The importance of macrolichen traits and phylogeny in forest community assemblage along a high elevation gradient in southwestern British Columbia

2012 ◽  
Vol 274 ◽  
pp. 231-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean B. Rapai ◽  
Richard Troy McMullin ◽  
Steven G. Newmaster
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Forest Community ◽  
Community Assemblage

Elevational gradients of bryophyte diversity, life forms, and community assemblage in the southern Appalachian Mountains

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
pp. 2164-2174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Stehn ◽  
Christopher R. Webster ◽  
Janice M. Glime ◽  
Michael A. Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Canopy Openness ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Elevational Gradients ◽  
Community Assemblage

We investigated the influence of fine-scale elevational gradients and overstory disturbance on bryophyte distribution, diversity, and community composition. Bryophyte species cover and richness were sampled across 60 randomly selected plots within high-elevation spruce–fir ( Picea – Abies ) forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ordination and regression analyses revealed a fine-scale elevation gradient (700 m) in bryophyte community composition. Observed changes in bryophyte diversity and community composition were also associated with variation in deciduous basal area and thus litter composition, the prevalence of herbaceous plants, and the degree of canopy openness resulting from balsam woolly adelgid ( Adelges piceae Ratz.) infestation. Although overstory disturbances, such as those caused by the adelgid, create suitable substrate for bryophyte colonization, the corresponding increase in light availability and deciduous basal area may alter bryophyte diversity and community assemblages.

scholarly journals Well-Aerated Southern Appalachian Forest Soils Demonstrate Significant Potential for Gaseous Nitrogen Loss

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1155
Author(s):  
Peter Baas ◽  
Jennifer D. Knoepp ◽  
Jacqueline E. Mohan
Keyword(s):  
Forest Soils ◽  
Nitrogen Loss ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
N Cycling ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Northern Hardwood ◽  
Southern Appalachian ◽  
Nitrifier Denitrification ◽  
Gaseous N Losses

Understanding the dominant soil nitrogen (N) cycling processes in southern Appalachian forests is crucial for predicting ecosystem responses to changing N deposition and climate. The role of anaerobic nitrogen cycling processes in well-aerated soils has long been questioned, and recent N cycling research suggests it needs to be re-evaluated. We assessed gross and potential rates of soil N cycling processes, including mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, nitrifier denitrification, and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) in sites representing a vegetation and elevation gradient in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Experimental Forest, Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in southwestern North Carolina, USA. N cycling processes varied among sites, with gross mineralization and nitrification being greatest in high-elevation northern hardwood forests. Gaseous N losses via nitrifier denitrification were common in all ecosystems but were greatest in northern hardwood. Ecosystem N retention via DNRA (nitrification-produced NO3 reduced to NH4) ranged from 2% to 20% of the total nitrification and was highest in the mixed-oak forest. Our results suggest the potential for gaseous N losses through anaerobic processes (nitrifier denitrification) are prevalent in well-aerated forest soils and may play a key role in ecosystem N cycling.

scholarly journals Seasonal Habitat Use and Movements of Mountain Goats, Oreamnos americanus, in East-central British Columbia

2003 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim G. Poole ◽  
Douglas C. Heard
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
East Central ◽  
Oreamnos Americanus ◽  
Mountain Goats ◽  
Mineral Licks ◽  
Forest Use

To identify the potential for adverse effects of forest development on Mountain Goats (Oreamnos americanus), we documented the patterns of forest use by goats and the factors influencing goat habitat use. We used a combination of 15 very high frequency (VHF) and six global positioning system (GPS) radiocollars to document the distribution and movements of 21 (15 female, 6 male) goats from 1997 to 1999 in the mountains surrounding the Robson Valley in east-central British Columbia. Because canopy closure reduces the likelihood that a GPS receiver will obtain a location fix, we estimated that GPS collars underrepresented forest use by about 23%. Three goats used separate winter and summer ranges separated by 8–13 km, while most simply exhibited seasonal shifts in elevation. In winter, goats were more often at lower elevations, in commercial forest stands, on southerly aspects, and moved less each hour and over the course of the winter. Goat use declined in areas >500 m from escape terrain and goats were found lower in elevation from evening to dawn compared to daylight hours. Collared goats used high elevation licks, which were either within their home range, or in two cases, 6 and 14 km from their typical home range. We documented use of known mid-elevation mineral licks by three collared goats, but no use of known low elevation (valley bottom and lower slopes) mineral licks. Robson Valley goats appeared to be at relatively low risk from disturbances related to logging, because although forest use was documented during winter, it occurred primarily on high elevation, steep slopes where trees are currently of low commercial value, and goats made little use of low elevation mineral licks. We recommend that in this area a forested buffer of 500 m around cliffs be left to reduce the possibility of adverse effects on goats especially, on southerly aspects above 1300 m.

