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Small-scale disturbance and stand dynamics within mature, spruce-subalpine fir forests were compared and contrasted across three ecological variants within the central interior of British Columbia. The central interior is ideal for the study of small-scale disturbance because sub-boreal and subalpine ecosystems span the dry interior plateau and grade eastward into the progressively wetter, cooler, high-elevation ecosystems of the Rocky Mountain Foothills. This climatic gradient offers a unique opportunity to study how disturbance regimes vary across distinct ecosystems. Specific research goals were to: (1) develop and modify existing dendroecological techniques to date small-scale disturbance; (2) quantify present forest composition and structure as it relates to unique disturbance events; (3) determine the spatial and temporal occurrence of small-scale disturbance within and between three climatically distinct, mature spruce-subalpine fir forest ecosystems; and (4) identify the primary disturbance agents responsible for the present forest composition and structure. The results of this study provide further evidence indicating that small-scale disturbances are important ecological processes in sub-boreal and subalpine forest ecosystems. However, within these ecosystems there is considerable overlap between disturbance types of varying spatial and temporal scales. For example, intermediate-scale disturbance events have played a large mediating role over distinct successional changes in stand structure; more so than that of small-scale disturbance events. Consideration of disturbance events at multiple scales, however, shows that small-scale disturbance does exhibit continuous stand level maintenance and renewal; furthermore, that shifts in species dominance tend to be abrupt and due to intermediate-scale disturbances such as those caused by spruce beetle and western balsam bark beetle.
Kathy Lewis.
Lewis, Kathy J., Thompson, Douglas R.. 2005. Quantification of disturbance processes along a temperature and moisture gradient in sub-boreal forests. Forest Investment Account (FIA) - Forest Science Program. Forest Investment Account Report
Topic: FLNRORD Research Program
Keywords: Forest, Investment, Account, (FIA), Trees, Diseases, Pests, British, Columbia
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