Isle Royale National Park Vegetation Change Analysis 1996 to 2017 - Randomly Selected Sites
Dates
Publication Date
2024-02-07
Time Period
2017-03-31
Citation
Strassman, A.C., 2024, Isle Royale National Park Vegetation Change Analysis 1996 to 2017: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9393VFK.
Summary
Vegetation change is an important issue facing managers at Isle Royale National Park (ISRO). These data were created using high-resolution imagery collected in the winter of 2017 which was compared to the vegetation map of the National Park published in 2000 (project imagery collected in 1994 and 1996). These data review where vegetation cover type, density, and pattern have changed since imagery collection for the 2000 publication and provide a proposed reason for the change.
Summary
Vegetation change is an important issue facing managers at Isle Royale National Park (ISRO). These data were created using high-resolution imagery collected in the winter of 2017 which was compared to the vegetation map of the National Park published in 2000 (project imagery collected in 1994 and 1996). These data review where vegetation cover type, density, and pattern have changed since imagery collection for the 2000 publication and provide a proposed reason for the change.
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ISRO_Veg_Change_Random_Sites.xml Original FGDC Metadata
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ISRO_Veg_Change_Random_Sites.zip
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Purpose
In response to a decade-long decline in the wolf population of Isle Royale National Park, USA ultimately resulting in just two wolves remaining (Peterson and others 2018), the National Park Service reviewed options including reintroduction. Although a number of factors were considered when determining whether to reintroduce wolves, the long-term and large-scale effects of rising moose and beaver populations on the island’s vegetation were the most important factors. Quantifying status and trends in vegetation at the National Park, as they relate to beaver and moose browsing, forest succession, and climate change are important questions to answer. These data look to address data gaps in how vegetation cover has changed over the preceding two decades as wolf populations slowly decreased on the island.
