Euro-American settlement of the Inland West has altered forest and woodland landscapes, species composition, disturbance regimes, and resource conditions. Public concern over the loss of selected species and unique habitats (e.g., old-growth) has caused us to neglect the more pervasive problem of declining ecosystem health. Population explosions of Wees, exotic weed species, insects, [Hawonh co-indemng cnuy noel: "H~storeal and Antlclptcd Changes m Forest Ecosystems of rhc Inland Wcrt of rhc Un~ted Slates." Covlnnton. W. Wallax el al Cppubllshcd s~muhaJvously m lhc Journnl of Susroinable Farrsfry (Thc ~a k o r ( h Rcss, I n .

plant ecologist, was assigned major responsibility for actual conduct of this study shortly after joining the Intermountain Station in 1972. He earned a B.S. degree in forest management and an M.S. degree in forest ecology at the University of Idaho. ROBERT D. PFISTER, principal plant ecologist and leader of the Forest Ecosystems research work unit initiated and directed this comprehensive effort following initial sampling in the subalpine forests. He had a continuing role in shaping and reviewing various stages of the classification. He joined the Intermountain Station staff in 1961 as a research forester in western white pine silviculture in northern Idaho. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in forest management from Iowa State University and Oregon State University, respectively, and a Ph.D. in botany from Washington State University. RUSSELL A. RYKER, project leader of the Ecology and Silviculture of Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir and Ponderosa Pine Ecosystems research work unit at Boise, Idaho, initiated sampling in Pseudotsuga forests prior to the combined study. He has continued to review various stages of the classification and was instrumental in shaping the management implications for many of the habitat types. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees in forestry from the University of Missouri and conducted research in the silviculture of hardwoods for the North Central Experiment Station prior to joining the Intermountain Station in 1963. JAY A. KITTAMS, now forester on the Tongass National Forest, was a forestry technician for the Intermountain Station in Boise, Idaho, and shared responsibility for much of the field sampling and data processing. He earned a B.S. degree in forestry from the University of Montana and began his Forest Service career in 1968 at the Northern Regional Aerial Fire Depot. He joined the Intermountain Station at Boise in 1971.

A land-classification system based upon potential natural vegetation is presented for the forests of eastern Idahowestern Wyoming. It is based on reconnaissance sampling of about 980 stands. A hierarchical taxonomic classification of forest sites was developed using the habitat type concept. A total of six climax series, 58 habitat types, and 24 additional phases of habitat types are defined. A diagnostic key is provided for field identification of the types based on indicator species used in development of the classification.In addition to site classification, descriptions of mature forest communities are provided with tables to portray the ecological distribution of all species. Potential productivity for timber, climatic characteristics, surface soil characteristics, and distribution maps are also provided for most types. Preliminary implications for natural resource management are provided, based on field observations and current information.

Artemisia tridentata Layer Group (ARTR LG.) 14 Purshia tridentata Layer Group (PUTR LG.) 17 Ceanotiius velutinus Layer Group (CEVE LG.) 19 Ribes cereum Layer Group (RICE L.G.) 20 Salix scouleriana Layer Group (SASC LG.) 20 Prunus virginiana Layer Group (PRVI LG.) 20 Amelancliier ainifolia Layer Group (AMAL L.G.) 21 Sympiioricarpos oreophilus Layer Group (SYOR LG.) 21 Spiraea betulifolia Layer Group (SPBE L.G.) 21 The Herb Layer 22 Annuals Layer Group (ANN. L.G.) 29 Bromus carinatus Layer Group (BRCA L.G.) 29 Potentilla glandulosa Layer Group (POOL LG.) 29 lliamna rivularis Layer Group (ILRI L.G.) 30 Geranium viscosissimum Layer Group (GEVI LG.) 30 Apocynum androsaemifolium Layer Group (APAN LG.) 31 Fragaria vesca Layer Group (FRVE L.G.) 31 Carex geyeri Layer Group (CAGE L.G.) 32 Calamagrostis rubescens Layer Group

Study of long-term fire histories (from fire scars on old trees) helps determine if severe fires were characteristic of the ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests in central Idaho before the arrival of Euroamericans. Before 1895, all sample sites had average fire intervals of 10 to 22 years, implying a pattern of light to moderate surface fire. After 1895, fire intervals lengthened considerably, and severe fires became relatively common. Factors apparently influencing this change were a reduction in uncontrolled fires started by American Indians and Euroamericans; heavy livestock grazing that removed fine fuels; establishment of a fire suppression program; accumulation of slash from early logging; and development of dense conifer understories (ladder fuels). Applications of prescribed burning might reduce the risk of severe wildfires. West. J. Appl. For. 1:16-18, Jan, 1986

This paper presents an overview of the conclusions developed by 35 participating scientists and landmanagers at a scientific workshop held in Sun Valley, Idaho, November 14-20, 1993. The conclusions presented here are those of the authors, but reflect discussions of the entire group, and are based upon conclusions reached by those participants in working groups.The forests of the Inland West are, over wide regions, not healthy. Remedial, restorative, and preventative treatment and managementparticularly on the federal lands-is urgently needed. A brief window of opportunity, perhaps 15-30 years in length, exists. Without timely management intervention, the region is threatened by major ecological setbacks-pest epidemics and uncontrollable wildfires-that will damage resource values and convert large areas into new even-aged forest systems that set the stage for a repeat of the current problems far into the 21st Century. The scientific tools to understand these problems and mitigate them exist today, but are not being applied on the federal forests rapidly enough to meet the urgency of the situation. The current legal and procedural requirements on federal land management agencies impose time delays which, combined with public opposition to timber harvesting, prevent timely management, doom major forest areas to needless loss and damage, and impose large (and, perhaps, preventable) costs on both local and national economies.

No abstract

Prescribed burning under mature Larch/Douglas‐fir forests produced changes in elemental uptake. Elemental analyses of individual species and existing biomass three years post‐burn from hot, medium, and lightly burned sites and unburned controls showed a significant shift in species composition with burn intensity. Few species from hotly burned sites had elevated levels of ions, except phosphorus and iron, but the aboveground shrub and herb biomass did have greater total cations, percent ash, and individual cations (except Ca and Mg) on hotly burned sites. Although the hotly burned sites had the greatest total biomass, only iron, manganese, total nitrogen, sodium, and phosphorus were significantly higher (5% level) in biomass from hot burns compared to control biomass (g/m2 basis). Hot burns alter the soil pH to the alkaline range making some elements like iron less soluble and available. Some species growing on hotly burned sites appeared able to alter nutrient uptake making more iron, phosphorus, and other elements available for growth, even with low available levels, compared to control sites. Three‐year‐old western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) seedlings were able to accumulate high levels of Fe, K, and P relative to controls. Marchantia polymorpha L. concentrated some ions on hotly burned soils, but it was not possible to locate this plant on unburned areas for comparison.