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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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ROCKY MOUNTAIN |
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| General Description |
Located on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains along the Continental Divide, 100 km north-west of Denver (Colorado), this biosphere reserve and national park is managed for nature conservation, environmental education and public recreation purposes. Three vegetation zones are represented within the altitude range from 2,328 to 4,345 meters above sea level. The upper montane forest is characterized by ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) shrublands, meadows and grasslands; the subalpine forest zone comprises mainly Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) and fir (Abies lasiocarpa); and the alpine tundra includes open stands of grasses, sedges and dwarf flowering plants and willows. Early meat and sport hunting drastically reduced large ungulate populations in the area. Wapiti (Cervus elaphus) was reintroduced in 1913-14 and have increased to a winter herd of about 1,500. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is now common and about 350 bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) utilize the high-elevation ranges. Some species, however, such as Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) and bison (Bison bison) never recovered. Outside of developed areas and roadways, the impact of humans has been minimal. Many exotic plant and sport fish species have been introduced in the area. There are over 2.5 million visitors mostly using only the developed areas and about 36,000 camper days were recorded in the back-country in 1986. In recent years, the Rocky Mountain Biosphere Reserve and National Park has made important contributions to regional studies on atmospheric pollution, acidic deposition and climate change. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Mixed mountain and highland systems | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | ||||
| Location | 40°10' to 40°33'N; 105°29' to 105°55'W | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 106,710 | |||
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| Buffer zone(s) | ||||
| Transition area(s) when given | ||||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +2,328 to +4,345 | |||
| Year designated | 1976 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Rocky Mountain National Park National Park Service | |||
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| Brief description |
Ungulate ecology and management High altitude revegetation Global change Acid precipitation effects Aquatic ecology and management |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Acidic deposition/Acid rain, global change. | |||
| Biodiversity | Afforestation/Reforestation, ecology, freshwater/inland water, mammals. | |||
| Socio-economic | n.a. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Management issues. | |||
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| Contact address |
A. Durand Jones Rocky Mountain National Park 80517 Estes Park, Colorado United States of America |
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| Telephone | (1.970) 586 1200 | |||
| Fax | (1.970) 586 1397 | |||
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randy_jones@nps.gov |
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| Web site | www.nps.gov/romo/ | |||
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| Last updated: 8/17/2000 |
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