demography, breeding bird success, neotropical 

 migrant birds, iiealth of endangered species 

 populations, site productivity, or impacts of road 

 density on ungulate distribution, reference points 

 are essential. The reference or benchmark function 

 is one of the principal merits of RNAs and similar 

 areas for management and environmental analysis. 

 The availability of RNAs as sites for pure and 

 applied scientific research is closely linked to their 

 importance as reference and monitoring sites, for 

 which research is nonmanipulative and 

 nondestructive. 



Broader Research Applications : 



RNAs provide more than a framework to answer 

 refuge or regional management questions. RNAs are 

 available to investigate the functioning of 

 ecosystems and the sustainability of both ecosystem 

 processes and community components. They 

 present an opportunity for studying given ecological 

 processes and the natural range of ecosystem 

 variability. Research Natural Area systems are ideally 

 pristine examples that collectively represent the full 

 range of ecosystem types, and the accompanying 

 range of biota, landform, ecosystems, soils, climate, 

 successional stages, disturbance regimes and other 

 ecological processes (see Ryan et al. 1994 for the 

 Rocky Mountain Region types identified to date 

 and Chadde et al. 1996 for the Intermountain 

 Region). In a similar tone, the Refuge Manual states 

 that "RNAS are intended to represent the full array 

 of North American ecosystems; biological 

 communities, habitats, and phenomena; and 

 geological and hydrological formation and 

 conditions" as part of a larger network for 

 understanding cumulative effects and large-scale 

 changes. 



Biodiversity Protection : 



One of the stated goals of ecosystem management is 

 the protection of biodiversity. The RNA system 

 functions at the "fine filter" level in harboring 

 populations of rare or localized animals, plants, and 

 plant communities. The RNA system may also serve 

 as core areas of genetic diversity for common plant 

 and animal species and their habitats and as a safety 

 net for little known elements of biological diversity 

 (e.g. soil microflora and fauna, terrestrial and 

 aquatic invertebrates, etc.) and their contribution to 

 ecosystem processes. In this capacity they thus serve 

 as part of the "coarse filter" paradigm for protecting 

 biodiversity (Hunter 1991); all the more critical in 



fragmented landscapes and patchworks of 

 management objectives. 



Research Natural .reas are established consistent 

 with the Objectives Handbook of the National 

 Wildlife Reftige System (USFWS Reftige Manual 8 

 RM 10; referred to as "Refuge Manual in the rest 

 of text). Their establishment rests on the Handbook 

 policy that "The Service recognizes the importance 

 of preserving plant and animal communities in a 

 natural state for research purposes." They are 

 categorized according to one or more of the 

 following biological or physical features, consistent 

 with their contribution to ecosystem management: 



A. Biological features 



1. An ecological community significandy 

 illustrating characteristics of a physiographic 

 province or a biome.* 



2. A biota of relative stability maintaining 

 itself under prevailing natural conditions, 

 such as a climax community.* 



3. An ecological community significandy 

 illustrating the process of succession and 

 restoration to a climax condition following 

 a naturally caused disruptive change. A 

 habitat supporting a vanishing, rare, or 

 restricted species.* 



4. A seasonal haven for concentrations of 

 native animals or a vantage point for 

 observing concentrated populations such as 

 a constricted migration route. 



B. Physical features 



1 . Outstanding geological formations or 

 features significandy illustrating geological 

 processes.* 



2. Significant fossil evidence. 



3. Any site containing significant evidence 

 illustrating important scientific discoveries. 



*(From.- USFWS Refuse Manual 8 RM 10.7) 



Many of the 15 RNAs were originally designated 

 based on their biological significance as providing 

 ecological communities characteristic of the 

 physiographic area. Others were cited as having 

 significance in providing relict habitat or habitat for 

 restricted species. This study was designed to 

 evaluate all of the 15 RNAs in Montana for their 

 ecological and botanical significance as they relate to 

 five of the criteria in the Refuge Manual (asterisked 

 above). 



