Testing hypotheses for plant species distributions in the Great Smoky Mountains

Research conducted in national parks can impact the greater scientific community. The dissertation work of Robert Whittaker, for example, resolved a debate on the nature of ecological succession. Whittaker's research illustrated that plant species are continuously distributed along environmental gradients, and these distributions are independent of each other. Great Smoky Mountains National Park was an ideal setting for Whittaker's research because of its biodiversity and broad elevation gradient. Robert Whittaker had an influential career in community ecology, and much of his research was made possible by the unique and diverse ecosystems found in national parks.