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The role of wildfire and topography in shaping aspen regeneration after the Hayman Fire, CO, USA

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dc.contributor.authorPorter, Arianna A. B., author
dc.contributor.authorSibold, Jason, advisor
dc.contributor.authorHobbs, N. Thompson, committee member
dc.contributor.authorAssal, Timothy, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2019-06-14T17:05:25Z
dc.date.available2019-06-14T17:05:25Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.description.abstractUnusually rapid and widespread mortality in Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) has been documented throughout the 21st century primarily as a result of warm, dry weather conditions. Although aspen are not drought-adapted, aspen are well adapted to wildfire. Increases in wildfire severity and extent as a result of climate change may provide opportunities for aspen regeneration, especially at mid- and high-elevation sites. Aspen's sensitivity to drought suggests that regeneration following fire might be constrained to cooler and wetter topographic locations on the landscape which reduce drought stress on vegetation. While aspen mortality is demonstrated to occur at low elevation sites, aspen establishment and persistence is known to occur at high elevation sites due to cooler, wetter conditions. Low- and high-elevation aspen persistence is well-understood; however, patterns of aspen regeneration and persistence at mid-elevation sites is still relatively unexplored. We use the 2002 Hayman fire (Colorado, USA) to explore whether high-severity wildfire has provided opportunities for aspen regeneration at mid-elevations in which aspen was not observed before the fire. If regeneration has occurred, we ask if regeneration is contingent on topographic conditions. Cool, wet microclimates created by fine-scale topography at mid-elevations may allow for increased aspen regeneration, however this is unexplored in the Hayman landscape. Our findings demonstrate that the Hayman fire provided opportunities for aspen regeneration at mid-elevation sites in which aspen were not observed before the fire and that the density of regeneration is contingent on topography. Specifically, aspen regeneration is most dense at mid-elevations on steep slopes. Ecosystem management may focus on threats to aspen health and vigor (i.e. ungulate herbivory) on steep slopes at mid-elevations rather than at low-elevation sites.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierPorter_colostate_0053N_15302.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/195267
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.subjectclimate change
dc.subjectponderosa pine
dc.subjectwildfire
dc.subjectaspen
dc.subjecttopography
dc.subject.lcshDouglas fir
dc.titleThe role of wildfire and topography in shaping aspen regeneration after the Hayman Fire, CO, USA
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.disciplineEcology
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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