Quaking Aspen Reproduce From Seed After Wildfire in the Mountains of Southeastern Arizona

Authors

Ronald D. Quinn
Lin Wu

Document Type

Contribution to Book

Editor

WD Shepperd, D Binkley, DL Bartos, TJ Stohlgren, and LG Eskew compilers

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Sustaining Aspen in Western Landscapes: Symposium Proceedings

Volume

Proceedings RMRS-P-18

Publisher

USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station

First Page

369

Last Page

376

Publication Date

2001

Abstract

Quaking aspen regenerated from seed after a stand replacement wildfire in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona. The wildfire had created gaps in the canopy so that aspen were able to establish from seed. Seedlings were found at a mean density of 0.17 m–2, 30 m or more from the nearest potential seed trees. Six clumps of aspen seedlings contained 18–186 trees, occupying areas of 145–500 square meters at densities of 0.09-0.27 m–2. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsed 14.3% of the seedlings. Occasional sexual reproduction of aspen may be a general trait of the species throughout the western portion of its range in North America.

Recommended Citation

Quinn, RD and Wu, L. 2001. Quaking aspen reproduce from seed after wildfire in the mountains of southeastern Arizona. WD Shepperd et al (compilers). Sustaining Aspen in Western Landscapes: Symposium Proceedings. Proceedings RMRS-P-18. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fort Collins, CO.