On the dynamics of vegetation: Patterns of environmental and vegetational change

Hulst, Robert van

doi:10.1007/bf00052037

Cited by 30 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…For instance, early seral species tend to have high photosynthetic rates, low tolerance for shade, rapid height and diameter growth, frequent cone crops, long lifespans, and short crown lengths, while most late seral species generally have the opposite characteristics (Bazzaz 1990;Grime 1979;Horn 1974;Van Hulst 1978). Since late seral species are shade tolerant and able to photosynthesize under low light conditions, forests composed of late seral species commonly have higher plant densities (plants per unit area) with many individuals of different size classes (Oliver and Larson 1990).…”

Section: Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cascading effects of fire exclusion in the Rocky Mountain ecosystems: a literature review

Keane¹,

Ryan²,

Veblen³

et al. 2002

184

192

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The health of many Rocky Mountain ecosystems is in decline because of the policy of excluding fire in the management of these ecosystems. Fire exclusion has actually made it more difficult to fight fires, and this poses greater risks to the people who fight fires and for those who live in and around Rocky Mountain forests and rangelands. This paper discusses the extent of fire exclusion in the Rocky Mountains, then details the diverse and cascading effects of suppressing fires in the Rocky Mountain landscape by spatial scale, ecosystem characteristic, and vegetation type. Also discussed are the varied effects of fire exclusion on some important, keystone ecosystems and human concerns.Keywords: wildland fire, fire exclusion, fire effects, landscape ecology You may order additional copies of this publication by sending your mailing information in label form through one of the following media. Please specify the publication title and series number. Fort Collins Service Center Research SummarySince the early 1930s, fire suppression programs in the United States and Canada successfully reduced wildland fires in many Rocky Mountain ecosystems. This lack of fires has created forest and range landscapes with atypical accumulations of fuels that pose a hazard to many ecosystem characteristics. The health of many Rocky Mountain ecosystems is now in decline because of fire exclusion; fire exclusion has actually made it more difficult to fight fires, and this poses greater risks to the people who fight fires and for those who live in and around Rocky Mountain forests and rangelands. This paper discusses the extent of fire exclusion in the Rocky Mountains, then details the diverse and cascading effects of suppressing fires in the Rocky Mountain landscape by spatial scale, ecosystem characteristic, and vegetation type. A description of the effects of fire exclusion on some important, keystone ecosystems is also included. Effects of fire exclusion are detailed at the stand and landscape levels. Stand-level effects include increases in woody fuel loading, canopy cover, vertical fuel distribution, canopy stratum, and fuel continuity. Landscape-level effects include increases in landscape homogeneity, fuel contagion, and hydrology. Cross-scale exclusion effects concern increases in fire intensity, severity, and size as fuels increase and become more connected. Insect and disease epidemics are also likely to increase, and streamflows are likely to decrease. Restoration of some semblance of the native fire regimes seems a critical step toward improving the health of many Rocky Mountain ecosystems.

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Section: Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cascading effects of fire exclusion in the Rocky Mountain ecosystems: a literature review

Keane¹,

Ryan²,

Veblen³

et al. 2002

184

192

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“…Early views caused succession to be defined as a community or species replacement driven exclusively by autogenic environmental modification (Weaver & Clements, 1938). Most recently new theories have been developed that relate succession to tolerance and inhibition factors, species life-history characteristics and population processes (Connell & Slatyer, 1977;Drury & Nisbet, 1973;Egler, 1976;Horn, 1974;Peet & Christensen, 1980;van Hulst, 1978;Grime, 1979;Noble & Slatyer, 1980;Matthew & Vankat, 1982).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Secondary successional patterns in a sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) community as they relate to soil disturbance and soil biological activity

1985

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The relationship between secondary succession, soil disturbance, and soil biological activity were studied on a sagebrush community (Artemisia tridentata) in the Piceance Basin of northwestern Colorado, U.S.A. Four levels of disturbance were imposed. I: the vegetation was mechanically removed and as much topsoil as possible was left; 2: the vegetation was mechanically removed and the topsoil scarified to a depth of 30 cm; 3: topsoil and subsoil were removed to a depth of I m, mixed and replaced; 4: topsoil and subsoil were removed to a depth of 2 m and replaced in a reverse order. Plant species composition, dehydrogenase and phosphatase enzymatic activity, mycorrhizae infection potentials, and percent organic matter were the variables measured.Treatment 4 drastically altered the pattern of vegetation succession. Treatments 2, 3, and 4 started with Salsola iberica as the dominant species but six years later, 3 and to lesser extent 2 changed in the direction of the species composition of l, dominated by perennial grasses and perennial forbs. Treatment 4 developed a shrub dominated community. The rate of succession was not decreased by the increased levels of disturbance. Both dehydrogenase enzyme activity and mycorrhizae infection potential (M1P) increased with the change from Salsola iberica to a vegetation dominated by either perennial grasses and forbs or shrubs. The intensity of disturbance in 2, 3, and 4 reduced drastically dehydrogenase activity and MIP, but in six years they recovered to levels comparable to 1. Phosphatase enzyme activity and organic matter were unrelated to species composition but related to treatment and time elapsed. In both cases a significant decrease was observed throughout the six-year period.

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“…Ecologists disagree very much about the role of environmental change in vegetation successions ( van Hulst 1978). This paper considers the respective roles of the Clementsian (Clements, 1916) phenomenon of'reaction' (the effect of a plant or community on its habitat), and of the superficially similar pheneomenon of competition (through changes in the environment), in bringing about successional change.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the dynamics of vegetation: Succession in model communities

Hulst

1979

Vegetatio

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On the dynamics of vegetation: Patterns of environmental and vegetational change

Cited by 30 publications

References 18 publications

Cascading effects of fire exclusion in the Rocky Mountain ecosystems: a literature review

Cascading effects of fire exclusion in the Rocky Mountain ecosystems: a literature review

Secondary successional patterns in a sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) community as they relate to soil disturbance and soil biological activity

On the dynamics of vegetation: Succession in model communities

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