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Vegetative History of Cinnabar Park in Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming
Author(s) -
Miles S. R.,
Singleton P. C.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1975.03615995003900060045x
Subject(s) - national park , geography , vegetation (pathology) , forestry , pinus contorta , soil water , geology , physical geography , archaeology , soil science , medicine , pathology
A study was initiated to determine the vegetative history and boundary stability of Cinnabar Park, a small park located in Medicine Bow National Forest, Albany County, Wyoming, typical of many high altitude parks scattered throughout our National Forest Lands. The park and the forest immediately surrounding the park occur on an erosional remnant of uplifted Tertiary aged sediments at an elevation of 2,758 m. The soils of the park are classified as Cryoborolls, and those of the forest surrounding the park are Cryochrepts. Vegetation in the park consists of a variety of forbs, shrubs, and grasses, while that of the surrounding forest is mainly lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta Dougl.), with some Engelmann's spruce ( Picea engelmanni (Parry) Engelm.) intermixed. Various soil characteristics of the park were compared with those of the surrounding forest in an effort to obtain clues which might point to the vegetative history of this area. The content of plant opal and the pH of the soils, together with field observations, led to the conclusion that the park boundaries are slowly shifting in an eastward direction. Strong prevailing westerly winds and drifting snow appear to be the forces responsible for the boundary movement.