Aspen: Ecology and management in the western United States

DeByle, Norbert V.; Winokur, Robert P.

doi:10.2737/rm-gtr-119

Cited by 223 publications

(148 citation statements)

References 219 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

139

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As an early seral species, aspen are poor competitors but have the ability to capitalize quickly on available resources (DeByle and Winokur 1985). These life history traits of aspen are clearly shown through the strong positive relationship between burn severity and post fire Fig.…”

Section: Management Wildfire and Aspen Regenerationmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Post fire growing environment is of primary importance as our data clearly demonstrate that fire severity (measured via composite burn index; Key and Benson 2006), which directly reduces post fire biotic competition and indirectly increases soil moisture, soil temperature, and solar radiation (DeByle and Winokur 1985), is the most important predictor of post fire aspen sprout density and growth (Fig. 4, Cocking et al 2014).…”

Section: Management Wildfire and Aspen Regenerationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many have advocated for the importance of severe disturbances for adequate aspen regeneration (DeByle and Winokur 1985), yet empirical studies are split on the question of fire severity on aspen regeneration, and there is no clear consensus among their findings. Bailey and Whitham (2002), Keyser et al (2005), Fraser et al (2004), and Wan et al (2014) found that fire severity was positively associated with post fire aspen sprout density.…”

Section: Burn Severitymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Evolving paradigms of aspen ecology and management: impacts of stand condition and fire severity on vegetation dynamics

Krasnow

Stephens

2015

Ecosphere

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) comprises only a small fraction of western USAforests, yet contributes significant biological diversity and is considered by many to be the most important deciduous forest type in western North America. There is currently a high level of concern in the western United States as many seral aspen populations are declining in vigor due to drought, ungulate browsing, and lack of disturbance. It is also highly uncertain if aspen will successfully accommodate future climate warming via migration through seedling establishment, which has been assumed to be extremely rare. In recent years, fundamental assumptions concerning aspen clonal age, regeneration, and genetic diversity have been challenged, and these findings have important implications for management and persistence of aspen in western USA forests. In this study, we compared regeneration dynamics of aspen revitalization strategies (conifer removal and prescribed fire) to unplanned wildfires of low, moderate, and high severity in the Sierra Nevada, and related multiple components of pre-fire stand composition to post-fire aspen regeneration. To better understand the viability of aspen migration to accommodate future climate warming, we examined recent events of aspen seedling establishment. We found substantial evidence that greater disturbance severity yields increased aspen sprout density and growth rates, and that live conifer and/or dead aspen basal area in a stand before a fire reduces post fire sprout density. Additionally, we found evidence that aspen seedling establishment is more common than has been assumed, and represents a viable means for aspen migration. Future climate changes will present both challenges and opportunities for aspen. Increased temperatures and drought will stress existing populations, but increased high severity fire in forested areas, may provide opportunity for successful aspen migration and genet establishment. In addition to revitalizing existing aspen stands, future management goals should include the establishment of new stands in more suitable habitat.

show abstract

Section: Management Wildfire and Aspen Regenerationmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Management Wildfire and Aspen Regenerationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Burn Severitymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Evolving paradigms of aspen ecology and management: impacts of stand condition and fire severity on vegetation dynamics

Krasnow

Stephens

2015

Ecosphere

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Heavy browsing of aspen "suckers" in the first several growing seasons and during the initial growth period can eliminate a sucker stand and deplete the parent root system. In addition, ungulate use of adult aspens can scar the tree bole, which leads to an increase in canker infections (Patton and Jones 1977;DeByle and Winokur 1985).…”

Section: Birds -Desert-scrub and Shrubmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of native species and ungulate grazing in the Southwest: Terrestrial wildlife

Zwartjes¹,

Cartron²,

Stoleson³

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

______________________________________Range managers in the Southwestern States are increasingly being required to develop management strategies that take into consideration the conservation of wildlife populations. However, information on many aspects of the fundamental biology and impacts of grazing on individual species is still lacking in the scientific and government literature. This report documents a project designed to assemble this information for terrestrial wildlife in Arizona and New Mexico that have the potential to be negatively impacted by grazing or range management practices. To achieve this, a two-stage panel process was developed that employed a variety of wildlife experts to create a list of potentially vulnerable species and to develop an informational database. Panelists first reviewed and assessed all terrestrial vertebrates in the region to develop an initial list. In the second stage, the panelists refined the list, reviewed published information drafted into individual species accounts, and then augmented these accounts with information from their own experience and observations. The resulting database contains accounts for 305 species and subspecies of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, including a computer database that allows managers to search and query the species accounts based on geographic distribution as well as shared ecological and life history characteristics.

show abstract

“…Here we assess whether top-down and bottom-up interactions shape responses of a dominant ungulate herbivore along a gradient of abiotic conditions. We focus on elk because of their strong roles in affecting the demography and persistence of woody shrubs [12] that provide habitat for other species [13]. Previously, we demonstrated that the impact of elk herbivory on aspen (Populus tremuloides) in the Yellowstone Ecosystem is strongly affected by snow conditions [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trophic interactions and dynamic herbivore responses to snowpack

Brodie

Post

Berger

et al. 2014

Clim Chang Responses

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Trophic interactions and population structure can shape how climate change influences ecosystems by modifying herbivore responses to environmental conditions. Predation can influence herbivore behaviour and demography, but how changes in predation and population structure affect herbivore distribution across abiotic gradients remains little known. We assessed whether predators altered the response of different age and sex classes of a dominant ungulate herbivore to changing abiotic conditions.

show abstract

Aspen: Ecology and management in the western United States

Cited by 223 publications

References 219 publications

Evolving paradigms of aspen ecology and management: impacts of stand condition and fire severity on vegetation dynamics

Evolving paradigms of aspen ecology and management: impacts of stand condition and fire severity on vegetation dynamics

Assessment of native species and ungulate grazing in the Southwest: Terrestrial wildlife

Trophic interactions and dynamic herbivore responses to snowpack

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About