Simulating the dependence of aspen (<i>Populus tremuloides</i>) on redistributed snow in a semi‐arid watershed

Soderquist, B.; Kavanagh, Kathleen L.; Link, Timothy E.; Seyfried, M. S.; Winstral, A. H.

doi:10.1002/ecs2.2068

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 55 publications

(109 reference statements)

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“…, Soderquist et al. ). If ensuing growing season climate conditions (i.e., drier and warmer) facilitate mortality events that kill some overstory trees, a corresponding decrease in apical dominance may initiate suckering (Schier et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), especially when summer drought is combined with reduced winter snowpack (Soderquist et al. ). Similar to populations across its southwestern range, the genetic diversity of aspen populations in the Great Basin is likely low and highly geographically structured, potentially limiting population‐level adaptability to climate change (Callahan et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With relatively little summer precipitation (July–August generally averages <5 cm), soil water subsidies from melting snowpack during the growing season is important to aspen productivity in the region (Soderquist et al. ). In the study area, sagebrush ( Artemisia spp.)…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the study area, aspen generally occurs between 1,980 m and 2,700 m above sea level, where precipitation averages~35-70 cm annually. With relatively little summer precipitation (July-August generally averages <5 cm), soil water subsidies from melting snowpack during the growing season is important to aspen productivity in the region (Soderquist et al 2018). In the study area, sagebrush (Artemisia spp.)…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These prior studies in aspen have largely focused on environmental, seasonal, or clonal (genotypic) differences in carbohydrate reserves and vegetative reproduction (Frey et al 2003), rather than the influence of long-term climate variability on carbohydrate accumulation, storage, and usage for vegetative reproduction (Hartmann and Trumbore 2016). However, increased soil moisture retention (represented by higher PDSI values), less extreme winter temperatures, and less extreme growing season temperatures likely result in less heat-and drought-induced stress on aspen clones (Anderegg et al 2013); thus, providing favorable conditions for aspen clone productivity , Soderquist et al 2018). If ensuing growing season climate conditions (i.e., drier and warmer) facilitate mortality events that kill some overstory trees, a corresponding decrease in apical dominance may initiate suckering (Schier et al 1985), while the increased light availability and soil temperatures stimulate growth of suckers (Maini andHorton 1966, Fraser et al 2002), especially for clones that have ample carbohydrate reserves.…”

Section: Climate Influence On Aspen Regeneration Dynamics and Persistmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate and disturbance influence self‐sustaining stand dynamics of aspen (Populus tremuloides) near its range margin

Shinneman

McIlroy

2019

Ecological Applications

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Species that are primarily seral may form stable (self‐sustaining) communities under certain disturbance regimes or environmental conditions, yet such populations may also be particularly vulnerable to ecological change. Aspen (Populus spp.) are generally considered seral throughout the Northern Hemisphere, including P. tremuloides, the most widely distributed tree species in North America. Recent declines in aspen populations have occurred, especially along drought‐sensitive margins of its range and where fire exclusion and herbivory have promoted community transition. However, aspen also forms stable stands, and examination of the mechanisms that influence persistence can offer conservation insights, especially where populations are vulnerable to changing climate or altered disturbance dynamics. We sampled tree age and stand characteristics of isolated aspen forests in the arid Great Basin (USA) to determine if (1) aspen communities are more fire‐dependent and seral or fire‐independent and stable; (2) ungulate browsing inhibits aspen stability; and (3) temporal patterns of vegetative reproduction (i.e., ramet establishment or “suckering”) are correlated with climate. Aspen size and age class densities strongly fit negative exponential distributions, whether grouped geographically or by functional type, suggesting landscape‐scale persistence. Continuous age distributions and high proportions of recruitment‐sized to overstory trees suggest stability at stand scales, with exceptions including stands with higher browsing pressure. Few stands had evidence of fire, and relationships between dead tree size and variability in live tree size suggest a lack of fire dependency. Several 5‐yr averaged climate variables and one sea surface temperature index were correlated with aspen ramet establishment densities over time, with strongest relationships occurring ~5 yr prior to establishment year, often followed by inverse relationships ~1 yr after. Indeed, aspen establishment density for a recent 41‐yr period was reliably reconstructed using antecedent climate conditions derived from a single drought index. Temporally synchronized aspen ramet establishment across the study region may be due to climate‐driven storage of nonstructural carbohydrate reserves in clonal root systems later used for regeneration. Complex regeneration dynamics of these self‐sustaining aspen stands, especially sensitivity to climate variability, suggest they may serve as harbingers of ecological change in the arid Great Basin and in other aspen populations near their range margin.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%