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Physical and Environmental Geography Commons

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Other Environmental Sciences

George P Malanson

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Full-Text Articles in Physical and Environmental Geography

Geomorphic Determinants Of Species Composition Of Alpine Tundra, Glacier National Park, U.S.A., George P. Malanson Dec 2011

Geomorphic Determinants Of Species Composition Of Alpine Tundra, Glacier National Park, U.S.A., George P. Malanson

George P Malanson

Because the distribution of alpine tundra is associated with spatially limited cold climates, global warming may threaten its local extent or existence. This notion has been challenged, however, based on observations of the diversity of alpine tundra in small areas primarily due to topographic variation. The importance of diversity in temperature or moisture conditions caused by topographic variation is an open question, and we extend this to geomorphology more generally. The extent to which geomorphic variation per se, based on relatively easily assessed indicators, can account for the variation in alpine tundra community composition is analyzed versus the inclusion of …


Mountain Treelines: A Roadmap For Research Orientation, George P. Malanson Dec 2010

Mountain Treelines: A Roadmap For Research Orientation, George P. Malanson

George P Malanson

For over 100 years, mountain treelines have been the subject of varied research endeavors and remain a strong area of investigation. The purpose of this paper is to examine aspects of the epistemology of mountain treeline research—that is, to investigate how knowledge on treelines has been acquired and the changes in knowledge acquisition over time, through a review of fundamental questions and approaches. The questions treeline researchers have raised and continue to raise have undoubtedly directed the current state of knowledge. A continuing, fundamental emphasis has centered on seeking the general cause of mountain treelines, thus seeking an answer to …