WINTER VEGETATION ECOLOGY LAB

• Lecture - Vegetation Winter Ecology - I   –Plant ecophysiology (adaptations to winter by lifeform - e.g., deciduous vs. evergreen strategies)
• On Sunday: Lab -  Plant Specimens Lab: Raunkiaer's life forms of Niwot Ridge's flora

• Handout: Elevation & Landscape Distribution of Montane & Alpine Vegetation, & Raunkaier Plant Lifeforms (pdf, 600k)

• Assignment for Sunday:
  
• "A winter morphological adaptation in conifers are 'border pits' - what are these and how do they function?" (from the readings in Marchand) - not a written assignment, just be ready to say what's up with these.

WINTER VEGETATION ECOLOGY FIELD DAY

8:15a - Early Start - Weather Briefing - Current Weather & Forecasts (MRS) and for Niwot treeline (11,000') 

• Lecture - Field Day Set-up: Vegetation Winter Ecology -II – Front Range plant associations · Landscape patterns (effects of altitude, aspect, substrate, freeze/thaw, snow deposition; The Five Functional Factors Controlling the Distribution of Vegetation/Ecosystems on the Landscape) · Wintertime plant id ·
  

Readings	LC Chapter 3 Interested in a re-phrasing? WEH provides a review of some of this material: Chap 3, p. 163-176 especially re Hardening: p. 165-167 re: Five Functional Factors Controlling the Distribution of Vegetation (optional): Major, Jack. 1951. A Functional, Factorial Approach to Plant Ecology.  Ecology 32: 392-412 (pdf, 600k)	Krummholz vegetation, Niwot Ridge
Lesson points	What are the major tree species of the Front Range's upper montane (9,000-11,500')? And what are their distinguishing features (to id.)? How are they winter-adapted? -- Answers here are linked to the next questions... What are key physiological and morphological adaptations of plants in seasonally cold climates? Physiologically, how do plants acclimate to and withstand cold winters? Morphologically, how are plants in the upper montane adapted to winter?  Along these lines: What generalized plant life forms (morphological types, such as Raunkiaer's life forms) are found in seasonally cold climates?  And how are each of these forms adapted to winter? What are border pits in conifers? For any location on the landscape, are there single or multiple plant solutions to winter conditions?  Give an example. What are the Five Functional Factors Controlling the Distribution of Vegetation/Ecosystems on the Landscape? See also Vegetation Field Lesson points below.	Timberline Forests, Niwot Mountain  (photo: G. Kittel) Engelmann Spruce, Spruce-Fir Forest,  Niwot Ridge Research Area (photo: G. Kittel)
Handouts	Elevation & Landscape Distribution of Montane & Alpine Vegetation, & Raunkaier Plant Lifeforms (pdf, 600k)
Other References	Mountain Ecosystems: Studies in Treeline Ecology, by G. Broll & B. Keplin (eds. 2005, Springer, NY) [sci library: QH541.5 .M65 M722 2005] Huner et al. 1993. Photosynthesis, photoinhibition and low temperature acclimation in cold tolerant plants. Photosynthesis Research 37: 19-39 (pdf, 2M)

FIELD -

Bring	Good flotation (snowshoes, skis with skins) Layers - be prepared for standing around in the cold/wind once at our field site Field journal "Topo map for Niwot Ridge" handout (passed out first day at the Lodge) Pack lunch, lots of water/fluids Toe/Hand Warmer Packs - if you're prone to cold toes/hands Available at REI, etc. If you have: Compass & Clinometer (for measuring slope): as instruments, or phone apps - my favorite Clinometer app is by plaincode, uses camera for sighting: iOS - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/clinometer-bubble-level/id286215117 - $1.99 Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.plaincode.clinometer&hl=en - free, with ads If you have:  Snow shovel Avi probe Hand lens Topo map for Indian Peaks Forecast:  Niwot treeline (11,000') Ribbon Forests (photo from Hope Humphries and Patrick Bourgeron)
Field Locations / Handouts	Our highest site for the day = just west of Cable Gate Handouts: Terrain Niwot Ridge Sites (doc, 130k) Topo of MRS and lower Niwot Ridge (pdf, 650k) GoogleEarth images:  broad view, closer view w/ 50m bar (jpg's, 160k) Handout: Field Datasheets - transect 1m-50m & reverse form: 50m-1m (pdf's, 700k) Handouts: Photographic Guide to Conifers & ID Key (pdf, 3M) Data Entry / Analysis - Instructions:  Done separately for each Transect. Enter data from your field datasheets into separate Data Entry Worksheets for: Team A, Team B (xls, 30k).   Team B: Enter your data from the bottom up, so that the row label and your meter plots match (e.g. 50m data are entered in the row for '50m') Enter slope data in %.  If your slope data are in degrees, use this spreadsheet to convert degrees to % - xls For the Summary worksheet to work, do not change the names of the A & B Data Entry files Put A & B Data Entry xls's into the same folder as the "Combined Summary" Analysis Spreadsheet: xls, 200k.  Name the folder according to the name of your transect or group. Open the "Combined Summary" Spreadsheet, click 'Update' Check that your data have been imported correctly - review the values plotted in the 'Transect Profile' tab. Discuss graphs and interpret. Click to enlarge
Lesson points	How do landscape features (abiotic and biotic) alter snowpack in ways that affect the distribution of vegetation just below timberline? What are the abiotic and biotic controls over the structure of vegetation in Subalpine Forests?  In what seasons are each most important? See also Vegetation Lesson points above
Related links	Plant species lists for Niwot Ridge and Green Lakes Valley are on line at: MRS Plant, Mammal, and Bird Species Lists [Links broken: Niwot Ridge Vegetation, and Tundra Vegetation Communities (including Map) [Link broken: See also Niwot Ridge Vegetation and Vertebrates: overview [Links broken: RockyMountain NP Species list <http://www.nps.gov/romo/resources/plantsandanimals/commonandscience.html> Ecosystem Descriptions (RMNPk) Aspen [Link broken: Encyclopedia of Life podcast on Lichen How to make a clinometer: [Links broken: http://www.ehow.com/how_2252010_make-clinometer.html and printout a protractor: http://www.satsig.net/pointing/how-to-make-inclinometer.htm
Other Resources	Global Analysis of Alpine Treeline Position (pdf, 275k) Winter Ecophysiology of Lodgepole Pine (pdf, 150k) Cankers on Quaking Aspen:  [Link broken: http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/q_aspen/q_aspen.htm See also student project by: Leslie Seale (2013) "Moose Winter Diet and Heightened Vulnerability of Quaking Aspen to Fungal Cankers," on Canvas, under Previous Projects [Link broken: "Pineapple Galls" on Englemann Spruce: http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pljuly99.htm#pineapple
More on Vegetation Zones	From Grassland to Glacier:  The Natural History of Colorado and the Surrounding Region, by C.F. Mutel & J.C. Emerick (1992, Johnson Books, Boulder CO) Rocky Mountain National Park Natural History Handbook,  By John C. Emerick (1995, Roberts Rinehart Publ. and Rocky Mountain Nature Assoc.) A Sierra Club Naturalist’s Guide to The Southern Rockies,  By Audrey Benedict (1991, Sierra Club Books)
More for Plant Id	Rocky Mountain Flora, by Wm. Weber (1976, Colorado Associated Univ Press) -- the Marr Lab library has many copies. Winter Guide to Central Rocky Mountain Shrubs, by Wm. McKean (ed.) (1976, 2nd ed., Colorado Div of Wildlife, Dept of Natural Resources).

• Analysis & Discussion