Summary: Aspen decline in the West?

Dennis H. Knight

Treesearch

Summary: Aspen decline in the West?

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Dennis H. Knight

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. 441-446.

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Abstract

No other tree in the Rocky Mountain region is more highly valued for its amenities than aspen (Populus tremuloides). In Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern Utah, aspen covers entire mountain slopes and plateaus, sometimes forming the landscape matrix in which other cover types occur as patches. Northward aspen occurs in patches (figure 1), forming small groves that can be thought of as a keystone cover type - one that has more significant effects on species diversity and ecological processes than would be expected considering the comparatively small amount of land area that it occupies.

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

Knight, Dennis H. 2001. Summary: Aspen decline 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. 441-446.