Using a terrestrial ecosystem survey to estimate the historical density of ponderosa pine trees

Funder

U.S. Forest Service; Ecological Restoration Institute

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

6-2011

Publication Title

USDA Forest Service Research Note RMRS-RN-45

First page number:

1

Last page number:

12

Abstract

Maps of historical tree densities for project areas and landscapes may be useful for a variety of management purposes such as determining site capabilities and planning forest thinning treatments. We used the U.S. Forest Service Region 3 terrestrial ecosystem survey in a novel way to determine if the ecosystem classification is a useful a guide for estimating historical (1880) ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) tree densities on a northern Arizona landscape. Based on sampling 53 sites spanning 9 ecosystem types, we grouped the types into low and high density categories. Tree density was less than 24/ acre on 91 percent (21 of 23) of sites in cinder, dry limestone, and clay basalt ecosystems. In contrast, 70 percent (21 of 30) of sites that contained densities exceeding 24 trees/acre were in basalt, mixed igneous, and moist limestone ecosystems.

Keywords

Forests and forestry; History; Pinus ponderosa; Ponderosa pine; Southwest; New

Disciplines

Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Other Earth Sciences

Language

English

Comments

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Research Note RMRS-RN-45

Publisher Citation

Abella, Scott R.; Denton, Charles W.; Brewer, David G.; Robbie, Wayne A.; Steinke, Rory W.; Covington, W. Wallace. 2011. Using a terrestrial ecosystem survey to estimate the historical density of ponderosa pine trees. Res. Note. RMRS-RN-45. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 9 p.

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