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Full Citation: Moore, Margaret M.; Huffman, David W.; Fulé, Peter Z.; Covington, W. Wallace; Crouse, Joseph E. 2004. Comparison of historical and contemporary forest structure and composition on permanent plots in southwestern ponderosa pine forests. Forest Science 50(2):162-176.
External Identifier(s): 10.1093/forestscience/50.2.162 Digital Object Identifier
Location: Fort Valley Experimental Forest, Arizona, U.S.
Ecosystem types: Ponderosa pine forest
Southwest FireCLIME Keywords: None
FRAMES Keywords: Pinus ponderosa, ponderosa pine, forest structure, residual forests, reference conditions, Arizona, New Mexico, environmental management, forest management, forest resources, forestry, natural resources, natural resource management

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Comparison of historical and contemporary forest structure and composition on permanent plots in southwestern ponderosa pine forests

Margaret M. Moore, David W. Huffman, Peter Z. Fulé, W. Wallace Covington, Joseph E. Crouse
Summary - what did the authors do and why?

The authors quantified the change in forest stand structure on plots established from 1909 to 1913 and resampled in 1997-1999.


Publication findings:

The authors found that overall species composition was similar between 1913 and 1999; however, the sites showed an increase in basal area of the more shade-tolerant species Douglas-fir and white fir. This suggests a future forest communities may potentially undergo type conversion from forest communities dominated by fire-resistant trees to those supporting denser populations of shade- and fire-intolerant species.

Fire and Ecosystem Effects Linkages

How do fire frequency, rotation, and return interval relate to species composition, non-natives, and structure?

The authors found that overall species composition was similar between 1913 and 1999; however, the sites showed an increase in basal area of the more shade-tolerant species Douglas-fir and white fir. This suggests a future forest communities may potentially undergo type conversion from forest communities dominated by fire-resistant trees to those supporting denser populations of shade- and fire-intolerant species.