The primary focus of my research paper is how and why the plant community structure between the south- and north-facing slope aspect changes. Some underlying ecological processes could and most likely include soil moisture and temperature, sun exposure, disturbance regimes, and of course, slope aspect. My research area is also located in a highly sensitive ecological community – the native prairie, and in particular the foothills fescue grassland which is one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Therefore, understanding the plant community structures and compositions is essential to know how to manage these sensitive areas.
So far, some keywords that could be used to describe my reach project include: 1. Plant community structure, 2. Slope aspect or aspect gradient, 3. Abiotic factors, and 4. Foothills fescue grassland.