Aspen Increase Soil Moisture, Nutrients, Organic Matter and Respiration in Rocky Mountain Forest Communities

Buck, Joshua R.; Clair, Samuel B. St.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052369

Cited by 36 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Almost 75% of western aspen occur in Colorado and Utah (Bartos ). Considered to be a keystone species in subalpine and boreal forests of North America (Bartos , Buck and St. Clair ), forests dominated by aspen provide a variety of crucial ecosystem services, including soil enrichment, watershed protection, wildlife habitat, economic products, landscape diversity, recreational opportunities, and an atmospheric CO 2 sink (St. Clair et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A multiple‐scale assessment of long‐term aspen persistence and elevational range shifts in the Colorado Front Range

Bretfeld

Franklin

Peet

2016

Ecological Monographs

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Aspen forests and woodlands are some of the most species‐rich forest communities in the northern hemisphere. Changing climate, altered disturbance regimes, land use, and increased herbivore pressure threaten these forests both in Eurasia and North America. In addition, rapid mortality dubbed “Sudden Aspen Decline” is a concern for aspen's long‐term presence in the western United States, especially Colorado and Utah. Yet it is still unclear whether aspen is persistent or declining at the landscape scale. We assessed aspen persistence at different spatial scales in the Colorado Front Range by resampling 89 plots containing aspen from among 305 vegetation plots sampled by Robert Peet during 1972–1973. We hypothesized that aspen density and basal area had decreased at the landscape scale, with notable variability in change depending on the forest community type, and that this overall decrease has been more pronounced at lower elevations. We also assessed elevational range shifts of the major species in these forests. Aspen were no longer present in 22 of the 89 plots and aspen density for stems less than 2.5 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) had declined significantly overall, although density of medium (2.5–10 cm DBH) and large (>10 cm DBH) trees, as well as basal area, had not changed significantly. A comparison between montane (<2700 m elevation) and subalpine (2700–3500 m elevation) plots revealed that the decrease was more pronounced at higher elevations and was mostly the result of substantial decreases of stems in the eleven plots that were part of Peet's aspen‐dominated “Populus tremuloides series.” In these plots, aspen basal area decreased significantly whereas basal area of Abies bifolia, Picea engelmannii, Pinus contorta, and Pseudotsuga menziesii increased substantially. Upslope shifts were observed for most species, especially on northeast facing slopes, suggesting climate‐related responses. In summary, aspen have been resilient in mixed forests and may be beneficiaries of recent bark beetle epidemics, but have decreased and been subject to successional transitions in previously aspen‐dominated stands. Our results confirm the importance of region‐specific, multiple‐scale assessments of species persistence to make best management recommendations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A multiple‐scale assessment of long‐term aspen persistence and elevational range shifts in the Colorado Front Range

Bretfeld

Franklin

Peet

2016

Ecological Monographs

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“…This pattern is consistent with Schulp et al (2008) who stated the importance of overstory on soil carbon input. Overstory can change light penetration and moisture content (Buck & St Clair 2012), which can in turn affect soil C stock (Dorfer et al 2013). Additionally, tree spacing and canopy closure influence temperature, moisture, litter, and consequently change decomposition rate and soil C stock (Paul et al 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in soil carbon stock and nutrient content in sand dunes after afforestation by Prosopis juliflora in the Khuzestan province (Iran)

Moradi¹,

Imani²,

Naji³

et al. 2017

iForest

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Prosopis juliflora is one of the suitable tree species used as vegetation cover for sand dunes fixation. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of P. juliflora afforestation and its canopy coverage classes on soil carbon (C) stock and nutrient status in sand dunes after 22 years since afforestation. We hypothesized that increasing the canopy coverage would result in higher soil C stocks and nutrient content. We selected two 10-ha afforested sand dunes with 25-50% and more than 75% canopy coverage, respectively, and a 10-ha non-afforested dune (control). At each site, 15 soil samples were taken at two depths (0-5 cm and 5-50 cm). The results indicated a strong increase in the topsoil C stock (from 0.54 to 4.49 tC ha -1 in control and afforested sites, respectively), while a lower change in subsoil C stock was detected (3.0 and 4.6 tC ha -1 in control and afforested sites, respectively). Although, different canopy classes resulted in no significant differences in soil C stock, significant differences were observed for all the soil physico-chemical properties that were studied.

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“…Although this is well‐observed in forested sites, aspen regeneration is nearly absent in peatlands (Beckingham & Archibald, ). The controls on aspen regeneration may be hydrological and/or biogeochemical in nature (Buck & St. Clair, ; Hemming & Lindroth, ) and have implications for when and where the aspen may successfully regenerate. With the subhumid climate of the BP and increased projected drying trends due to climate, this ecozone may be vulnerable to increased fires (Flannigan et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential influence of nutrient availability along a hillslope: Peatland gradient on aspen recovery following fire

et al. 2018

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The Boreal Plains (BP) of Western Canada have been exposed to increasing disturbance by wildfire and host a mixture of upland‐wetland‐pond complexes with substantial quantities of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) throughout the terrestrial areas. The ability of these tree species to regenerate within both upland and wetland areas of the BP following wildfire is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of fire on nutrient dynamics in soil and water in peatlands and forested landscapes in the BP and relate this to aspen regeneration. Nutrient concentrations, nutrient supply rates, and net nutrient mineralization rates were determined in burned and unburned sections of a peatland and forest and compared with the regeneration of aspen. NO3−, NH4+, and P varied spatially throughout the landscape, and differences were observed between peatland and upland areas. In general, differences in nutrient dynamics were not observed between burned and unburned areas, with the exception of P. Nutrient and growth data suggest that aspen do not require nutrient‐rich conditions for regeneration and instead relied on forest litter to satisfy nutrient demands. Although the peatlands contained high nutrients, aspen did not flourish in the combination of anoxic and aerobic organic‐rich soils present in this area. Although aspen may use peat water and nutrients through their rooting zones, peatlands are unsuitable for aspen re‐establishment in the long‐term. However, the combination of abundant nutrients in surface mineral soils in peat margins may indicate the vulnerability of margins to upland transformations in later successional stages.

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Aspen Increase Soil Moisture, Nutrients, Organic Matter and Respiration in Rocky Mountain Forest Communities

Cited by 36 publications

References 54 publications

A multiple‐scale assessment of long‐term aspen persistence and elevational range shifts in the Colorado Front Range

A multiple‐scale assessment of long‐term aspen persistence and elevational range shifts in the Colorado Front Range

Variation in soil carbon stock and nutrient content in sand dunes after afforestation by Prosopis juliflora in the Khuzestan province (Iran)

Potential influence of nutrient availability along a hillslope: Peatland gradient on aspen recovery following fire

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