The MAB Program United States of America
Biosphere Reserve Information - General Description
Yellowstone
General Description
Yellowstone was designated as
the first national park in the world in 1872 and also became one of the first
biosphere reserves about 100 years later. The area is part of the most
seismically active region of the Rocky Mountains and lies on a volcanic ‘hot
spot’. Thus, Yellowstone is well known for its hydrothermal features such as
geysers, hot springs and mud pots. It contains more geysers than all the rest of
the world, along with 200-250 active geysers and some 10,000 thermal features.
Approximately 80% of the park is forested with lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta)
as the predominant tree species. However, great differences in altitude produce
a range of plant communities, from semi-arid steppe to alpine tundra.
Yellowstone is equally known for its wildlife, namely elk (Cervus elaphus), mule
deer (Odocoileus hemionus), bison (Bison bison), moose (Alces alces), bighorn
sheep (Ovis canadensis), pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), and white-tailed
deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and, as carnivore, the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos).
However, the nature of Yellowstone is not untouched any more. Mining operations
adjacent to the park might compromise its values by threatening the watershed
ecology of the Yellowstone River. Other issues include sewage leakage and waste
contamination, road construction, year-round visitor pressures, and the
introduction of non-native lake trout which are competing with the endemic
Yellowstone cut-throat trout. Threats to the bison population are apparent in
proposals to slaughter large numbers of them as a control measure to eradicate
brucellosis bacteria in the herds, which is perceived as a threat to cattle.
Yellowstone provides an excellent area for research with studies on large
mammals, fisheries, vegetation, fire ecology and geology.
Last updated: 06/27/2005