Importance of Construction Mapping Coordinates for the Presentation of Spacial Distribution of Climatic Data within an Alpine Environment

During the summer of 2000, a joint research team composed of high school students from the United States and Scotland conducted field research in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. Recent literature sources have indicated negative population trends within specific small mammal and amphibian populations. This investigation was designed to provide baseline data for these populations within the Oliver Creek catchment of the Cloud Peak Wilderness area.

For this study riparian ecosystems were defined as the transitional area between upslope and riverine ecosystems and were characterized by unique soil and vegetation. Approximately 6% of the Bighorn National Forest is riparian. In this investigation, the two primary objectives were to complete a mammalian and amphibian biodiversity inventory of the study region and to complete a cross-sectional study of the riparian zone showing the faunal and environmental changes from riverine to riparian to upland habitats.

Habitat characteristics of the specific sites were compared extensively with the results of the animal sampling data. Capture rates in the different environments were compared with one another to assess the impact of habitat characteristics on the abundance of animals. Changes and variations within the data for a specific species will be analyzed, and data from other groups (i.e. soil characteristics, hydrology, energy budget, and vegetation) were taken into account to try and justify any differences. Where applicable, findings were summarized for the purposes of submitting the US Forest Service to compliment their database concerning primitive high altitude alpine environments.