Patterns of temporal and spatial change in the vegetation of Voyageurs National Park
Crowley KF and Cole KL. 1995. Patterns of temporal and spatial change in the vegetation of Voyageurs National Park. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. 76(2):57
In 1977 and 1978, permanent vegetation plots were established in Voyageurs National Park to represent all the plant community types that compose this part of the southern boreal forest. In 1992 and 1993, these plots were resampled, according to the original procedures, to detect any temporal and spatial changes in the composition of the vegetation. Changes in these forest stands range in magnitude from the slow, expected effects of aging to rapid, severe disturbance by disease, windstorm, or herbivory. For example, the dominant tree species in white pine, red pine, white cedar, and black spruce stands have decreased slightly in density and increased in basal area, as predicted by successional theory. More rapid, spatially heterogeneous change was brought about by disease, which has markedly reduced the density of American elm in black ash stands and of balsam fir and white spruce in spruce-fir stands. A continuing record of the response of this region of the boreal forest to environmental change will supply the background information necessary for predictions of future trends.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Crowley, Katherine; Cole, Kenneth
- Units
- VOYA
- Keywords
- Global Climate Change, Plant Studies