Abstract
ABSTRACTThe distribution and local abundance of tree species constitute basic information about our forest ecosystems that is relevant to understanding their ecology, diversity, and relationship to people. The US Forest Service conducts a forest inventory across all forest lands in the United States. We developed geospatial models of forest attributes using this sample-based inventory which make this information available for an even wider variety of applications. From these modeled datasets, we created a series of maps for 24 US states in an effort to connect more people to trees, the datasets, and the scientific research behind them. Presenting these maps in an attractive way invites engagement. The sidebar text is presented in accessible scientific language that clearly defines terms, guides readers in interpreting the maps and histograms, and provides source details and links. The resulting maps are inviting, informative, and accessible to a broad range of people of different ages and backgrounds.
Highlights
Trees occur in a wide variety of ecosystems, from swamplands to mountain tops
The US Forest Service (USFS) Forest Inventory and Analysis program (FIA) collects forest tree data using a spatially-balanced network of over 350,000 forest inventory field plots distributed across the 48 contiguous United States (CONUS), Hawaii, and parts of Alaska
Much of the covariance among tree species distribution patterns found on the forest inventory plots is retained in the modeled raster datasets, maintaining general ecological consistency among the tree species datasets
Summary
Trees occur in a wide variety of ecosystems, from swamplands to mountain tops. Their geographic distribution and growth are primarily limited by a combination of abiotic factors like climate, soil, and moisture gradients, as well as by competition with other plants and species interactions with animals and fungi. The distribution of trees and individual tree species can tell us a lot about the types of ecosystems that may be present, including associated plant species, wildlife, and hydrologic and soil processes. Data collected at each periodically-revisited plot include information on the status of and change in tree size, structure, and health (Bechtold & Patterson, 2005), as well as information on the temporal dynamics of other site factors such as land use, cover, site quality and forest type. The inventory data contained within the FIA database are a representative, nationally consistent, high-quality statistical sample of US forest lands, and have long been used for reporting on forest status and trends and for calibration and validation of forest mapping efforts
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