Treesearch

Quaking aspen dominates several million acres on mountainous watersheds in the West. The sites occupied receive enough precipitation to yield water to lower elevations. Most aspen areas receive 16 inches (40 cm) or more precipitation annually; many receive more than 39 inches (100 cm) (see the CLIMATES chapter), well in excess of on-site loss from evapotranspiration. The distribution of aspen in the West coincides well with areas that have deep winter snowpacks and that produce runoff (fig. 1) (see the DISTRIBUTION and CLIMATES chapters). The recharge of soil with snowmelt water during...

Information about the biology, ecology, and management of quaking aspen on the mountains and plateaus of the interior western United States, and to a lesser extent, Canada, is summarized and discussed. The biology of aspen as a tree species, community relationships in the aspen ecosystem, environments, and factors affecting aspen forests are reviewed. The resources available within and from the aspen forest type, and their past and potential uses are examined. Silvicultural methods and other approaches to managing aspen for various resources and uses are presented.

Aspen is noted for its ability to regenerate vegetatively by adventitious shoots or suckers that arise on its long lateral roots. It also produces sprouts from stumps and root collars; but they are not common. In a survey of regeneration after clearcutting mature aspen in Utah. Baker (1918b) found that 92% of the shoots originated from roots, 7% from root collars, and 1% from stumps. Stump and root collar sprouts are more common when sapling-sized or younger aspen are cut; but even then, they probably do not exceed 20% of the regeneration (Maini 1968).

Quaking or trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) is the only aspen in western North America. Therefore, in this part of the continent, it is commonly and correctly referred to simply as "aspen". Throughout much of the interior West, it is the only upland hardwood. Aspen occupies millions of acres, and, in some states, it is the most widespread forest type.

Aspen forests provide important habitat for many species of wildlife (Gullion 1977b), especially in the West (see the appendix to this chapter). In the coniferous forests of the interior West, aspen groves may be the only source of abundant forage; in the grasslands they may be the sole source of cover. A primary value of the aspen ecosystem in the West during the past century has been production of forage for both wildlife and domestic livestock (see the FORAGE chapter).

Presents classifications of successional community types on four major forest habitat types in western Montana. Classifications show the sequences of seral community types developing after stand-replacing wildfire and clearcutting with broadcast burning, mechanical scarification, or no followup treatment. Information is provided for associating vegetational response to treatments.

Techniques for locating, capturing, and monitoring activities and movements of Flammulated Owls were developed during four years of study. Adults responded to imitated territorial song throughout the nesting season. Nests were found by noting vocalizations and behaviors associated with courtship-feeding and food transfers between the sexes. After fledging, broods were difficult to follow, unless the young or adults were radio-tagged. Adults and young were captured with noose poles, hoop nets, and mist nets. Backpack harnesses and tail-mounted transmitters were used on adults and backpacks...

Advance regeneration is an important component in many stands scheduled for harvesting. Properly managed, such regeneration can contribute to a healthy, new stand, but too often trees do not quickly respond to the new environment or take too long to adjust. Definitions of acceptable advance regeneration are needed for pre- and postharvest inventories. The author discusses how to develop criteria for acceptable advance regeneration and guidelines for conducting inventories.

Presents weather data summaries (1934-82) for most of the weather stations within the Coram Experimental Forest (a Biosphere Reserve) in northwestern Montana and for three stations adjacent to the Forest. These data aid in the interpretation of silvicultural and other biological research, particularly the relationships of climatological variations to forest growth and productivity.

A land classification system based upon potential natural vegetation is presented for the coniferous forests of northern Utah. The classification and descriptions are based on reconnaissance data from over 1,000 stands. A total of 8 climax series and 36 habitat types are described. A diagnostic key, utilizing conspicuous indicator species, provides for field identification of the types.