Home Specialized Services Ecological Projects About Us/Contacts Resources Site Map What's New Otis Bay logo

Projects by State

Nevada

California

• Baker/Hogback
• Hines Spring
• Walker River

Utah

• East Fork of the Sevier
Provo River

Other Projects

Ecological Projects >> Ash Meadows >> Ash Meadows Paleoecology Study

Project:  Ash Meadows Paleoecology Study

Client:  United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Date:  Project currently underway. 

Site Location:   Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is located approximately 70 miles northwest of Las Vegas and approximately 35 miles east of Death Valley National Park.  Ash Meadows harbors numerous plant, fish, and invertebrate species that are found nowhere else in the world. 

Marsh dune complex at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
Marsh dune complex at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
Project Summary:
A study of paleoecological conditions at Ash Meadows will result in an improved understanding of historical vegetation composition at Ash Meadows.  With the exception of general descriptions at a few locations by early visitors to the Ash Meadows area and cadastral survey notes, historical vegetation conditions at Ash Meadows prior to European settlement are largely unknown.  With an improved understanding of the pre-European settlement vegetation conditions, restoration planning and refuge management decisions will be more informed and defendable.  For example, the target habitat types for vegetation community recovery at Ash Meadows are assumed primarily to be alkali meadows, ash and mesquite riparian forest, and emergent marsh.  However, it is unknown how much of these habitat types were present at Ash Meadows prior to European settlement.  Soil cores are being collected for pollen, ostracode, charcoal, and radiocarbon analysis. 

Project Update:
This project is currently underway.  Stay tuned for updates.

To experience the panoramas, videos, audio and multimedia photo galleries, you'll need the free QuickTime Player.
See the Library for additional web resources.
All content on this web site is licensed under a Creative Commons License.