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Type: Report
Author(s): Steve Kilpatrick; Dean Clause; Dave Scott
Editor(s): Philip N. Omi; Linda A. Joyce
Publication Date: 2003

Land management agencies in northwestern Wyoming have implemented vegetation treatment programs to stimulate aspen (Populus tremuloides) regeneration. Treated clones are susceptible to extensive browsing from elk (Cervus elaphus) concentrated on adjacent supplemental feedgrounds, wintering moose (Alces alces shirasi), and livestock. We sampled eight treated (mechanical cutting and prescribed fire) aspen clones (stands) to determine treatment response 3-9 years post-treatment. A sampling design was tested for monitoring pre- and post-treatment stem densities. Total aspen sucker densities ranged from 3,480 to 29,688 stems/ac (8,600 to 73,360 stems/ha). Two 9-year-old treatments and one 7-year-old treatment achieved > 1,000 stems > 10 ft in height /acre (> 2,710 stems > 3.1 m/ha), the objective for successful clone reestablishment. Mean annual leader growth was 7.2 inches (18.3 cm) and ranged from 4.9 to 12.9 inches (12.4 to 32.8 cm). Treated clones are all expected to reestablish successfully. Stem density, clone homogeneity, and plot size influenced sampling efficiency.

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Link to this document (10.3 MB; pdf)
Citation: Kilpatrick, Steve; Clause, Dean; Scott, Dave. 2003. Aspen response to prescribed fire, mechanical treatments, and ungulate herbivory. Pages 93-102. In: Omi, Philip N.; Joyce, Linda A. (technical editors). Fire, Fuel Treatments, and Ecological Restoration: Conference Proceedings: 16-18 April 2002: Fort Collins, Colorado. Proceedings RMRS-P-29. Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Cataloging Information

Regions:
Keywords:
  • Alces alces
  • aspen
  • aspen postfire effects
  • aspen regeneration
  • Cervus elaphus
  • conifers
  • elk
  • fire management
  • herbivory
  • land management
  • livestock
  • mammals
  • moose
  • plant growth
  • population density
  • Populus tremuloides
  • post-fire recovery
  • regeneration
  • reproduction
  • sampling
  • site treatments
  • size classes
  • succession
  • Wyoming
Tall Timbers Record Number: 16121Location Status: Not in fileCall Number: A13.151/5:RMRS-P-29Abstract Status: Okay, Fair use, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 13191

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of Tall Timbers.