Bark beetle effects on fuel profiles across a range of stand structures in Douglas-fir forests of Greater Yellowstone
Donato D, Harvey B, Romme W, Simard M, Turner M. 2013. Bark beetle effects on fuel profiles across a range of stand structures in Douglas-fir forests of Greater Yellowstone. Ecological Applications. 23(1):1-18
Consequences of bark beetle outbreaks for forest wildfire potential are receiving heightened attention, but little research has considered ecosystems with mixed-severity fire regimes. Such forests are widespread, variable in stand structure, and often fuel limited, suggesting that beetle outbreaks could substantially alter fire potentials. We studied canopy and surface fuels in interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii v. glauca) forests in Greater Yellowstone, Wyoming, USA, to determine how fuel characteristics varied with time since outbreak of the Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae). We sampled five stands in each of four outbreak stages, validated for pre-outbreak similarity: green (undisturbed), red (1–3 yr), gray (4–14 yr), and silver (25–30 yr). General linear models were used to compare variation in fuel profiles associated with outbreak to variation associated with the range of stand structures (dense mesic forest to open xeric parkland) characteristic of interior Douglas-fir forest.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Donato, Daniel; Harvey, Brian; Romme, William; Simard, Martin; Turner, Monica
- Units
- GRYN
- Keywords
- disturbance interaction, fuel complex, fuel heterogeneity, fuel loads, fuel profiles, lower montane forest, mixed-severity fire regime