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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #195414
Title: MANAGING VEGETATION DYNAMICS: SOIL-GEOMORPHIC MAPS, STATE-AND-TRANSITION MODELS, AND REMOTE SENSING

Author
item Bestelmeyer, Brandon
item MONGER, H. CURTIS - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item FLORES ANCIRA, ERNESTO - UNIV. DE AGUASCALIENTES
item Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff
item STEELE, CAITI - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item TREVINO, ROSENDO - NRCS

Submitted to: Ecological Society of America Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/10/2005
Publication Date: 1/8/2006
Citation: Bestelmeyer, B.T., Monger, H.C., Flores Ancira, E., Herrick, J.E., Steele, C. and Trevino, R. 2006. Managing vegetation dynamics: Soil-geomorphic maps, state-and-transition models, and remote sensing. [abstract]. 2006 The Ecological Society International Meeting, January 8-12, 2006, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. 2006 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: No interpretive summary required.

Technical Abstract: Vegetation mapping via remote sensing tools is a useful and cost-effective approach for understanding current land use and species habitat patterns, but has limited utility in predicting the future state of vegetation. We describe an approach that couples data-supported, conceptual state-and-transition models with soil-geomorphic mapping and remote sensing of vegetation states to provide maps of potential vegetation and their likely future state under different management scenarios. Soil maps are critical components of this approach that are often unattainable, so we describe an approach to classifying geomorphology-based land types based on landforms and remote-sensed imagery in arid to semiarid zones. The resulting maps reflect management hazards and opportunities for restoration that are not addressed in conventional vegetation maps.