Spatial variation in the potential response of the Rocky Mountain National Park forest tundra ecotone to climatic change

Baker, W L; Weisberg, P J

Title: Spatial variation in the potential response of the Rocky Mountain National Park forest tundra ecotone to climatic change

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Abstract

The current structure of the forest tundra ecotone landscape and its tree populations constrain the potential response of the ecotone to climatic change. Our objectives were to characterize the major kinds of ecotone composition and environment and identify how tree regeneration varies in relation to environment. We analyzed the structure of ecotone landscapes using the r.le GIS programs. In the field, we sampled tree seedling density at 125 stratified random sampling locations. Ecotones vary from short (500 m), low diversity, two zone ecotones (closed forest and tundra) common on southerly facing, moderate, granitic slopes to long (3500 m), high diversity, four zone ecotones with multiple disturbances and permanent features found on till. Seedling densities are currently highest in mesic environments, particularly in patch forest openings and in willow wetlands in the krummholz zone. The environmental factors that influence landscape structure are not the same as those correlated with seedling density, but certain types of ecotone typically contain (or lack) environments with high seedling densities. If current seedlings attain tree height, the patch forest zone in some ecotones will become closed forest.

Authors:

Baker, W L; Weisberg, P J ^[1]

Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (United States)

Publication Date:: Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995

OSTI Identifier:: 95742

Report Number(s):: CONF-9507129-
Journal ID: BECLAG; ISSN 0012-9623; TRN: 95:004728-0007

Resource Type:: Journal Article

Journal Name:: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 76; Journal Issue: 2; Conference: 80. anniversary of the transdisciplinary nature of ecology, Snowbird, UT (United States), 30 Jul - 3 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1995

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, BASIC STUDIES; CLIMATIC CHANGE; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; SEEDLINGS; SAMPLING; POPULATION DENSITY; TUNDRA; POPULATION DYNAMICS; ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION; FORESTS; BIOLOGICAL REGENERATION; WETLANDS; TREES; TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS

Citation Formats


                    Baker, W L, Weisberg, P J, and Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR. Spatial variation in the potential response of the Rocky Mountain National Park forest tundra ecotone to climatic change.  United States: N. p., 1995. 
        Web.

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                    Baker, W L, Weisberg, P J, & Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR. Spatial variation in the potential response of the Rocky Mountain National Park forest tundra ecotone to climatic change.  United States.

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                    Baker, W L, Weisberg, P J, and Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR. 1995.  
        "Spatial variation in the potential response of the Rocky Mountain National Park forest tundra ecotone to climatic change".  United States.

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@article{osti_95742,

  title        = {Spatial variation in the potential response of the Rocky Mountain National Park forest tundra ecotone to climatic change},

  author       = {Baker, W L and Weisberg, P J and Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR},

  abstractNote = {The current structure of the forest tundra ecotone landscape and its tree populations constrain the potential response of the ecotone to climatic change. Our objectives were to characterize the major kinds of ecotone composition and environment and identify how tree regeneration varies in relation to environment. We analyzed the structure of ecotone landscapes using the r.le GIS programs. In the field, we sampled tree seedling density at 125 stratified random sampling locations. Ecotones vary from short (500 m), low diversity, two zone ecotones (closed forest and tundra) common on southerly facing, moderate, granitic slopes to long (3500 m), high diversity, four zone ecotones with multiple disturbances and permanent features found on till. Seedling densities are currently highest in mesic environments, particularly in patch forest openings and in willow wetlands in the krummholz zone. The environmental factors that influence landscape structure are not the same as those correlated with seedling density, but certain types of ecotone typically contain (or lack) environments with high seedling densities. If current seedlings attain tree height, the patch forest zone in some ecotones will become closed forest.},

  doi          = {},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/95742},
  journal      = {Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America},
number       = 2,

  volume       = 76,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995},

  month        = {Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995}

}

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