Science in Glacier National Park

80 Pages·4 MB·English

by  National Park Service

Global
Change
Research
Inventory
and
Monitoring
Cultural Red
Resources Bench
&
Social
*^
Sciences Research
Geographic Science
Information
System
in Glacier National Park

Science in Glacier National Park
WATERTON GLACIER
INTERNATIONALPEACEPARK-PARCINTERNATIONALDCLAPAIX
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012 with funding from
LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation
http://archive.org/details/scienceinglacierOOnati
Science in Glacier National Park 1991 - 1992
The Annua/ Report of the Cooperative Park Studies Unit
Glacier National Park and The University of Montana
Table of Contents
Introduction
/
Cooperative Research in Glacier National Park 2
Global Change Research 4
Inventory and Monitoring 17
Resource Studies 28
Water 28
Aquatic 29
Vegetation 33
Wildlife 39
Fire Ecology Studies 43
Red Bench Fire Studies 45
Cultural Resources Studies 51
Social Sciences 52
Geographic Information System 53
External Issues 58
Contributed Studies 61
Contributors 70
Bibliography and New Publications 71
This annual report was edited by Brenda Coen, Division of Natural Resources, Glacier National Park. The cover was
designed by Bill Hayden, Interpretive Division, Glacier National Park. This report was published in cooperation with
the Glacier Natural History Association and printed by the Hungry Horse News, Columbia Falls, Montana.

