Ecologists at the Montana Natural
Heritage Program systematically collect information to help identify
and understand our state’s diverse natural communities. We
use the National Vegetation Classification
System (NVCS), which provides a hierarchical classification
framework that is scientifically sound, consistent and flexible.
Complementary to the NVCS, natural resource agencies have developed
other methods to classify and
map ecosystems of the United States and Montana. This information
helps with effective management of thousands of species and interactions
that would be impossible to manage individually.
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Land
Cover Information |
| Land cover is
the representation of the physical coverage of land, typically
dominant vegetation types but some man-made types are usually
included. We have completed two regional landcover maps. GIS
data and images are available. |
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ECOLOGICAL
INFORMATION
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| Natural
communities are assemblages of species that respond similarly
to environmental conditions such as climate, soil, topography,
geology, and hydrology. Communities, also called habitat types,
are commonly identified by the dominant and/or characteristic
plant species - but they also represent the myriad biological
and environmental interactions that are inherently a part of
each unique natural system. |
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