OOS 19 - Documenting Vegetation Dynamics with Classification Systems

Organizer(s)

• EM

  Esteban Muldavin

  Research Professor
  University of New Mexico, Natural Heritage NM, United States

Co-Organizer(s)

• SF

  Scott Franklin

  Professor
  University of Northern Colorado, United States

Moderator(s)

• TW

  Thomas Wentworth

  North Carolina State University, United States

In honor of the meeting theme, A Change is Gonna Come, we propose an organized oral session to mark the state of knowledge about using vegetation classification to document vegetation dynamics. This OOS brings together scholars from several countries who are contributing to this effort, which has become more important in light of effects of climate change and other anthropogenic disturbances on vegetation worldwide. Several classification systems throughout the world are coming to fruition, through application of expert knowledge and the quantitative analysis of millions of vegetation surveys. Now that these classification systems are maturing, researchers are eager to apply them to understanding vegetation change and dynamics. Speakers will examine the efficacy of such systems for documenting vegetation change, the opportunities of using classified units in modeling dynamics, and future opportunities. Modeling vegetation dynamics takes many forms. For example, conceptual and quantitative state-and-transition models, spatial models, and vegetation observations all provide opportunities to use classified vegetation concepts. Speakers will also highlight similarities and differences of vegetation dynamics research in Canada and the US, relative to approaches in Australia, Latin America, and Africa. All talks will pose questions that forward a research agenda for studying vegetation dynamics through classification that helps address ecosystem change in the 21^st century.

Presentations:

• 3:30 PM – 3:45 PM EDT

  Testing the efficacy of a classification system decades after development.
  

  Presenting Author: Scott B. Franklin – University of Northern Colorado

  Co-author: Scott B. Franklin – University of Northern Colorado

  Co-author: Mario Bretfeld – Kennesaw State University

  Co-author: Robert K. Peet – University of North Carolina

  Co-author: Esteban H. Muldavin – University of New Mexico, Natural Heritage NM
• 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM EDT

  The role of the US National Vegetation Classification in characterizing plant community dynamics across landscapes.
  

  Presenting Author: Lisa M. Kluesner, Certified Ecologist – U.S. Forest Service

  Co-author: Pat Comer – NatureServe

  Co-author: Lisa M. Kluesner, Certified Ecologist – U.S. Forest Service
• 4:00 PM – 4:15 PM EDT

  Using the USNVC to inform state-and-transition models and resource manager awareness of important ecosystem dynamics
  

  Presenting Author: Jack Triepke – University of New Mexico

  Co-author: Eric Robertson – USDA Forest Service
• 4:15 PM – 4:30 PM EDT

  Using ecological sites and historic vegetation to set reference conditions for natural community health assessment of Midwest oak woodlands.
  

  Presenting Author: Don Faber-Langendoen – NatureServe

  Co-author: Gina Beebe – University of Missouri - Columbia

  Co-author: Jason Stevens – U.S. Forest Service

  Co-author: Mike Leahy – Missouri Dept. of Conservation

  Co-author: Kyle Steele – U.S. Forest Service

  Co-author: Brian Davidson – U.S. Forest Service

  Co-author: Carl Nordman – NatureServe

  Co-author: Greg Nowacki – U.S. Forest Service
• 4:30 PM – 4:45 PM EDT

  The International Vegetation Classification: a global framework for informing vegetation community composition and dynamics.
  

  Presenting Author: Patrick Comer – NatureServe

  Co-author: Don Faber-Langendoen – NatureServe

  Co-author: John Hunter – University of New England, Armidale NSW

  Co-author: Eda Addicott – Queensland Herbarium, DES

  Co-author: Nadele Flynn – Yukon government, Canada

  Co-author: Esteban H. Muldavin – University of New Mexico, Natural Heritage NM
• 4:45 PM – 5:00 PM EDT

  Living on the (northern) edge: Holocene dynamics of marginal, northernmost maple stands in eastern North America
  

  Presenting Author: Todor Minchev – Université de Québec à Rimouski \

  Co-author: Pierre-Yves Mondou Laperrière – Université Laval

  Co-author: Julia Cigana – Université de Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue

  Co-author: Pierre Grondin – Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs

  Co-author: Martin Lavoie – Université Laval

  Co-author: Yves Bergeron, Forest Research Institute – Forest Research Institute, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue

  Co-author: Guillaume de Lafontaine – Université du Québec à Rimouski