GLORIA monitoring in the White Mountains, CA

The GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments: www.gloria.ac.at) project is a worldwide initiative to monitor climate effects on alpine peaks. In collaboration with the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station and the California Native Plant Society, the University of California White Mountain Research Station established GLORIA monitoring sites on four summits in the White Mountains of Eastern California in August 2004 and three summits in 2005. The 2004 summits are composed of granitic and metavolcanic rock, and range from 3240 m to 4285 m in elevation; the 2005 summits are composed of carbonate (dolomite and limestone) rock and range from 3478 m to 3735 m in elevation. For each summit we followed the GLORIA sampling design and recorded baseline data on plant species composition, cover, and frequency. Dataloggers were buried to measure soil temperature. Monitoring plots will be re-located and measurements will be repeated every five years in perpetuity. In 2005 we added fixed area plots to the standard GLORIA vegetation monitoring protocol and gathered data regarding soil biota and butterfly abundance, qualifying the White Mountain GLORIA summits to be a GLORIA Master Site