Vegetation structure in old-growth stands in the Coram Research Natural Area in northwestern Montana. Forest Service general technical report

Technical Report · Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1997

OSTI ID:529858

Elzinga, C L; Shearer, R C

Forest stand structure, understory composition, and tree seedling composition are described for eight permanent tenth-hectare plots established in Engelmann spruce/subalpine fir, western larch, and interior Douglas-fir forest cover types in northwestern Montana. Sites have been protected as examples of old-growth stands since the establishment of the Coram Research Natural Area in 1937. Plot data clearly illustrate a successional trend toward shade-tolerant conifiers, placing old-growth stands at risk of loss from succession or catastrophic fire. Management issues associated with use of prescribed fire to maintain old-growth characteristics in natural areas are discussed.

• Research Organization: Forest Service, Ogden, UT (United States). Intermountain Research Station
• OSTI ID: 529858
• Report Number(s): PB-97-188668/XAB; FSGTR/INT-364; TRN: 72471659
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Aug 1997
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
MONTANA
SPECIES DIVERSITY
FORESTS
SILVICULTURE