scholarly journals Elevation Gradient Altered Soil C, N, and P Stoichiometry of Pinus taiwanensis Forest on Daiyun Mountain

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1089
Author(s):  
Lan Jiang ◽  
Zhongsheng He ◽  
Jinfu Liu ◽  
Cong Xing ◽  
Xinguang Gu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Phosphate Fertilizer ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Driving Factors ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Elevation Gradients ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Soil P ◽  
C And N

Researches focused on soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) content and the stoichiometry characteristics along elevation gradients are important for effective management of forest ecosystems. Taking the soil of different elevations from 900 to 1700 m on Daiyun Mountain as the object, the elevation distribution of total C, N, and P in soil and their stoichiometry characteristics were studied. Also, the driving factors resulting in the spatial heterogeneity of soil stoichiometry are presented. The results show the following: (1) The average soil C and N content was 53.03 g·kg−1 and 3.82 g·kg−1, respectively. The content of C and N at high elevation was higher than that of at low elevation. Soil phosphorus fluctuated with elevation. (2) With increasing elevation, soil C:N ratio increased initially to 17.40 at elevation between 900–1000 m, and then decreased to 12.02 at elevation 1600 m. The changing trends of C:P and N:P were similar, and they all fluctuated with elevation. (3) Elevation, soil bulk density, and soil temperature were the main factors influencing the variation of soil C, N, and C:N. Soil pH and slope position were the driving factors for soil P, C:P, and N:P. The soil is rich in C and N, and has less total phosphorus on Daiyun Mountain. Raising the level of phosphate fertilizer appropriately can help to improve soil fertility and promote plant growth as well. In light of this information, in the near future, it will be necessary to conduct separation management of C, N, and P with regular monitoring systems to maintain favorable conditions for soil.

Comparative life history features of the western spotted frog, Rana pretiosa, from low- and high-elevation populations

1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1254-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence E. Licht
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Female Fecundity ◽  
Size At Sexual Maturity ◽  
Rana Pretiosa

Comparisons are made of life history features of the western spotted frog, Rana pretiosa pretiosa, living at 70 m in southwestern British Columbia, and 2600 m in Yellowstone Park, Wyoming.Lowland tadpoles remain longer as larvae and transform at twice the body size as highland tadpoles.Growth rates of juveniles and adults are rapid in the lowland population and the same amount of growth achieved by them in 2–3 years takes 8–10 years for highland frogs.Body size at sexual maturity is the same for frogs from both populations, but B.C. frogs breed at half the age of Wyoming frogs. Female fecundity, the number of eggs at spawning, is the same, but lowland females breed annually, while high-elevation females breed only every 2 or 3 years.Various explanations are put forth to account for observed differences.

Fire Regimes on Andesitic Mountain Terrain in Northeastern Yellowstone-National-Park, Wyoming

1994 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
SW Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Yellowstone National Park ◽  
National Park ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Short Interval ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Forest Community

A fire history investigation was conducted for three forest community types in the Absaroka Mountains of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Master fire chronologies were based on fire-initiated age classes and tree fire scars. The area's major forest type, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia) ecosystems, revealed a predominant pattern of stand replacing fires with a 200 year mean interval-nearly half the length estimated in previous studies of lodgepole pine on less productive subalpine plateaus in YNP. High elevation whitebark pine (P. albicaulis Engelm.) forests had primarily stand replacing fires with >350 year mean intervals, but some stands near timberline also occasionally experienced mixed severity- or non-lethal underburns. Before nearly a century of effective fire suppression in Yellowstone's northern range, lower elevation Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco.) communities adjacent to Artemesia tridentata (Nutt.) grasslands experienced primarily non-lethal underburns at 30 year mean intervals. While short interval fire regimes have been altered by longterm fire suppression, fire exclusion apparently had only limited influence on the area's infrequently burned ecosystems prior to widespread stand replacement burning in 1988.

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