Understory plant community responses to widespread spruce mortality in a subalpine forest

Trevor A. Carter; Paula J. Fornwalt; Kathleen A. Dwire; Daniel C. Laughlin

doi:10.1111/jvs.13109

Treesearch

Understory plant community responses to widespread spruce mortality in a subalpine forest

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Trevor A. Carter, Paula J. Fornwalt, Kathleen A. Dwire, Daniel C. Laughlin

Year:

2022

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13109

Source:

Journal of Vegetation Science. 33: e13109.

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Abstract

Spruce beetles (Dendroctonus rufipennis) are causing widespread spruce (Picea spp.) mortality in subalpine forests in western North America. Spruce beetles are changing forest structure and composition by killing a dominant overstory species, but we know little about how the understory community responds to the increase in resource availability brought about by spruce mortality, what mechanisms drive its response, or how its response affects other forest properties and processes.

Keywords

disturbance, Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), functional traits, priority effects, spruce beetle, spruce-fir forest, subalpine forest, understory community assembly

Citation

Carter, Trevor A.; Fornwalt, Paula J.; Dwire, Kathleen A.; Laughlin, Daniel C. 2022. Understory plant community responses to widespread spruce mortality in a subalpine forest. Journal of Vegetation Science. 33: e13109.