8. Name: An Ecological Characterization of Rocky Mountain Montane and Subalpine 

 Wetlands. 



Authors: John T. Windell, Beatrice E. Willaid, David J. Cooper, Susan Q. Foster, Christo- 

 pher F. Knud-Hansen, Lauranne P. Rink, George N. Kiladis. - 



Reference: Windell, J., B. Willard, D. Cooper, S. Foster, C. Knud-Hansen, L. Rink, and G. 

 Kiladis. 1986. An ecological characterization of Rocky Mountain montane and subalpine 

 wetlands. National Ecology Center, Division of Wildlife and Contaminant Research, USDI, 

 Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC, Biological Report 86(1 1). 298 pp. 



Objectives: Provide a comprehensive review of Rocky Mountain wetlands. Identify gaps 

 existing in the scientific literature. Provide information for the assessment, planning, and 

 permitting of activities affecting wetlands. Provide an educational source for anyone inter- 

 ested in the ecological functioning and value of high-elevation wetiands. The report also 

 classifies Rocky Mountain wetiands within a system hierarchy that recognizes international 

 wefland terminology, considers duration, depth, velocity of water and frequency of flooding, 

 and variety and concentration of mineral nutrients as the two dominant factors determining 

 pattern of species and communities. 



Designed Users: Biologists, ecologists, planners, managers. 



Area of Applicability: Rocky Mountains. 



Classification Units, Description, and Data: 



Classification Units 



Water Regime 



Subcategory 



Substrate 



Water Type 



Ecosystem 

 Type 



Description 



Highest level of the classification and includes: permanent 

 shallow, standing water, communities with seasonal or 

 permanent high water tables, but without permanent standing 

 waters; communities adjacent to running waters; communi- 

 ties in running water. 



Permanent shallow, standing includes: floating, rooted 

 submerged, rooted floating leaved, rooted emergent Sea- 

 sonal water regime: herb wetiands, shrub wetiands, forested 

 wetiands, unvegetated. Running water regime: moss, 

 herbaceous, shrub, forested, unvegetated. 



Mineral or organic. 



Fresh, saline, minerotrophic, ombrotrophic. 



Types listed to conform to international 

 nomenclature: fen, bog, marsh-meadow, saline marsh- 

 meadow, carr, shrub bog, shrub wetiand, saline shrub 

 wetiand, deciduous angiosperm forest, moss wetiands, 

 herbaceous wetiand, shrub wetiand, coniferous forest 



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