Although
much of the research focuses on recreation effects (OHVs, hikers,
birdwatchers, heli-skiing), similar lines of research evaluate effects of
transmission corridors and indirect effects of noise resulting from landmanagement
activities. Numerous studies are underway to elucidate
social and economic values associated with consumptive and non-consumptive
uses of fish/wildlife. Predictive habitat models provide a range
of management alternatives for simultaneously enhancing commodity and
non-commodity uses of fish/wildlife.
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Manage for Terrestrial and Aquatic Habitats— Most of the remaining
habitats for many species of concern are now found on National
Forests and Grasslands. RMRS scientists answer questions about the
amount, kind, distribution, and connectivity of habitat critical to the persistence
and abundance of these species. These researchers also devise
robust techniques for monitoring changes in species and habitats and for
recognizing habitats most sensitive to management or essential to species
persistence. Scientists also investigate the spatial and temporal aspects
of processes that create and maintain habitats crucial for sustaining biodiversity,
including the role of fire.
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Evaluate Outcomes of Land/Water Uses and Natural Disturbances—
A wide array of anthropogenic and natural disturbances affects our grasslands,
forests, and waterways. Natural and prescribed fires, silvicultural
prescriptions, livestock grazing, spread and control of invasive species,
drought, global climate change, insect and disease outbreaks and fragmentation
all affect, and potentially threaten wildlife habitats. Researchers
are determining immediate, long-term, and cumulative effects of disturbances
on species of concern and interest in the Intermountain West.
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