Distribution of Invasive Plants on Debris Cones at Mount Rainier National Park

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

Ellensburg

Event Website

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source

Start Date

16-5-2019

End Date

16-5-2019

Abstract

Invasive plant populations within Mount Rainier National Park are a threat to the unique mountain landscape, and a better understanding of their place on and use of the landscape is needed to enhance National Park Service management. The study investigates how invasive plant populations in Stevens Canyon are utilizing the debris cone disturbances and associated geomorphic processes to facilitate movement within the park. Vegetation transects were performed along Stevens Canyon Road (to observe the propagule composition) and on the debris cone features (to observe propagule species movement). These vegetation observations are presented spatially on land surface profiles generated to observe where on the debris cones the invasive species are most successful at movement. This allows for invasive plant movement to be associated with geomorphic processes on the land surface, providing a mechanism for movement. Results identified two species, St. John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum) and common mullein (Verbascum thapsus), utilizing channels and bulges on the debris cone surfaces. These observations establish that hydrologic flow and sediment movement downslope as the primary vectors of invasive plant movement. As a highly dynamic geomorphic park, Mount Rainier has many disturbed landscapes below and adjacent to invaded roadsides with the same landscape types, and this study identifies the landscapes as areas of focus for invasive plant management within the park.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Megan Walsh

Department/Program

Cultural and Environmental Resource Management

SM SOURCE 2019.pptx (111237 kB)
Slides for SOURCE 2019 presentation Morrison

Additional Files

SM SOURCE 2019.pptx (111237 kB)
Slides for SOURCE 2019 presentation Morrison

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May 16th, 12:00 AM May 16th, 12:00 AM

Distribution of Invasive Plants on Debris Cones at Mount Rainier National Park

Ellensburg

Invasive plant populations within Mount Rainier National Park are a threat to the unique mountain landscape, and a better understanding of their place on and use of the landscape is needed to enhance National Park Service management. The study investigates how invasive plant populations in Stevens Canyon are utilizing the debris cone disturbances and associated geomorphic processes to facilitate movement within the park. Vegetation transects were performed along Stevens Canyon Road (to observe the propagule composition) and on the debris cone features (to observe propagule species movement). These vegetation observations are presented spatially on land surface profiles generated to observe where on the debris cones the invasive species are most successful at movement. This allows for invasive plant movement to be associated with geomorphic processes on the land surface, providing a mechanism for movement. Results identified two species, St. John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum) and common mullein (Verbascum thapsus), utilizing channels and bulges on the debris cone surfaces. These observations establish that hydrologic flow and sediment movement downslope as the primary vectors of invasive plant movement. As a highly dynamic geomorphic park, Mount Rainier has many disturbed landscapes below and adjacent to invaded roadsides with the same landscape types, and this study identifies the landscapes as areas of focus for invasive plant management within the park.

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2019/Oralpres/101