Late Pleistocene And Holocene Environmental Change On The Olympic Peninsula Washington

This study brings together decades of research on the modern natural environment of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, reviews past research on paleoenvironmental change since the Late Pleistocene, and finally presents paleoecological records of changing forest composition and fire over the last 14,000 years. The focus of this study is on the authors’ studies of five pollen records from the Olympic Peninsula. Maps and other data graphics are used extensively. Paleoecology can effectively address some of these challenges we face in understanding the biotic response to climate change and other agents of change in ecosystems. First, species responses to climate change are mediated by changing disturbance regimes. Second, biotic hotspots today suggest a long-term maintenance of diversity in an area, and researchers approach the maintenance of diversity from a wide range and angles (CITE). Mountain regions may maintain biodiversity through significant climate change in ‘refugia’: locations where components of diversity retreat to and expand from during periods of unfavorable climate (Keppel et al., 2012). Paleoecological studies can describe the context for which biodiversity persisted through time climate refugia. Third, the paleoecological approach is especially suited for long-lived organisms. For example, a tree species that may typically reach reproductive sizes only after 50 years and remain fertile for 300 years, will experience only 30 to 200 generations since colonizing a location after Holocene warming about 11,000 years ago. Thus, by summarizing community change through multiple generations and natural disturbance events, paleoecological studies can examine the resilience of ecosystems to disturbances in the past, showing how many ecosystems recover quickly while others may not (Willis et al., 2010).

Renowned for its old-growth rain forest, wilderness coast, and glaciated peaks, Olympic National Park is a living laboratory for ecological renewal, especially as the historic Elwha River basin regenerates in the wake of dam removal. In this classic guide to the park, Tim McNulty invites us into the natural and human history of these nearly million acres, from remote headwaters to roadside waterfalls, from shipwreck sites to Native American historical settlements and contemporary resource stewardship, along the way detailing the park’s unique plant and animal life. McNulty reminds us that though “the mountains and rivers remain ‘timeless,’ our understanding of the lifeforms that inhabit them—and the effects our actions have on their future—is an ongoing, ever deepening story.” Color photographs Practical advice on how to make the most of your visit Handy flora and fauna species checklists Inspiring descriptions of endangered species recovery Detailed look at Elwha River restoration after dam removal

Climate change poses many challenges that affect society and the natural world. With these challenges, however, come opportunities to respond. By taking steps to adapt to and mitigate climate change, the risks to society and the impacts of continued climate change can be lessened. The National Climate Assessment, coordinated by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, is a mandated report intended to inform response decisions. Required to be developed every four years, these reports provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date evaluation of climate change impacts available for the United States, making them a unique and important climate change document. The draft Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4) report reviewed here addresses a wide range of topics of high importance to the United States and society more broadly, extending from human health and community well-being, to the built environment, to businesses and economies, to ecosystems and natural resources. This report evaluates the draft NCA4 to determine if it meets the requirements of the federal mandate, whether it provides accurate information grounded in the scientific literature, and whether it effectively communicates climate science, impacts, and responses for general audiences including the public, decision makers, and other stakeholders.

"This volume brings together nineteen papers of interdisciplinary Quaternary science honoring Stephen Porter. Special Paper 548 features papers from six continents, on wide-ranging topics including glaciation, paleoecology, landscape evolution, megafloods, and loess. The topical and geographical range of the papers, as well as their interdisciplinary nature, honor Porter's distinct approach to Quaternary science and leadership that influence the field to this day"--

After the first Euro-American settlers arrived in Seattle in the 1850s, the surrounding old-growth forests were rapidly harvested for lumber, causing environmental degradation and displacing native peoples. Conflicts about the future of Pacific Northwest forests have continued since then. Only recently have academics, government agencies, industry, small private landowners, tribes, and environmental organizations come together to develop plans to protect the remaining old-growth forests, wildlife, streams, and fish, as well as providing environmentally friendly forest products. Practicing sustainable forestry, maintaining healthy forests that are less susceptible to fire, insects and diseases; and fostering public enjoyment are now the main goals of forest management. However, conflicts still exist—and with climate change a looming threat, it is important to realize that forests give us much more than lumber. Robert L. Edmonds, professor emeritus at the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington (UW), wrote this book to bring attention to the sustainability of natural resources. He describes how Washington State’s forests and the practice of forestry have changed through time and how these changes relate to the long history of research and teaching at the UW. Its scope extends beyond Washington—many of the principles of sustainable forestry developed by faculty have been adopted worldwide.

Contributors describe the current understanding of abrupt climate variations that have occurred at millennial to submillennial time scales, events now recognized as characteristics of the global climate during the last glaciation. Subjects covered include analysis of modern climate and ocean dynamics, paleoclimate reconstructions derived from the marine, terrestrial and ice core records, and paleoclimate modeling studies. The breadth of global paleoclimate knowledge presented here provides information required to answer many questions and provides a road map to address remaining problems. Most material is from a June 1998 conference. Lacks a subject index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.