Protocols

To monitor park vital signs, the Rocky Mountain Network uses the seven protocols below.

• 

  Alpine Vegetation & Soils

  Vital Signs:
  Invasive/Exotic Plants
  Focal Species (Elk)
  Vegetation Composition, Structure & Soils
  Weather and Climate

• 

  Climate

  Vital Signs:
  Weather and Climate

• 

  Landscape Dynamics

  Vital Signs:
  Focal Species (beaver, elk, and grizzly bear)
  Landscape Dynamics

• 

  Snow Chemistry

  Vital Signs:
  Weather and Climate
  Wet and Dry Deposition

• 

  Stream Ecological Integrity

  Vital Signs:
  Focal Species - Fresh Water Communities - Ground Water Dyn. - Invasive Aquatic Biota - Surface Water Dyn. - Water Chemistry

• 

  Upland Vegetation & Soils

  Vital Signs:
  Invasive/Exotic Plants
  Vegetation Composition, Structure & Soils

• 

  Wetland Ecological Integrity

  Vital Signs:
  Focal Species - Ground Water Dynamics - Invasive Plants - Surface Water Dynamics - Water Chemistry - Wetland Communities