| Abstract Detail
Ecology Boggess, Laura [1], Madritch, Michael [2]. Cliff ecology research from the Southern Appalachian Cliff Coalition: a brief review. Cliffs harbor unique ecological communities while facing increasing pressure from human disturbance. How abiotic factors such as surface heterogeneity, slope, and aspect interact locally to drive variation in vegetative communities remains largely unknown. The Southern Appalachians are a biodiversity hotspot in North America, but little is known about regional cliff biota. The Southern Appalachian Cliff Coalition (SACC), based in western North Carolina, has been investigating cliff ecosystems of the Blue Ridge and Ridge and Valley physiographic provinces since 1997. Much of this work remains unpublished in peer-review journals. This talk will outline results from three seminal SACC cliff studies, share management recommendations for mitigating impacts of hiking and rock climbing on cliff vegetation, and outline future directions for cliff research in the Southern Appalachians.
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1 - Mars Hill University, Biology, 100 Cascade St., Box 6671, Mars Hill, NC , 28754, USA
2 - Appalachian State University, Biology, 572 Rivers Street , ASU Box 32027 , Boone, NC , 28608, USA
Keywords:
cliff ecology
lichen
rock climbing
recreation management
bryophyte
Southern Appalachian Mountains.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: ECO4, Ecology 4: Plant, Population, Community and Ecosystem Response to Environmental Stressors and Change PLUS Plant Biology (Aeroallergens and Phytochemical Differences)
Location: San Luis 1/Starr Pass
Date: Wednesday, July 31st, 2019
Time: 11:45 AM
Number: ECO4015
Abstract ID:863
Candidate for Awards:None |
