POPULATION AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM

Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding areas are acclaimed for the quality and preservation of their natural environment. The social system enmeshed with that natural environment has received minimal the oretical consideration. The natural and human environments are interde pendent, each largely dependent yet conceptually independent of the ot her. The national parks and adjacent wilderness exist by political fia t and are subject to future modification because of social and cultura l factors. Conversely, the natural system presents considerable opport unities and limitations for human uses. A human ecological perspective is utilized to describe the relationships between the natural area an d the social system, following Park and Burgess (1925) and Schnore (19 58). Characteristics of the population, their technology, and social o rganization are summarized for five concentric zones emanating out fro m Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The processes of develop ment and preservation in the region are described, particularly in per ipheral areas lacking the legislated protection of the national parks.