Aspen's ecological role in the West

William H. Romme; Lisa Floyd-Hanna; David D. Hanna; Elisabeth Bartlett

Treesearch

Aspen's ecological role in the West

Informally Refereed

Authors:

William H. Romme, Lisa Floyd-Hanna, David D. Hanna, Elisabeth Bartlett

Year:

2001

Type:

Proceedings

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

In: Shepperd, Wayne D.; Binkley, Dan; Bartos, Dale L.; Stohlgren, Thomas J.; Eskew, Lane G., comps. Sustaining aspen in western landscapes: Symposium proceedings; 13-15 June 2000; Grand Junction, CO. Proceedings RMRS-P-18. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 243-260.

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Abstract

Aspen exhibits a variety of ecological roles. In southern Colorado, the 1880 landscape mosaic contained a range of stand ages, of which half were >70 years old and half were younger. Pure aspen stands in southern Colorado are widespread and may result from previous short fire intervals that eliminated local conifer seed sources. Aspen regeneration in northern Yellowstone Park is controlled by ungulate browsing pressure and fire, so it has been limited since 1920. However, an episode of aspen seedling establishment occurred after the 1988 fires. We urgently need additional detailed, local case studies of aspen ecology to inform management decisions.

Parent Publication

Sustaining aspen in western landscapes: Symposium proceedings; 13-15 June 2000; Grand Junction, CO

Keywords

ecosystem management, ecosystem research, sustainable forests, quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides

Citation

Romme, William H.; Floyd-Hanna, Lisa; Hanna, David D.; Bartlett, Elisabeth. 2001. Aspen's ecological role in the West. In: Shepperd, Wayne D.; Binkley, Dan; Bartos, Dale L.; Stohlgren, Thomas J.; Eskew, Lane G., comps. Sustaining aspen in western landscapes: Symposium proceedings; 13-15 June 2000; Grand Junction, CO. Proceedings RMRS-P-18. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 243-260.