Comparisons

Comparing Past vs. Present Conditions

Using LANDFIRE’s BpS products, we explore two different ways to visualize past vs. current vegetation patterns.

• First we present changes in broad ecosystem types using an interactive comparison diagram.

• Second we compare amounts of succession classes (past and present) for the most prevalent ecosystems.

Comparing Broad Vegetation Trends

Summary

• Broadly speaking, this subregion has not experienced significant ecosystem conversion to agricultural or urban land uses.
  
• LANDFIRE mapped a fair amount of conversion from “past shrubland” to “conifer”.
  
• Nearly all of the land classified as present day “exotic vegetation” was converted from shrubland areas.
• Note: number presented when hovering equals acres.

Succession classes for most dominant BpSs

• Succession classes have changed substantially in the Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe - Mountain Big Sagebrush BpS, with significant overrepresentation of succession class C currently.
• Some BpSs appear to be missing succession classes on the landscape today, such as the Colorado Plateau Pinyon-Juniper Woodland which is missing succession class B.