phil matson

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Recruitment and Successional Dynamics Diversify the Shifting Habitat Mosaic of an Alaskan Floodplain

River Research and Applications, Mar 12, 2012

We measured plant recruitment patterns, successional dynamics, and biophysical processes on later... more We measured plant recruitment patterns, successional dynamics, and biophysical processes on laterally expansive floodplains of the Kwethluk River, Alaska. The main channel of this gravel-bed river frequently avulses and possesses an anabranching plan form. Fluvial processes were interactive with life history processes of riparian plants in determining initial stages of primary succession. Reproductive strategies and herbivory became important factors later in succession. We conducted plant age and compositional surveys to assess patterns of propagule deposition. We found that dispersal strategies of species were an important factor influencing recruitment patterns. Flood-dispersed seeds resulted in even-aged cohorts of species persistently segregated in space, based on age data. Sediment characteristics and inundation potential had little influence on seedling distributions. Recruitment was also segregated on the basis of dispersal strategy. At the heads of bars, where vegetative propagules (live drift wood) were entombed during floods, the distributions of species were random. This size-selective nature of recruitment persisted through time. Vegetation age and distribution patterns were further diversified by the river's legacy of gravel deposition that diversified the primary successional pathway: one associated with ridges and another with swales. Interactions between these pathways and beaver herbivory initiated secondary succession. We used satellite imagery to quantify the extent of floodplain influenced by herbivory and to assess the importance of this driver of secondary succession. We also used high-resolution aerial imagery and randomly selected sites to provide an unbiased analysis. We classified this imagery to quantify the spatial extent of herbivory and its influence on the initiation of secondary succession. The results showed, in addition to recruitment and successional dynamics, the flood-plain habitat mosaic was diversified by the initiation of secondary succession. Patch and species composition within the vegetation mosaics were significantly different than those portions of the floodplain engaged in primary succession.

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Using airborne remote-sensing imagery to assess flow releases from a dam in order to maximize renaturalization of a regulated gravel-bed river

Assessing Climate Change Effects on Aquatic Ecosystems in the Crown of the Continent : Implications for Adaptive Management

Partners: Dr. Robert Al-Chokhachy1, Matthew Boyer2, Vincent D’Angelo3, Joe Giersch3, Leslie Jones... more Partners: Dr. Robert Al-Chokhachy1, Matthew Boyer2, Vincent D’Angelo3, Joe Giersch3, Leslie Jones3,4, Dr. Ryan Kovach4, Dr. Gordon Luikart4, Phil Matson4, Erin Sexton5, Greg Watson6 [1 USGS-NOROCK, Bozeman, MT; 2 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Kalispell, MT; 3 USGS-NOROCK, West Glacier, MT; 4 University of Montana, Flathead Lake Biological Station, Polson, MT; 5 Montana Institute on Ecosystems, University of Montana, Missoula, MT; 6 USFWS, Denver, CO]

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No evidence for ecological segregation protecting native trout from invasive hybridization

Global Change Biology, 2017

We appreciate the comments of on our recent paper concerning spatiotemporal dynamics of hybridiza... more We appreciate the comments of on our recent paper concerning spatiotemporal dynamics of hybridization between native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi; WCT) and introduced coastal rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus; RBT). Nevertheless, we believe there is no evidence for "ecological segregation" protecting WCT from hybridization with invasive RBT. Here we consider their three major arguments for ecological segregation and find their conclusions invalid.

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Legacy introductions and climatic variation explain spatiotemporal patterns of invasive hybridization in a native trout

Global change biology, Jan 4, 2017

Hybridization between invasive and native species, a significant threat to worldwide biodiversity... more Hybridization between invasive and native species, a significant threat to worldwide biodiversity, is predicted to increase due to climate-induced expansions of invasive species. Long-term research and monitoring are crucial for understanding the ecological and evolutionary processes that modulate the effects of invasive species. Using a large, multidecade genetics dataset (N = 582 sites, 12,878 individuals) with high-resolution climate predictions and extensive stocking records, we evaluate the spatiotemporal dynamics of hybridization between native cutthroat trout and invasive rainbow trout, the world's most widely introduced invasive fish, across the Northern Rocky Mountains of the United States. Historical effects of stocking and contemporary patterns of climatic variation were strongly related to the spread of hybridization across space and time. The probability of occurrence, extent of, and temporal changes in hybridization increased at sites in close proximity to historic...

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Nyack Floodplain RiverNet meteorlogical and soil data in Northwest Montana, USA, 2012-2020

Meterological and soil data from one location in the Nyack Floodplain of the Middle Fork of the F... more Meterological and soil data from one location in the Nyack Floodplain of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River in Northwest Montana, USA. Data include air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, precipitation, photosynthetically active radiation, wind speed and direction, soil temperature and volumetric water content. Measurements are made hourly for the period of 2012 to 2020.

Nyack Floodplain RiverNet meteorlogical and soil data in Northwest Montana, USA, 2012-2019

A multi-metric watershed condition model for Glacier National Park

The intention of this document is to provide Glacier National Park (GLAC) a watershed-scale prior... more The intention of this document is to provide Glacier National Park (GLAC) a watershed-scale prioritization tool to assist with finer scale monitoring or management decisions. This document relies on existing data to provide a comprehensive overview of the ecosystem condition of GLAC’s watersheds. The models within this document may be used to assess the success of conservation measures directed at protecting the park’s resources, or to analyze the vulnerability of the system to specific threats. As new information is obtained or updated, the metrics and indices can be reanalyzed repeatedly over time to gauge changes in management activities and/or threat status. This document provides a baseline ecological assessment of Glacier National Park’s HUC 10 watersheds from the perspective of seven major focal areas selected collaboratively with the GLAC resource management team: 1) Alpine, mid-elevation and lowland streams, 2) North and Middle Forks of the Flathead River including their fl...

Nyack Floodplain RiverNet surface water and groundwater dissolved oxygen, conductivity, water level, and temperature Northwest Montana, USA, 2012-2019

Water dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature, and level from ten locations in the Nyack Floo... more Water dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature, and level from ten locations in the Nyack Floodplain of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River in Northwest Montana, USA. Measurements are made hourly for the period of 2012 to 2019. Six sensor are placed in groundwater wells and four are placed in surface water. Data have been cleaned to remove bad data and flag potentially anomalous observations.

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