Ecological systems of Montana
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File:Gallatin National Forest.jpg
There are 62 named ecological systems of Montana described in the Montana Field Guides.{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/default.aspx |title=Montana Field Guides |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}{{cite web |url= http://fieldguide.mt.gov/helpES.aspx |title=Montana Field Guide-Ecological Systems Field Guide Help
|publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
Definition
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving, physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight."Biology Concepts & Connections Sixth Edition", Campbell, Neil A. (2009), page 2, 3 and G-9. Retrieved 2010-06-14. It is all the organisms in a given area, along with the nonliving (abiotic) factors with which they interact; a biological community and its physical environment.
As stated in an article from Montana State University in its Institute on Ecosystems: "An ecosystem can be small, such as the area under a pine tree or a single hot spring in Yellowstone National Park, or it can be large, such as the Rocky Mountains, the rainforest or the Antarctic Ocean."{{Cite web |title=Montana's Ecosystems - Institute on Ecosystems {{!}} Montana State University |url=https://www.montana.edu/ioe/montanaecosystems.html#:~:text=Montana%27s%20ecosystems,-Because%20there%20are&text=FWP%27s%20four%20main%20ecosystems%20are,on%20different%20types%20of%20rangeland. |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.montana.edu}}
The [https://fwp.mt.gov/ Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks] called the state's main ecosystems montane forest, intermountain grassland, plains grassland and shrub grassland. The [https://ag.montana.edu/maes.htm Montana Agricultural Experiment Station] categorized Montana's ecosystems based on the different rangelands and recognized 22 different ecosystems; the Montana Natural Heritage Program recognizes 62 for the entire state.
Forest and woodland
- Northern Rocky Mountain Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4234 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4243 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northwestern Great Plains - Black Hills Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4280 |title=Montana Field Guide- Great Plains Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northern Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4232 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Foothill Limber Pine - Juniper Woodland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4236 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Foothill Limber Pine - Juniper Woodland|publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northern Rocky Mountain Foothill Conifer Wooded Steppe{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=5426 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Foothill Woodland-Steppe Transition |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Forest{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4237 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Forest |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Middle Rocky Mountain Montane Douglas-Fir Forest and Woodland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4266 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Montane Douglas-Fir Forest and Woodland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4240 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Poor Site Lodgepole Pine Forest{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4267 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Poor Site Lodgepole Pine Forest |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine Dry-Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4242 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine Dry-Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northern Rocky Mountain Subalpine Woodland and Parkland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4233 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine Woodland and Parkland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Aspen Forest and Woodland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4104 |title=Montana Field Guide-Aspen Forest and Woodland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Western Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4328 |title=Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Inter-Mountain Basins Mountain Mahogany Woodland and Shrubland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4303 |title=Montana Field Guide-Mountain Mahogany Woodland and Shrubland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Inter-Mountain Basins Aspen Mixed Conifer Forest-Woodland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=4302 |title=Montana Field Guide-Aspen Mixed Conifer Forest-Woodland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
Alpine
- Rocky Mountain Alpine Dwarf-Shrubland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=5207 |title=Montana Field Guide-Alpine Dwarf Shrubland|publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Alpine Turf{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=7117 |title=Montana Field Guide-Alpine Turf |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Alpine Bedrock and Scree{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=3135 |title=Montana Field Guide-Alpine Bedrock and Scree |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Alpine Fell-Field{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=7116 |title=Montana Field Guide-Alpine Fell-Field |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- North American Alpine Ice Field{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=3130 |title=Montana Field Guide-Alpine Ice Field |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
Shrubland, steppe and savanna
- Northwestern Great Plains Shrubland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=5262 |title=Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Shrubland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill Shrubland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=5263 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill Shrubland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northern Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Deciduous Shrubland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=5312 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Deciduous Shrubland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northern Rocky Mountain Subalpine Deciduous Shrubland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=5326 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine Deciduous Shrubland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=5454 |title=Montana Field Guide-Big Sagebrush Steppe |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=5455 |title=Montana Field Guide-Montane Sagebrush Steppe |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=5257 |title=Montana Field Guide-Big Sagebrush Shrubland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Wyoming Basins Dwarf Sagebrush Shrubland and Steppe{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=5209 |title=Montana Field Guide-Low Sagebrush Shrubland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Inter-Mountain Basins Mat Saltbush Shrubland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=5203 |title=Montana Field Guide-Mat Saltbush Shrubland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Inter-Mountain Basins Mixed Salt Desert Scrub{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=5258 |title=Montana Field Guide-Mixed Salt Desert Scrub |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
