Research priorities for 都城礁野外站 and Capitol Reef National Park (CARE). 提案并不局限于这些研究课题。
放牧与牧场健康
在国会礁国家公园（CARE）放牧牲畜已有一个多世纪的历史。 While some allotments in the Park have been retired, others continue to be grazed by cattle. How has this affected the health of our rangeland ecosystems and native plant and animal communities? To what extent have retired grazing allotments recovered after decades of rest? How will management implemented under the park’s Livestock Grazing and Trailing Management Plan, to be completed in spring 2018, affect rangeland health? Additionally, the Hartnett grazing allotment in the northern region of CARE was retired in 2018, while the adjacent Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Hartnett grazing allotment is still active. This presents a unique opportunity to collect baseline data in order to assess changes in rangeland condition overtime.
果园管理
Pioneer families planted fruit trees as a cash crop and for subsistence in Fruita over 100 years ago, and the Park continues to maintain these historic orchards. Efforts to manage these orchards require continued research. The aging trees are under increased pressure from changing climate and rising visitation rates. What is the relationship between genetic varieties of tree species and fruit production under ongoing climate change? What native and non-native pollinators are visiting fruit trees, and are these pollinators undergoing changes in distribution or abundance? What are the most effective methods to control soil replant disease in apples and stone fruits without the use of chemicals?
气候变化
气候变化正在影响世界各地的动植物物种。 Has climate at the Park changed from baseline conditions? What are the projections for temperature (winter vs. summer warming) and precipitation, and do they vary between the north and south regions of the park? Are climate projections for CARE similar to the surrounding Colorado Plateau area? What are the consequences of climate change for species of concern, such as threatened and endangered species, in the Park?
受威胁及濒危物种
Long-term monitoring of two unique cacti (Sclerocactus wrightiaeand Pediocactus winkleri) has occurred in the Park due to their status as Federally listed species. These species are threatened by climate change, insect and small mammal predators, large ungulates such as cattle, and illegal collecting. While continued monitoring provides the Park with information about their population status, many questions remain. Do the individual or aggregate effects of the threats have population level consequences? 个体对不同程度的干扰有何反应？ What pollinators are visiting these species and what are their habitat needs and life history characteristics? 是什么导致了繁殖努力的差异？ How are seeds dispersed, and what conditions result in successful germination? What is the seedbank for these species? Additionally, the Mexican Spotted Owl (MSO; 西露纹) is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and the majority of CARE is designated as MSO critical habitat. Additional research on how MSO may be affected by factors such as grazing and climate change is needed to inform MSO management decisions.
外来入侵物种
Non-native species present at CARE include cheatgrass, Russian thistle, halogeton, African mustard, tamarisk, Russian olive, and many others. The presence of non-native species can impair ecosystem function, and are often expensive and difficult to control. 非本地物种在公园内扩散的程度及速度为何？ Why have they impacted some areas more strongly than others? What reasonable control measures can be used to manage these species and restore native plants to the landscape? Are invasive species competing with or displacing any Park sensitive species?
Pinyon-Juniper生态系统
Pinyon-juniper woodlands are the largest plant community in CARE but little research has been conducted on their condition and dynamics. What is the condition and drought susceptibility of these communities? What role does fire play in maintaining this community? What are potential climate futures for this community, the effects on dependent flora and fauna, and potential mitigation strategies? What type of connectivity and interactions are there between the pinyon-juniper woodlands of CARE and those adjacent to the park, and how important are they to the functioning of the ecosystem?
地质
Capitol Reef was created to protect and preserve the Waterpocket Fold, a nearly 100 mile long monocline exposing almost 200 million years of geologic history. This unique feature exposes nineteen different geologic formations in the Park. Capitol Reef is interested in research that will advance understanding of geologic processes in the Park.
水资源
Research into Capitol Reef's water resources, particularly groundwater, is very limited and most work is decades old and somewhat cursory. The Park wants to improve its understanding of basic hydrologic processes such as the relationship between ground and surface water, and the presence, distribution and potential interaction of local and regional aquifers. Additionally, hydraulic characteristics of the major formations in the park are unknown. Such research would improve the Park’s understanding and management of stresses such as water use outside the park and climate change impacts on water resources and the dependent ecosystems.
社会科学
Visitation to Capitol Reef has increased dramatically in recent years, reaching over 1 million visitors for the first time in 2016, and again in 2017. This trend is likely to continue, which presents many challenges for managing natural and cultural resources while still providing a meaningful visitor experience. What groups do these new visitors represent and how is the park impacting them? How is increased visitation affecting the Park and local communities? How can the Park effectively fulfill its mission as visitation continues to increase?
