Dynamics, Metrics, Services and Scenarios for Ecosystems in North Dakota and Northern Minnesota, USA

Michael J Hill, University of North Dakota, hillmj@aero.und.edu (Presenter)
Seth Fore, University of North Dakota, seth.fore@und.edu
Kate Overmoe, University of North Dakota, kate.overmoe@und.edu
Qiang Zhou, University of North dakota, qiang.zhou@und.edu
Rebecca Lemons, University of North Dakota, rebecca.lemons@und.edu
Cherie New, University of North Dakota, cherie.new@und.edu

Grasslands and savannas face continual pressure from agricultural conversion and livestock grazing since they occupy lands with high potential for food production. The prairies and savanna-forest transition zone on the Great Plains of North America have experienced these pressures for more than 150 years. In the northern plains, North Dakota and Northern Minnesota represent the transition from prairies to forest, and contain examples of complete conversion and almost undisturbed wilderness. This research seeks to examine the dynamics, and metrics of these changes, the consequent effects on ecosystem services in these landscapes, and create a basis for development and examination of global change scenarios and futures for the region. The grassland, savanna and forest gradient in North Dakota and Northern Minnesota runs from the Missouri River to Lake Superior. It provides an excellent analytical laboratory for exploration of the dynamics of ecosystem change, effects of change on ecosystem services and approaches to development of scenarios and ecosystem futures for the region. The remnant grassland and oak savannas are a fraction of the original pre-settlement areas and exist in fragments scattered the length and breadth of the central USA. The framework for this research leads from the pre-settlement landscape, through historical change to the present landscape, the characteristics of ecosystem function, the provision of ecosystem services and the development of ecosystem scenarios and futures. The research consists of sub-projects that integrate remote sensing with different analytic approaches and methods. This poster briefly describes the sub-projects and how they are connected. Topics include analysis of grassland fragmentation with Landsat time series, assessing grassland 'naturalness' with Hyperion imagery, state and transition modeling using remote sensing, assessment of land use change effects on ecosystem function, and application of process modeling to ecosystem service assessment.

Presentation Type:  Poster

Session:  Other   (Mon 4:00 PM)

Associated Project(s): 

• Related Activity

Poster Location ID: 30