Introduction
James T. Tilmant, Chief Division of Natural Resources
The two-year period covered by this issue view from the Future, Science in Glacier
of Glacier's Science Summary has been National Park 1990), one might assume
,
one of change and growth for the Park's that change, even within the human
Science Program. These changes have confines of programmatic organizational
come in both personnel and organizational structure, was inevitable for Glacier and
structure. elsewhere in the Park Service. The need
for change in our approach to Natural
Park management has taken a bold step Resources Management is touted
to improve the responsiveness of park everywhere today and is surfacing on
research and the quality of its resources many fronts within our government's
management programs through a resource management agencies. Indeed,
reorganizational effort. The organizational as we are developing this Science
change was instituted by the combining Summary there is talk in Washington D.C.
of the park's resource management and of creating a new National Biological
scientific research program functions into Survey to oversee and conduct ecological
a single Division of Natural Resources. research for all Department of the Interior
The new Division incorporates the agencies.
functions of research, technical resources
management and resources data The need for a highly professional
management and serves as the primary approach to resources management
source of information and understanding within the National Park Service was
for the Glacier National Park ecosystem. recently summarized in a paper by Steve
The Division's major goal is to carry out a Veirs entitled Management and Change in
highly professional resources Natural Areas presented at the Fourth
management program in accordance with World Congress on National Parks and
the Park's Resource Management Plan. Protected Areas, Caracas, Venezuela,
February, 1992. Veirs states that "we
arrived at Glacier during the summer of used to think that parks were the
I
1 991 , eager to take on the job of changeless baselines against which we
implementing the organizational change could measure the changes in our
that would bring together the scientific environment. But the parks are changing
research and park resource management in subtle ways: assailed by human use,
programs into a single well-coordinated habitat conversion, introduction of non-
division. am excited about this task native species, disease, pollution,
I
because have long believed that pesticides, etc.... Park managers can no
I
professional resources management is a longer make environmental decisions
science and needs a scientific perspective about their preserves from the saddle of
in its design and implementation. In their horses."
addition, our science programs are often
so distant from park management that the The issues with which Glacier and other
results of scientist's efforts are either not national parks are dealing are complex
appreciated or not readily known and and ecosystem oriented, extending well
utilized by resource managers. Since my beyond the park borders. Park
arrival, I have been further stimulated by management is faced with the concerns
the recent National Academy of Sciences of conservationists, ecolog-ists,
Report on Science in the National Parks preservationists, recreationists,
and a momentum that seems to be economists and many others perspectives
growing toward an appropriate emphasis as they make decisions. Often the
on the importance of professional important decisions influencing park
resources management programs within resources are not even the park
the Service. managers' to make, but involve
sufficiently influencing adjacent land
In looking back at the philosophically managers and planners to make decisions
challenging presentation that Cliff in the best interest of park resources. It
Martinka provided in our last Science is under the principles of providing good
Summary (See: Our National Parks - A scientific advice upon which to make or
SCIENCE in Glacier National Park
;
influence these decisions that the Glacier Under Cliff's direction the past two years,
National Park science program is the Glacier National Park CPSU has taken
operating. on an identity and become functional. It
is now an integral part of our science
A major source of growth for Glacier's program with nine coordinated research
program has been the selection and projects and a course that is taught on
subsequent funding of Glacier as a Campus by park staff.
designated component of the National
Park Service Global Climate Change Areas of emphasis within our program
Program. Dr. Daniel Fagre, who arrived in over the past two years have been
Glacier from Indiana Dunes during vegetation rehabilitation techniques,
September, 1991, has become the GCC exotic plant control, fire recovery and
Program Coordinator for the Glacier ecological changes associated with the
National Park Biogeographic Area. Dan's Red Bench Fire, resource inventory and
program has grown quickly and now monitoring technique development,
involves two universities, the U.S.F.S. endangered species studies including the
Intermountain Research Station, the grey wolf, grizzly bear and bald eagle,
U.S.G.S., and NASA scientists. Details of ecosystem modeling in relation to global
this program are provided in a following climate change, and GIS database
section of this Summary. development. During the winter of 1991-
92, the park completed a new draft
Another area of growth in the Science Resources Management Plan that will be
Program has been with our Cooperative used to guide program priorities. The
Park Studies Unit (CPSU) at the University following summaries are intended to
of Montana. Cliff Martinka has taken on document and bring the reader up to date
the role of program Senior Scientist and is on program activities over the past two
serving as a leader for CPSU activities. years on a project by project basis.
The Campus Connection -
Cooperative Research in Glacier National Park
Clifford J. Martinka, Senior Scientist
In 1990, a new era of cooperative public. The document went on to outline
research and education emerged in the kinds of contributions that each party
northwestern Montana. The foundation would make in support of the agreement;
for change was a formal agreement staff, facilities and funds were considered
between the National Park Service (NPS) especially important to a prosperous
and the University of Montana (UM) to partnership.
establish a Cooperative Park Studies Unit
(CPSU). The CPSU concept had been in The accord contained one particularly
place nationally for nearly two decades, significant element that was intended to
but this was the first time the foster the credibility of park science. It
organizational focus was on a park called for the establishment of an
science program that was already in advisory committee that develops and
existence. In effect, Glacier National Park implements a process to evaluate plans
became the functional base for staff and accomplishments of the Unit staff. In
scientists as well as for cooperating essence, this process represented an
investigators from the University. addition to the framework of peer review
that is currently required of park
The agreement proposed development of scientists: it extends and complements
a general program of research and the rigorous evaluations that precede
teaching related to the natural and publication of research results in technical
cultural resources of Glacier National journals. One result is that the UM will
Park. Topics of mutual interest included ultimately become a partner not just in
inventory and monitoring of park science, but also in park management.
resources, knowledge and techniques for
addressing threats to the integrity of During its first three years, strategy, role
those resources, and the education of and function were prominent issues as
staff, students, visitors and the general the Unit continued to seek its identity. In
2 SCIENCE in Glacier National Park
.
response, a series of strategic principles Work orders were especially useful for
was formulated from a mission that building the complex programs required
"explored the values and fostered the role for global change and wildland fire
of national parks as international scientific research initiatives.
resources." The principles guided
development of a program that reflected Collaborative research was also a
the intent of the original agreement. program element that extended staff
They essentially stated that: involvement to other agencies and
universities. A study that is measuring
1 The CPSU functions as an the diversity of beetles in park forests
international center for mountain reveals the complicated relationships
landscape ecology: it responds to required by these efforts. The project is
markets that include park, regional, being administered through CPSUs at
national, and international clients. Montana State University and the
University of California, Davis, with a
2. Scientific research is an investment park staff scientist serving as coordinator
that provides options for the restora- for the former and investigator for the
tion and conservation of ecosystems latter. Another project links the park
that are local to global in extent. global change program with the interests
in snow of the National Aeronautic and
3. Education complements and enhances Space Administration. And still another is
the value of scientific research: carrying this focus on snow back to
program performance reflects the full wildland fire in an attempt to understand
potential of its human resources. how forest canopy removal influences
white-tailed deer (Odocoi/eus virgin/anus),
From an organizational perspective, the elk (Cervus elaphus) and moose (A/ces
CPSU consists of a staff of six scientists alces) during the snowy winter months.
stationed in Glacier National Park. The Other examples point to collaborative
group includes a senior scientist, climate science as an expanding trend within the
specialist, wildlife ecologist, landscape CPSU.
specialist, conservation biologist, and
aquatic ecologist. As professional In 1992, the educational component of
scientists, they function as contributors agreement was addressed through a
to a broad park program of natural scheduled campus class entitled "Science
resources management by providing in National Parks." The course explored
original research and professional the history, philosophy, and role of park
consultation on regional ecosystem, science as a basis for understanding the
biological diversity, threatened species, research process, its relationship to park
global change, and human roles in natural management, and its more general
systems. At the same time, they provide contributions to natural resources
program leadership by helping to design, conservation. Knowledge and its source,
implement, and manage research ventures the organization of science, conservation
that involve colleagues from the scientific challenges and legal perspectives were
and academic communities. emphasized along with the concept of
management as scientific experimenta-
The agreement facilitates cooperative tion. Guest speakers from national parks
research where both Glacier National Park and other agencies complemented weekly
and UM are interested in a particular lectures by the CPSU senior scientist:
research topic. Work orders are the they were especially helpful in providing a
administrative vehicle for establishing a look at life after graduation. The class is
formal relationship that blends campus scheduled again for the spring semester
expertise into the park science program. of 1993.
From 1990 through 1992, there were
nine work orders that addressed a variety By late 1992, staff scientists realized that
of interesting subjects. For example, one while opportunities for park science
project explored the ecology of under- continued to expand, there were
ground aquatic habitats -- its relevance constraints that challenged their
was anticipated in waters rights negotia- management skills. In response,
tions. Another sought information about collaboration emerged as a means for
the daily activities of park visitors - its addressing financial deficiencies and a
goal was to provide a basis for planning. plethora of research issues, every one of
SCIENCE in Glacier National Park
which seemed to demand attention. The essentially no failures when the process is
group set out to mesh research goals put to work - it is much like a rolling
with those of park management, hoop that bounces along the same track
recognizing that some changes in their but never covers the same ground.
individual programs would likely be Another attribute is that a new world for
required. Predicting success for any scientists has been created, one where
attempt to change organizational culture ideas are tested under the sometimes
is fraught with risk. But there are ways messy reality of field conditions. With
to narrow the odds -- in this case these points in mind, the perceptive
adaptive resource management provides reader may detect a dilemma. Are the
insider advantage. traditions of science capable of
assimilating this emerging concept or will
Adaptive resource management is a a revolution be required for the
concept that has been around for several construction of a new paradigm? For
decades. Recent emphasis on its now, the answer to this question remains
potential values has emerged from at well hidden in the inertia of university and
least two sources. First is a need for agency research cultures. But the
more sophisticated management of foundation for change is being poured and
natural resources. Second is a need for future advantage will be gained by those
more reliable knowledge about natural actively involved in both design and
resources. Both requirements meet in the construction activities.
field where management represents an
experimental commons. The process The CPSU at Glacier National Park is in a
includes a sequential consideration of unique position to help construct a new
values, observations, assumptions, model for park science. Its past provides
hypotheses, predictions, experiments, a framework of knowledge, experience,
measurements, evaluations and and expertise that is essential for
adjustments. It is at least a partial continuing performance in an often
substitute for the current management chaotic organizational world. But that is
process that originates from the same no longer enough where a competitive
values and perhaps the same edge requires frequent sharpening by
assumptions, but then extends through change. That edge is provided by human
policies, goals and management actions. resources with the vision, energy, and
freedom to pursue strategic goals for the
One of the interesting attributes of park. And people are the strength of the
adaptive management is that there are Cooperative Park Studies Unit.
Glacier National Park -
An International Resource for Global Change Research
Introduction
Human activities are causing numerous relatively unimpacted by humans to
global changes, one of which may be the accurately detect rates of background
overall climate of our planet. Global change. Many national parks are ideal as
warming and changes in our sites for being able to detect subtle global
atmosphere's composition have been climate changes without the confounding
documented and most scientists attribute effects of localized impacts. National
both trends to humans. However, Parks can be part of a planetary network
estimating the rates of future climate for sensing climate change.
change and detecting meaningful impacts
of climate change on our immediate There also is a need to understand how
landscapes are more problematic. Most intact ecosystems, representing each
terrestrial ecosystems are themselves major biome, respond to climate change.
changing so rapidly it is difficult to With such information on underlying
interpret which system responses may be dynamics, more accurate predictions can
to global climate changes and which to be made concerning how various
more direct human disturbance such as disturbed ecosystems will respond to
ecosystem fragmentation. Therefore, climate change. National Parks with
there is a critical need to use places intact ecosystems are ideal for use as
SCIENCE in Glacier National Park