Modeling Subalpine and Upper Montane Forest-Climate Interactions in Colorado

The correlation of the distribution of five subalpine and montane tree species with precipitation and temperature were modeled using GIS. The results were compared with data presented by Thompson et al. (2000). Distributions of subalpine fir (Abies concolor), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), limber pine (Pinus flexilis) and bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata) were compared to estimated precipitation and temperature fields that had been constructed from the Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM), National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) station data, and Snowpack Telemetry (SNOTEL) system data. Plant distribution maps from Little (1971) and CoGAP (2001) were used to determine the temperature and precipitation associated with the selected tree species. The estimates from this study were compared to those of Thompson, Anderson & Bartlein (2000). In many cases precipitation and temperatures values were higher than those of Thompson, Anderson & Bartlein (2000). Suggestions are made to improve the predictive power of GIS analysis for mapping climate and plant variability.