Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) Invasion of Nebraska Sandhills Prairie
Steinauer EM and Bragg TB. 1987. Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) Invasion of Nebraska Sandhills Prairie. The American Midland Naturalist. 118(2):358-365
Four stands of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws), situated within sandhills prairie sites in N-central Nebraska, were evaluated for age distribution, reproductive status and spatial distribution of trees. Trees were generally young; of the 563 individuals sampled, only 11 had establishment dates prior to 1900 with the oldest dated 1868. All trees older than 55 years bore cones. Initial trees establishment occurred largely on N-facing slopes where the oldest trees are 92% of all trees observed were located. Age structure data indicate that pine populations are increasing in all four prairie sites; this increase is related to settlement of the region.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Steinauer, Ernest; Bragg, Thomas
- Units
- NIOB
- Keywords
- Establishment (Species), Forest Structure, Niobrara Valley NE, Plant Studies, Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)