Vegetation and Ecological Characteristics of MixedConifer and Red Fir Forests at The Teakettle Experimental Forest
North M, Oakley B, Chen J, Erickson H, Gray A, Izzo A, Johnson D, Ma S, Marra J, Meyer M, Purcell K, Rambo T, Rizzo D, Roath B, Schowalter T. 2002. Vegetation and Ecological Characteristics of MixedConifer and Red Fir Forests at The Teakettle Experimental Forest. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service General Technical Report. PSW-GTR-186. Albany, California: Pacific Southwest Research Station,Forest Service,U.S. Department of Agriculture. Berkeley, CA
Detailed analysis of mixed-conifer and red fir forests were made from extensive, large vegetation sampling, systematically conducted throughout the Teakettle Experimental Forest. Mixed conifer is characterized by distinct patch conditions of closed-canopy tree clusters, persistent gaps and shrub thickets. This heterogeneous spatial structure provides contrasting microclimate, habitat and resource conditions probably associated with the high diversity of understory plants, fungi, and invertebrates found in ongoing studies in the Teakettle Experiment. In contrast, red fir forests are more homogeneous with continuous high canopy cover, cooler, more consistent microclimate conditions and fewer plant species. In both forests, annual fluctuations in available soil moisture resulting from El Niño influences on snow pack depth may have a significant influence on tree establishment and understory diversity. In depth descriptions of Teakettle’s mixed conifer may provide a target of historic old-growth conditions for forest management.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- North, Malcolm; Oakley, Brian; Chen, Jiquan; Erickson, Heather; Gray, Andrew; Izzo, Antonio; Johnson, Dale; Ma, Siyan; Marra, Jim; Meyer, Marc; Purcell, Kathryn; Rambo, Tom; Rizzo, Dave; Roath, Brent; Schowalter, Tim
- Date of Issue
- 2002
- Publisher
- Albany, California: Pacific Southwest Research Station,Forest Service,U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Units
- SEKI
- Keywords
- Ectomycorrhizae, Fire History, flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus), Hydrology, hypogeous fungi, incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), Invertebrates, Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi), Old Growth, Pathogens, plant association, red fir (Abies magnifica), Sierra Nevada, Soil nutrients, Songbirds, sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana), truffles, Vegetation Classification, White Fir (Abies concolor)