The Northwest Forest
Plan recognizes riparian reserves as critical habitat areas
of regional forests. Although it is clear that riparian corridors
are ecologically important, relatively little research has been
conducted to comparatively evaluate riparian corridors. Research
is needed to quantify the key processes that control the development
of geomorphic and vegetation diversity in western Oregon riparian
forests, how these
processes vary across the region, and how they can be expected
to respond to management. The purpose of this study is to evaluate
atmospheric, physical, and biological characteristics and processes
of riparian forests in four physiographic subregions of western
Oregon: the central Coast Range, the central western Cascades,
the southwestern Cascades, and the eastern Siskiyou Mountains.
This research will center on several fundamental questions:
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What are key gradients,
processes, and environmental controls underscoring woody
plant diversity and distribution of native trees in riparian
corridors of western Oregon? |
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How
do factors affecting woody plant diversity shift in importance
in different environmental settings? Do important functional
relationships change? |
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To
what degree can effects of disturbance and environmental
heterogeneity on woody plant diversity be separated? |
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Are
factors affecting woody plant diversity patterns arranged
hierarchically? |
For additional information about this research study see the
2003 CFER
Annual Report. (2.2 MB)
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