Ecology of Fescue Grasslands in Glacier National Park

Fescue grasslands are important habitat types within several drainage systems in Glacier National Park. A two year field study (1989, 1990) was undertaken to assess factors potentially threatening the integrity of these grasslands. Objectives of this study are to: 1. Identify factors determining the distribution of fescue grasslands; 2. Describe plant and vertebrate communities inhabiting fescue grasslands; 3. Identify factors that are potentially disruptive to the natural integrity of fescue grasslands; and 4. Develop a management model that includes hypotheses to be tested by management actions. Field work for both first and second seasons has now been completed and data analysis is in progress