Developmental Contributions to Variation in Aspen Clones and the Influence of Pre-fire Succession Status on Aspen Regeneration Success
Author: Eric Austin Smith
Publisher:
Published: 2010
Total Pages: 59
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKFire is an essential component of many forest ecosystems and fire exclusion policies and other anthropogenic factors have significantly altered disturbance regimes, which has lead to increased aspen succession to conifers. The second study examined how post-fire aspen regeneration success is influenced by increasing conifer abundance under longer fire return intervals. 66 sites were selected from the Sanford prescribed fire complex located in the Dixie National Forest. Slope, aspect, sucker regeneration heights, soil samples, and post and prefire stand densities were measured. Results from this study demonstrated that pre-disturbance conifer abundance and aspen densities are good predictors of aspen sucker regeneration success. Results also found that although conifer densities don?t change across aspects, aspen densities are different on north facing slopes. We hypothesize the high levels of aspen regeneration came from a large disturbance size which overwhelmed the high levels of herbivores.