Trends in Snag Populations in Drought-Stressed Mixed-Conifer and Ponderosa Pine Forests (1997–2007)
Snags provide important biological legacies, resources for numerous species of native wildlife, and contribute to decay dynamics and ecological processes in forested ecosystems. We monitored trends in snag populations from 1997 to 2007 in drought-stressed mixed-conifer and ponderosa pine (Pinus pond...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Forestry Research |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/529197 |
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| author | Joseph L. Ganey Scott C. Vojta |
| author_facet | Joseph L. Ganey Scott C. Vojta |
| author_sort | Joseph L. Ganey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Snags provide important biological legacies, resources for numerous species of native wildlife, and contribute to decay dynamics and ecological processes in forested ecosystems. We monitored trends in snag populations from 1997 to 2007 in drought-stressed mixed-conifer and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws) forests, northern Arizona. Median snag density increased by 75 and 90% in mixed-conifer and ponderosa pine forests, respectively, over this time period. Increased snag density was driven primarily by a large pulse in drought-mediated tree mortality from 2002 to 2007, following a smaller pulse from 1997 to 2002. Decay-class composition and size-class composition of snag populations changed in both forest types, and species composition changed in mixed-conifer forest. Increases in snag abundance may benefit some species of native wildlife in the short-term by providing increased foraging and nesting resources, but these increases may be unsustainable in the long term. Observed changes in snag recruitment and fall rates during the study illustrate the difficulty involved in modeling dynamics of those populations in an era of climate change and changing land management practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a1303bd139e145bb9a8f98e3a4e2ba0f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9368 1687-9376 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Forestry Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-a1303bd139e145bb9a8f98e3a4e2ba0f2025-02-03T06:10:54ZengWileyInternational Journal of Forestry Research1687-93681687-93762012-01-01201210.1155/2012/529197529197Trends in Snag Populations in Drought-Stressed Mixed-Conifer and Ponderosa Pine Forests (1997–2007)Joseph L. Ganey0Scott C. Vojta1Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service, 2500 S. Pine Knoll, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USARocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service, 2500 S. Pine Knoll, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USASnags provide important biological legacies, resources for numerous species of native wildlife, and contribute to decay dynamics and ecological processes in forested ecosystems. We monitored trends in snag populations from 1997 to 2007 in drought-stressed mixed-conifer and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws) forests, northern Arizona. Median snag density increased by 75 and 90% in mixed-conifer and ponderosa pine forests, respectively, over this time period. Increased snag density was driven primarily by a large pulse in drought-mediated tree mortality from 2002 to 2007, following a smaller pulse from 1997 to 2002. Decay-class composition and size-class composition of snag populations changed in both forest types, and species composition changed in mixed-conifer forest. Increases in snag abundance may benefit some species of native wildlife in the short-term by providing increased foraging and nesting resources, but these increases may be unsustainable in the long term. Observed changes in snag recruitment and fall rates during the study illustrate the difficulty involved in modeling dynamics of those populations in an era of climate change and changing land management practices.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/529197 |
| spellingShingle | Joseph L. Ganey Scott C. Vojta Trends in Snag Populations in Drought-Stressed Mixed-Conifer and Ponderosa Pine Forests (1997–2007) International Journal of Forestry Research |
| title | Trends in Snag Populations in Drought-Stressed Mixed-Conifer and Ponderosa Pine Forests (1997–2007) |
| title_full | Trends in Snag Populations in Drought-Stressed Mixed-Conifer and Ponderosa Pine Forests (1997–2007) |
| title_fullStr | Trends in Snag Populations in Drought-Stressed Mixed-Conifer and Ponderosa Pine Forests (1997–2007) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends in Snag Populations in Drought-Stressed Mixed-Conifer and Ponderosa Pine Forests (1997–2007) |
| title_short | Trends in Snag Populations in Drought-Stressed Mixed-Conifer and Ponderosa Pine Forests (1997–2007) |
| title_sort | trends in snag populations in drought stressed mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forests 1997 2007 |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/529197 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT josephlganey trendsinsnagpopulationsindroughtstressedmixedconiferandponderosapineforests19972007 AT scottcvojta trendsinsnagpopulationsindroughtstressedmixedconiferandponderosapineforests19972007 |