Long Term Resource Monitoring Program Procedures: Vegetation monitoring
Dates
Publication Date
1995-07
Summary
The Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) is physically diverse and biologically productive, providing habitat to hundreds of species of plants and animals. Aquatic and terrestrial plant communities provide structure, food, and shelter to a variety of organisms, influence nutrient dynamics and water quality, and stabilize sediments (Sculthorpe 1967; Wetzel 1983). Although aquatic and terrestrial vegetation have important ecological value, there are few long-term studies directed toward understanding spatial and temporal changes or understanding potential factors influencing this important component.
Summary
The Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) is physically diverse and biologically productive,
providing habitat to hundreds of species of plants and animals. Aquatic and terrestrial plant communities
provide structure, food, and shelter to a variety of organisms, influence nutrient dynamics and water
quality, and stabilize sediments (Sculthorpe 1967; Wetzel 1983). Although aquatic and terrestrial
vegetation have important ecological value, there are few long-term studies directed toward understanding
spatial and temporal changes or understanding potential factors influencing this important component.
