Changes in Vegetation, Structure, and Growth of Southwestern Pine Forests Since White Settlement
Cooper CF. 1960. Changes in Vegetation, Structure, and Growth of Southwestern Pine Forests Since White Settlement. Ecological Monographs. 30(2):129-164
This study of vegetation change was approached on the one hand from the historical viewpoint. Due to the late settlement of the region, Arizona is almost unique in the United States in that reasonably well-planned scientific exploration preceded extensive exploitation. Many early travelers left records of their impressions of the pine forest country. Individually, these early reports are of little value in reconstructing the vegetation of the past century. Cumulatively, however, they build up a fairly clear picture. The second approach was analysis of stand structure. The present mature forest, with an overstory of trees aged 150 yrs and more, obviously originated before white settlement. The structure of the mature forest was studied and compared with that of the young forest that will comprise the overstory of the future.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Cooper, C.
- Units
- CHIR , CORO , SODN
- Keywords
- Ecology (Community Ecology), Ecology (Plant), Forestry, Forests, History, PINE, Settlement, Vegetation