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.
Recommended Citation
Morrison, Shaun, "Distribution of Invasive Plants on Debris Cones at Mount Rainier National Park" (2019). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 101.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2019/Oralpres/101
Department/Program
Cultural and Environmental Resource Management
Slides for SOURCE 2019 presentation Morrison
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
Faculty Mentor(s)
Megan Walsh