Postfire Growth of Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus contorta in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA

1991 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
DL Peterson ◽  
MJ Arbaugh ◽  
GH Pollock ◽  
LJ Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Predictive Capability ◽  
Northern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Crown Scorch ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Significant Regression

Dendroecological methods were used to study the effects of wildfire on radial growth of Pseudotsuga mniiesii (Douglas-fir) and Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine) in the northern Rocky Mountains. Mean basal area increment during a 4-year postfire period declined relative to prefire growth in 75% of burned P. menziesii trees and 70% of P. contorta trees. Percent of crown volume scorched was the most important variable related to postfire growth of P. menziesii, while basal scorch was slightly more important than crown scorch to postfire growth of P. contorta. Postfire growth always declined when crown scorch exceeded 50% in P. menziesii and 30% in P. contorta. None of the significant regression models had high predictive capability because of the large amount of variance in the data. It is clear, however, that crown injury is critical to postfire survival and growth of P. menziesii, while basal injury is critical for the thin-barked species P. contorta.

Postfire survival in Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine: comparing the effects of crown and bole damage

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1175-1179 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Peterson ◽  
Michael J. Arbaugh
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Northern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Crown Scorch ◽  
Survival Patterns

Survival patterns after late summer wildfires were evaluated for Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine in the northern Rocky Mountains. Crown scorch was the most important variable for predicting postfire survival and variables representing bole damage improved the significance of logistic regression models for both species. Crown scorch and basal scorch were the best combination of variables for predicting survival in lodgepole pine. Crown scorch and insect damage were the best combination of variables for predicting survival in Douglas-fir. Postfire survival of lodgepole pine, which has relatively thin bark, was more sensitive than Douglas-fir to variables that quantified bole damage.

scholarly journals Predicting postfire Douglas-fir beetle attacks and tree mortality in the northern Rocky Mountains

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1058-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Hood ◽  
Barbara Bentz
Keyword(s):  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Dendroctonus Pseudotsugae ◽  
Northern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Crown Scorch ◽  
Predicted Probability ◽  
Attack Trees ◽  
Stand Density Index

Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) were monitored for 4 years following three wildfires. Logistic regression analyses were used to develop models predicting the probability of attack by Douglas-fir beetle ( Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins, 1905) and the probability of Douglas-fir mortality within 4 years following fire. Percent crown volume scorched (crown scorch), cambium injury, diameter at breast height (DBH), and stand density index for Douglas-fir were most important for predicting Douglas-fir beetle attacks. A nonlinear relationship between crown scorch and cambium injury was observed, suggesting that beetles did not preferentially attack trees with both maximum crown scorch and cambium injury, but rather at some intermediate level. Beetles were attracted to trees with high levels of crown scorch, but not cambium injury, 1 and 2 years following fire. Crown scorch, cambium injury, DBH, and presence/absence of beetle attack were the most important variables for predicting postfire Douglas-fir mortality. As DBH increased, the predicted probability of mortality decreased for unattacked trees but increased for attacked trees. Field sampling suggested that ocular estimates of bark char may not be a reliable predictor of cambium injury. Our results emphasize the important role of Douglas-fir beetle in tree mortality patterns following fire, and the models offer improved prediction of Douglas-fir mortality for use in areas with or without Douglas-fir beetle populations.

Crown scorch volume and scorch height: estimates of postfire tree condition

1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 596-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Conifer Species ◽  
Northern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Height Estimates ◽  
Crown Scorch ◽  
Crown Shape ◽  
Tree Condition

In salvage operations after wildfire, timber managers need to identify those trees most likely to die. Crown scorch volume and scorch height are commonly used to estimate damage to conifers after fire. Calculated crown scorch volume based on scorch height and tree dimensions was compared with observed crown scorch volume for four common conifer species of the northern Rocky Mountains. Calculated crown scorch volume was significantly greater than observed crown scorch volume for all species. The overestimates are the result of differences among species and trees of varying crown shape. When postfire tree condition was evaluated from observed crown scorch volume rather than from measured scorch height, crown damage was estimated with greater accuracy. Functions that estimate postfire tree mortality based on crown damage should be based on observed crown scorch volume rather than scorch height.

Biophysical controls on surface fuel litterfall and decomposition in the northern Rocky Mountains, USA

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1431-1445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Keane
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Thuja Plicata ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Northern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Forest Fuels

Litterfall and decomposition rates of the organic matter that comprise forest fuels are important to fire management, because they define fuel treatment longevity and provide parameters to design, test, and validate ecosystem models. This study explores the environmental factors that control litterfall and decomposition in the context of fuel management for several major forest types in the northern Rocky Mountains (Idaho and Montana), USA. Litterfall was measured for more than 10 years using semiannual collections of six fine fuel components (fallen foliage, twigs, branches, large branches, logs, and all other canopy material) collected from a network of 1 m2 litterfall traps installed at 28 plots across seven sites. Decomposition of foliage, twigs, branches, and large branches were measured using litter bags installed on five of the seven sites. Measured litterfall and decomposition rates were correlated with major environmental and vegetation variables using regression analysis. Annual foliage litterfall rates ranged from 0.057 kg·m–2·year–1 for dry Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws. stands to 0.144 kg·m–2·year–1 on mesic Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don stands and were correlated with the vegetation characteristics of leaf area index, basal area, and tree height (r > 0.5), whereas decomposition rates were correlated with the environmental gradients of temperature and relative humidity (r > 0.4).

Spatial databases for the geology of the northern Rocky Mountains - Idaho, Montana, and Washington

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Zientek ◽  
Pamela D. Derkey ◽  
Robert J. Miller ◽  
J. Douglas Causey ◽  
Arthur A. Bookstrom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Spatial Databases ◽  
Northern Rocky Mountains
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