Grassland
- Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=7114 |title=Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Western Great Plains Sand Prairie{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=7121 |title=Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Sand Prairie |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane, Foothill and Valley Grassland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=7112 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Lower Montane, Foothill and Valley Grassland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Mesic Meadow{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=7118 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Mesic Meadow |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northern Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Upper Montane Grassland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=7113 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Upper Montane Grassland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
Sparse and barren
- Inter-Mountain Basins Active and Stabilized Dune{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=3160 |title=Montana Field Guide-Active and Stabilized Dune |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Western Great Plains Badlands{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=3114 |title=Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Badlands |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Inter-Mountain Basins Shale Badland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=3139 |title=Montana Field Guide-Shale Badland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Western Great Plains Cliff and Outcrop{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=3142 |title=Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Cliff and Outcrop |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Cliff, Canyon and Massive Bedrock{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=3129 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Cliff, Canyon and Massive Bedrock |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Inter-Mountain Basins Cliff and Canyon{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=3173 |title=Montana Field Guide- Wyoming Basins Cliff and Canyon |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
Open-water and riparian
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9234 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Western Great Plains Closed Depressional Wetland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9252 |title=Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Closed Depressional Wetland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Western Great Plains Open Freshwater Depression Wetland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9218 |title=Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Open Freshwater Depression Wetland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Great Plains Prairie Pothole{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9203 |title=Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Prairie Pothole |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Western Great Plains Saline Depression Wetland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9256 |title=Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Saline Depression Wetland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northern Rocky Mountain Wooded Vernal Pool{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9162 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Wooded Vernal Pool |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Inter-Mountain Basins Greasewood Flat{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9103 |title=Montana Field Guide-Greasewood Flat |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northwestern Great Plains Floodplain{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9159 |title=Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Floodplain |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northwestern Great Plains Riparian{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9326 |title=Montana Field Guide-Great Plains Riparian |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9155 |title=Montana Field Guide-Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9156 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland|publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9187 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9187 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Northern Rocky Mountain Conifer Swamp{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9111 |title=Montana Field Guide-Rocky Mountain Conifer Swamp |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- North American Arid West{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9222 |title=Montana Field Guide-Emergent Marsh |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Geysers and Hot Springs{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=5000 |title=Montana Field Guide-Geysers and Hot Springs |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Open Water{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=11 |title=Montana Field Guide-Open Water |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
- Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow{{cite web |url=http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayES_Detail.aspx?ES=9217 |title=Montana Field Guide-Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow |publisher=Montana Natural Heritage Program |access-date=2011-06-14}}
Further reading
- {{cite report |last1=Comer |first1=P. |first2=D. |last2=Faber-Langendoen |first3=R. |last3=Evans |first4=S. |last4=Gawler |first5=C. |last5=Josse |first6=G. |last6=Kittel |first7=S. |last7=Menard |first8=M. |last8=Pyne |first9=M. |last9=Reid |first10=K. |last10=Schulz |first11=K. |last11=Snow |first12=J. |last12=Teague |date=June 2003 |title=Ecological Systems of the United States: A Working Classification of U.S. Terrestrial Systems |publisher=NatureServe |location=Arlington, Virginia |url=http://www.natureserve.org/library/usEcologicalsystems.pdf}}
- {{Cite report |last1=Noss |first1=Reed F. |first2=Edward T. III |last2=LaRoe |first3=J. Michael |last3=Scott |title=Endangered Ecosystems of the United States: A Preliminary Assessment of Loss and Degradation |year=1995 |publisher=National Biological Service |url=http://biology.usgs.gov/pubs/ecosys.htm |access-date=2011-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509155011/http://biology.usgs.gov/pubs/ecosys.htm |archive-date=2008-05-09 }}
- {{cite conference |title=Management of riparian and wetland forested ecosystems in Montana: fourth annual Montana Riparian Association Workshop, September 5-7, 1990 |publisher=School of Forestry, University of Montana |location=Missoula, Montana |year=1990}}
- {{cite book |last=Schmitz |first=Oswald J. |title=Resolving Ecosystem Complexity |series=Monographs in population Biology - 47 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yvoNH2O03b0C&pg=PP1 |date=2010 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-1-4008-3417-4}}