Holocene changes in semiarid pinyon-juniper woodlands

Journal Article · · Bioscience; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1312298· OSTI ID:6713011

Miller, R F ^[1]; Wigand, P E ^[2]

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1. Northern Great Basin Experimental Range, Burns, OR (United States)
2. Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV (United States)

Controversy has developed over past and present juniper restoration projects. The prospect of global warming has focused attention on past climatic change and its effects on vegetation. One of the most pronounced vegetational changes in recent time occurred in the juniper and pinyon-juniper woodlands, a major vegetation type of the intermountain regions, USA. Since settlement, juniper woodlands have significantly increased both in density and distribution. However, evidence strongly suggests that juniper woodlands in the West increased and decreased during prehistoric times. This article looks at the prehistoric and historic expansions of juniper, emphasizing western juniper, and the environmental conditions in which these expansions occurred. Possible impacts of currently expanding woodlands on the landscape are also described. 51 refs., 7 figs.

• OSTI ID: 6713011
• Journal Information: Bioscience; (United States), Journal Name: Bioscience; (United States) Vol. 44:7; ISSN 0006-3568; ISSN BISNAS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ARID LANDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CEDARS
CENOZOIC ERA
CLIMATIC CHANGE
CONIFERS
ECOSYSTEMS
GEOLOGIC AGES
MANAGEMENT
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
PALEONTOLOGY
PINOPHYTA
PLANTS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
QUATERNARY PERIOD
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TREES