Changes in forest species composition and structure after stand-replacing wildfire in the mountains of southeastern Arizona

Abstract

A wildfire in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona apparently altered the long-term structure of the forest. The pre-fire canopy forest, which had not burned for 100 years, was an even mixture of Arizona pines and Rocky Mountain Douglas-firs. A decade later the new forest was numerically dominated by quaking aspen seedlings in clumps separated by persistent gaps. Douglas-firs were positively associated with aspens but Arizona pines were not. The new forest was more open, diverse, and patchy than the one it replaced. Extensive stand-replacing fires in the Mountain West may produce forests with long-term desirable resource properties.

Parent Publication

• Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: Biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II

Citation

Quinn, Ronald D.; Wu, Lin. 2005. Changes in forest species composition and structure after stand-replacing wildfire in the mountains of southeastern Arizona. Gottfried, Gerald J.; Gebow, Brooke S.; Eskew, Lane G.; Edminster, Carleton B., comps. Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II. Proc. RMRS-P-36. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 474-478