Vegetation Dynamics in Yellowstone’s Northern Range: 1985 to 1999

An inexpensive and reproducible method for monitoring rangelands over the northern range (NR) of Yellowstone National Park was developed utilizing Landsat imagery. A 1999 map of rangeland vegetation communities was created using boosted classification tree analysis. The 1999 map and a 1985 image were utilized in a change vector analysis resulting in a classified map for 1985. Classification accuracies ranged from 72.30 percent to 83.65 percent for the 1999 map and 72.60 percent to 88.73 percent for the 1985 map, depending upon level of class detail, demonstrating that Landsat-class data can be effectively used for efficient change analysis that maintains accuracy while reducing compound error. Spatial patterns of change were compared to theories from other studies related to change in the NR and were found to be consistent with effects from fire suppression, precipitation, and urban growth but not with trophic cascade from wolves or beaver effects.