Disturbance and Stand Development of a Colorado Subalpine Forest
Veblen TT, Hadley KS, Reid MS. 1991. Disturbance and Stand Development of a Colorado Subalpine Forest. Journal of Biogeography. 18(6):707-716
Stand development patterns were examined in an Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii (Parry) Engelm.), subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt), and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta (Dougl.) var. latifolia Engelm.) forest in Rocky Mountain National Park in the northern Colorado Rocky Mountains. Two old-growth stands and one c. 260-year-old post-fire stand were sampled for tree sizes, ages, tree growth patterns, and replacement patterns in windthrow gaps. Growth patterns were analysed both by visual assessment of the frequency of growth releases on increment cores and by dendrochronological techniques. In the 260-year-old post-fire stand, initial colonization was by spruce and lodgepole pine but subalpine fir has become increasingly abundant over the past c. 100 years stand development. Canopy dominance is gradually shifting from lodgepole pine towards spruce and fir. In the old-growth stands, tree growth patterns indicate that they too were initiated by a stand- devastating fire.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Veblen, Thomas; Hadley, Keith; Reid, Marion
- Units
- ROMO
- Keywords
- conifer forests, Dendrochronology, engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), Growth, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var.latifolia), Plant Studies, Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa)