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Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir stand dynamics in north central Colorado

dc.contributor.authorDerderian, Drew Phillip, author
dc.contributor.authorBinkley, Daniel, advisor
dc.contributor.authorPaschke, Mark, committee member
dc.contributor.authorRocca, Monique, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2015-08-27T03:57:15Z
dc.date.available2015-08-27T03:57:15Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.description.abstractStemwood biomass and production were measured in a 600-year chronosequence of stands consisting of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir in the Colorado Front Range. The stands were part of a chronosequence established and measured in 1984. The original chronosequence showed near-constant biomass of spruce after approximately 250 years of development. Spruce production also had remained nearly constant after an initial rise and fall during the first 250 years. Fir biomass decreased more than that of spruce after around 150 years. Fir biomass remained at lower consistent sub-dominate values through the end of the chronosequence. Fir's high production from early stand development decreased and remained constant after approximately 175 years of development. Changes over the most recent 29 years did not follow the patterns in the 1984 chronosequence: spruce biomass dropped by 70% with little change in fir biomass. This resulted in a 47% average decrease in total stand biomass since 1984. Stand biomass showed no relationship with stand age. Spruce beetle-kill appeared to have played a major role in live biomass decline in all stands. Net increment was negative in fir as increases in fir production were more than offset by fir mortality. The stands investigated have developed from post-fire initiation and, although there was no evidence of subsequent major disturbance in 1984, severe beetle infestation since then has altered expected trends in spruce-fir forest structure. Stand age pattern projections will likely continue to be altered by disturbances and changing disturbance regimes.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierDerderian_colostate_0053N_12942.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/166976
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.titleEngelmann spruce and subalpine fir stand dynamics in north central Colorado
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineForest and Rangeland Stewardship
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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