Spatio-temporal patterns of vegetation change in a Chihuahuan Desert mountain ecosystem

• Investigators: Craig E. Tweedie
• Funding Agency: Texas Parks and Wildlife Service
• Project Length: May 2007 – April 2008
• SEL Participants: Becky Marin
• Web sites with more information on this project:

Summary:

Shrubification is occurring in much of the southwest United States and has been linked to reduction in biodiversity and shifts in fundamental ecosystem processes.   Little is known about land cover change in the relatively biodiverse mountain ecosystems of the Chihuahuan Desert.   This study aims to document change in shrub species composition and abundance at UTEP’s Indio Mountains Research Station (IMRS), a relatively undisturbed mountain ecosystem in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.   This study will be used in conjunction with other past and ongoing research at IMRS to elucidate the impact land cover change could be having on the biological diversity at the research station.