of channel migration were relatively minor (~8%
Ecosystems were mapped at three spatial scales
over ~200300 years, general age of mature white
for the entire base. Ecotypes (1:50,000 scale)
spruce) when compared over the entire area.
delineated areas with homogenous topography,
Human impacts have been negligible (~0.2%
terrain, soil, surface-form, hydrology, and vegeta-
over ~40 years), although effects of munitions
tion. Ecosections (1:100,000 scale) are homogene-
impact areas and trails have not been adequately
ous with respect to geomorphic features and
quantified.
water regime and, thus, have recurring patterns
of soils and vegetation. Although several vegeta-
tion classes can be included in an ecosection, the
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
vegetation classes usually are related because
An ecological land survey of Fort Wainwright
they occur as different stages in a successional
land was conducted to map ecosystems at three
sequence. Ecodistricts (1:500,000) are broader
spatial scales to aid in the management of natu-
areas with similar geology, geomorphology, and
ral resources. In an ELS, an attempt is made to
hydrology, and are more synonymous with physi-
view landscapes not just as aggregations of sepa-
ographic units.
rate biological and earth resources, but as ecologi-
This spatial database now can become the foun-
cal systems with functionally related parts that
dation for numerous management objectives such
can provide a consistent conceptual framework
as wetland protection, integrated-training-area man-
for modeling, analyzing, interpreting, and apply-
agement, permafrost protection, wildlife manage-
ing ecological knowledge. More explicitly, land
ment, and recreational area management. The hier-
management activities such as ecological risk
archical approach of using integrated terrain units,
assessments, analysis, and mapping terrain sen-
which can be recoded to emphasize special studies
sitivity, wildlife habitats, wetland distribution,
or management objectives, and the derivation of
planning for training exercises, identification of
generalized ecotypes from the ITUs to partition the
rare habitats, and fire management all require spa-
variability of a wide range of ecological character-
tially explicit information and a method of orga-
istics, provides flexibility for addressing a wide
nizing ecological information. To provide the
range of management objectives. Development of
information required for such a wide range of appli-
the spatial database within a geographic informa-
cations, an ELS involves three types of efforts: (1)
tion system will aid these objectives.
an ecological land survey that inventories and
analyzes data obtained in the field, (2) an ecologi-
LITERATURE CITED
cal land classification that classifies and maps eco-
system distribution, and (3) an ecological land
Allen, T.F.H., and T.B. Starr (1982) Hierarchy: Per-
evaluation that assesses the capabilities of the
spectives for Ecological Complexity. Chicago, Illinois:
land for various land management practices.
University of Chicago.
Field surveys at 109 sites along 11 toposequences
Bailey, R.G. (1980) Descriptions of ecoregions of
and at an additional 131 ground-reference locations
the United States. U.S. Department of Agriculture,
were used to develop a better understanding of the
Washington, D.C.
ecological processes controlling landscape develop-
Bailey, R.G. (1996) Ecosystem Geography. New
ment in the study area. Co-varying relationships
York: SpringerVerlag.
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Bailey, R.G. (1998) Ecoregions: The Ecosystem Geog-
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SpringerVerlag.
system components also helped identify linkages
Barnes, B.V., K.S. Pregitzer, T.A. Spies, and V.H.
among ecosystems related to fire effects and geo-
Spooner (1982) Ecological forest site classification.
morphic processes, such as groundwater discharge,
Journal of Forestry, 80: 493498.
floodplain development, permafrost degradation,
Barney, R.J. (1971) Wildfires in Alaska--Some
and paludification. The association of vegetation
historical and projected effects and aspects. In
structures (e.g., closed deciduous forests) with geo-
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morphic units (e.g., inactive cover deposits) that was
Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station,
incorporated into the ecotype (local ecosystems)
Portland, Oregon, p. 5159.
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Brinson, M.M. (1993) A hydrogeomorphic classi-
poplar in Riverine Broadleaf Forest vs. paper birch
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in Upland Broadleaf Forests).
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62
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