Drought-related mortality in pinyon-juniper woodlands: A test case for the FIA Annual Inventory System

Abstract

Several years of drought in the Southwest United States are associated with widespread mortality in the pinyon-juniper forest type. A complex of drought, insects, and disease is responsible for pinyon mortality rates approaching 100 percent in some areas, while other areas have experienced little or no mortality. Implementation of the Forest Inventory and Analysis annual inventory approximately coincided with the beginning of the mortality event, providing an opportunity to use the event as a test case for the annual inventory system. Preliminary analysis suggests that annual inventory data can quantify status and trends. Some findings will be verified using aerial imagery and independent ground inventory data.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the sixth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium

Citation

Shaw, John D. 2006. Drought-related mortality in pinyon-juniper woodlands: A test case for the FIA Annual Inventory System. In: Proceedings of the sixth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2004 September 21-24; Denver, CO. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-70. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. p. 65-71.