First Advisor

Jiunn-Der (Geoffrey) Duh

Date of Award

8-2008

Document Type

Paper

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography

Department

Geography

Subjects

Western juniper -- Ecology -- Oregon, Steppe restoration -- Oregon, Steppe ecology -- Oregon

DOI

10.15760/geogmaster.11

Abstract

Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis var. occidentalis) has been expanding its biogeographic range since the mid-1800's, resulting in decreased biodiversity, altered wildlife habitat, increased soil erosion, reduced stream flows and reduced forage production. The direct causes of western juniper aforestation are unclear but appear to be related to altered fire regimes, over grazing, and climatic shifts.

This study seeks to determine how Landsat images combined with Digital Orthoquads (DOQs) can be used to examine the geographic distribution of western juniper. Satellite imagery has yet to be applied to the large scale mapping of western juniper aforestation, resulting in the lack of regional and landscape level monitoring of western juniper range expansion. Remote sensing technologies, when combined with geographical information systems provide potentially valuable tools for monitoring western juniper expansion because of their abilities to assess large scale coverage of scenes, high cost effectiveness, and minimal field crew requirements. The two main objectives of my research are to review and summarize current literature regarding western juniper expansion and explore how remote sensing techniques may be used to quantify the expansion of the species. The results of my studies suggest that large patches of western juniper are detectable using Landsat imagery.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Comments

A research paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Geography

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/14777

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