Ecological systems of Montana
There are 62 named Ecological Systems found in Montana[1] These systems are described in the Montana Field Guides-Ecological Systems of Montana.[2]
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]
Forest and Woodland Systems
- Northern Rocky Mountain Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest[4]
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland[5]
- Northwestern Great Plains - Black Hills Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna[6]
- Northern Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest[7]
- Rocky Mountain Foothill Limber Pine - Juniper Woodland[8]
- Northern Rocky Mountain Foothill Conifer Wooded Steppe[9]
- Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Forest[10]
- Middle Rocky Mountain Montane Douglas-Fir Forest and Woodland[11]
- Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna[12]
- Rocky Mountain Poor Site Lodgepole Pine Forest[13]
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine Dry-Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland[14]
- Northern Rocky Mountain Subalpine Woodland and Parkland[15]
- Rocky Mountain Aspen Forest and Woodland[16]
- Western Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine[17]
- Inter-Mountain Basins Mountain Mahogany Woodland and Shrubland[18]
- Inter-Mountain Basins Aspen Mixed Conifer Forest-Woodland[19]
Alpine Systems
- Rocky Mountain Alpine Dwarf-Shrubland[20]
- Rocky Mountain Alpine Turf[21]
- Rocky Mountain Alpine Bedrock and Scree[22]
- Rocky Mountain Alpine Fell-Field[23]
- North American Alpine Ice Field[24]
Shrubland, Steppe and Savanna Systems
- Northwestern Great Plains Shrubland[25]
- Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill Shrubland[26]
- Northern Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Deciduous Shrubland[27]
- Northern Rocky Mountain Subalpine Deciduous Shrubland[28]
- Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe[29]
- Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe[30]
- Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland[31]
- Wyoming Basins Dwarf Sagebrush Shrubland and Steppe[32]
- Inter-Mountain Basins Mat Saltbush Shrubland[33]
- Inter-Mountain Basins Mixed Salt Desert Scrub[34]
Grassland Systems
- Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie[35]
- Western Great Plains Sand Prairie[36]
- Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane, Foothill and Valley Grassland[37]
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Mesic Meadow[38]
- Northern Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Upper Montane Grassland[39]
Sparse and Barren Systems
- Inter-Mountain Basins Active and Stabilized Dune[40]
- Western Great Plains Badlands[41]
- Inter-Mountain Basins Shale Badland[42]
- Western Great Plains Cliff and Outcrop[43]
- Rocky Mountain Cliff, Canyon and Massive Bedrock[44]
- Inter-Mountain Basins Cliff and Canyon[45]
Open Water/Wetland and Riparian Systems
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen[46]
- Western Great Plains Closed Depressional Wetland[47]
- Western Great Plains Open Freshwater Depression Wetland[48]
- Great Plains Prairie Pothole[49]
- Western Great Plains Saline Depression Wetland[50]
- Northern Rocky Mountain Wooded Vernal Pool[51]
- Inter-Mountain Basins Greasewood Flat[52]
- Northwestern Great Plains Floodplain[53]
- Northwestern Great Plains Riparian[54]
- Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland[55]
- Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland[56]
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland[57]
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland[58]
- Northern Rocky Mountain Conifer Swamp[59]
- North American Arid West[60]
- Geysers and Hot Springs[61]
- Open Water[62]
- Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow[63]
Further reading
- Comer, P.; D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Evans, S. Gawler, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, M. Pyne, M. Reid, K. Schulz, K. Snow, and J. Teague (2003.). Ecological Systems of the United States: A Working Classification of U.S. Terrestrial Systems. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe.
- Noss, Reed F.; Edward T. LaRoe III, J. Michael Scott (1995). Endangered Ecosystems of the United States: A Preliminary Assessment of Loss and Degradation (Report). National Biological Service. Unpublished report. http://biology.usgs.gov/pubs/ecosys.htm. 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. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691128481.
See also
Notes