Patterns of Abies fraseri Regeneration in a Great Smoky Mountains Spruce-Fir Forest

1990 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric F. Pauley ◽  
Edward E. C. Clebsch
Keyword(s):  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Great Smoky Mountains ◽  
Smoky Mountains

Size- and age-class distributions of Fraser fir following balsam woolly adelgid infestation

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 948-957 ◽  
Author(s):  
George F Smith ◽  
N S Nicholas
Keyword(s):  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Seedling Mortality ◽  
Regeneration Potential ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Great Smoky Mountains ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Advance Regeneration ◽  
Size And Age Structure ◽  
Smoky Mountains ◽  
Balsam Woolly Adelgid

Fraser fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.) has suffered catastrophic mortality throughout most of its native range from an exotic insect, the balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae Ratz.). To assess the regeneration potential and viability of fir populations, overstory and understory Fraser fir size and age structure were analyzed. The data were collected from thirty-six 400-m2 permanent plots, stratified into four stand canopy composition types, established near the summits of five mountains in the Great Smoky Mountains. We found that, where canopy mortality was severe, fir advance regeneration was re-entering the overstory. In seriously impacted stands, mortality of large fir and increased recruitment have produced distributions characterized by few large fir and relatively high densities of small fir. Densities of 0- to 10-year-old fir seedlings and fir seedlings [Formula: see text]0.25 m tall were much lower in stands dominated by dead fir than in mostly intact fir stands. While the lack of reproducing adults appears to be the main cause, competition with invasive species and higher seedling mortality from environmental factors probably contribute. These results lead to a hypothesis that Fraser fir will undergo a regeneration-mortality cycle with a decrease in the numbers of each successive generation.

Gradient analysis of old spruce – fir forests of the Great Smoky Mountains circa 1935

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 951-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.T. Busing ◽  
P.S. White ◽  
M.D. MacKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Gradient Analysis ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Great Smoky Mountains ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Smoky Mountains

The response of old-growth spruce – fir vegetation to environmental gradients was investigated using 1930s plot data from the Great Smoky Mountains. Gradients related to forest composition and position of the ecotone with the deciduous forest were identified using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and their role in vegetation response to climate change was considered. The data were subsequently stratified into three elevation classes and ordinated separately using CCA to identify gradients at various elevations. The effect of elevation on tree stratum composition and structure was profound. Secondary gradients influencing the tree stratum included slope aspect, potential solar radiation, and topographic position. Abies fraseri basal area and density were high above 1800 m elevation. Comparable basal area levels of Picea rubens were attained at elevations ranging from 1400 to 1900 m. Total stand basal area and density increased with elevation. The importance of topographic position increased with elevation, while that of slope aspect and potential solar radiation decreased. Presumably, the increasing incidence of cloud cover with elevation diminished the effect of slope aspect and potential solar radiation at higher elevations. The transition from deciduous forest occurred in the 1300 – 1600 m elevation range. A substantial proportion (24%) of plots had mixed composition (30 – 70% spruce – fir by basal area), suggesting that the ecotone is not abrupt in old-growth forest. Environmental variables other than elevation did not have a strong effect on ecotone position. Attempts to infer long-term ecotone dynamics along the elevation gradient based on species size-class data were inconclusive. Key words: Abies fraseri, gradient analysis, Great Smoky Mountains, old-growth forest, Picea rubens, spruce – fir forest.

Using Spatial Modeling to Improve Wetland Inventories in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 482
Author(s):  
Alix A. Pfennigwerth ◽  
Joshua Albritton ◽  
Troy Evans
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Modeling ◽  
National Park ◽  
Great Smoky Mountains ◽  
Smoky Mountains
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