Integrating the GLORIA sampling design into British Columbia's Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification system.

High elevation ecosystems (alpine and subalpine) form nearly 20% of British Columbia's terrestrial land base. Most of these ecosystems remain pristine, yet the current surge in mineral exploration and recreation is presenting an unprecedented challenge for ecosystem management in the province. The current effort to describe and classify alpine plant ecosystems can be significantly aided by integrating and further developing GLORIA sites throughout British Columbia. The yearly data from each target region of GLORIA's Multi- summit approach can be used to quantify and differentiate alpine ecosystems based on botanical composition and timing of snowmelt. These site descriptors will strengthen the ongoing development of alpine site associations across the province while providing researchers further information to understand the edaphic amplitudes of indicator species for high-elevation plant communities. Furthermore, the soil temperature measurements can provide an efficient way to map the regional variation in snowmelt patterns, which is a primary gradient in the high-elevation biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification approach. A comprehensive and accurate classification will provide land managers a much needed starting point in high- elevation ecosystem management.