Chapter 11 - Tree mortality and fuel changes due to extreme drought and concurrent bark beetle outbreaks in California

Sharon M. Hood; Charlotte C. Reed; Daniel R. Cluck; Beverly Bulaon; Stacy Hishinuma; Andrea Hefty; Sheri Smith

Chapter 11 - Tree mortality and fuel changes due to extreme drought and concurrent bark beetle outbreaks in California

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Sharon M. Hood, Charlotte C. Reed, Daniel R. Cluck, Beverly Bulaon, Stacy Hishinuma, Andrea Hefty, Sheri Smith

Year:

2021

Type:

Book Chapter

Station:

Southern Research Station

Source:

Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-261

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Abstract

The 2012–2016 drought and associated bark beetle outbreaks in California resulted in extensive tree mortality and provided a unique opportunity to examine questions of why some trees die while others survive these co-occurring disturbances and to increase understanding of how subsequent bark beetle-caused tree mortality alters fuel profiles and forest flammability over time. Our study objectives were to: (1) identify factors relating to conifer tree mortality and monitor changes in vegetation after mortality and (2) determine temporal changes in fuel loading and hazard due to bark beetle- and drought-associated tree mortality.

Parent Publication

Forest health monitoring: national status, trends, and analysis 2020

Citation

Hood, Sharon M.; Reed, Charlotte C.; Cluck, Daniel R.; Bulaon, Beverly; Hishinuma, Stacy; Hefty, Andrea; Smith, Sheri. 2021. Chapter 11 - Tree mortality and fuel changes due to extreme drought and concurrent bark beetle outbreaks in California. In: Potter, K.M.; Conkling, B.L., eds. Forest health monitoring: national status, trends, and analysis 2020. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-261. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 177-185.