Pando Aspen 2021 Remeasure

Creators

Paul C. Rogers

Description

Upland aspen (Populus spp.) forests contribute significantly to biodiversity in their circumboreal role as keystone species. The 43-hectare Pando aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) clone in Utah, USA, is thought to be the largest living organism on earth, but is faltering due to chronic herbivory. Long-term resilience in aspen communities, including Pando, rests on successful recruitment of vegetative suckers. This is the first trend assessment of this threatened iconic forest using a vital indicators approach. I examined 64 plots using 19 indicators to determine current conditions. Findings show that a genetically uniform Pando is 'breaking up' because of herbivory fencing. Initial successes are tempered by nearly half of Pando that remains unprotected from chronic wild and domestic ungulates herbivory. I propose a strategy of process-based stewardship informed by adaptive monitoring to restore the famed 'one-tree forest.' Lessons from Pando include linkages to embattled biodiverse aspen systems facing similar challenges globally.

Author ORCID Identifier

Paul C. Rogers https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5978-8910

Document Type

Dataset

DCMI Type

Dataset

File Format

.xlsx, .csv

Viewing Instructions

See README file.

Publication Date

3-1-2022

Funder

EJF Philanthropies

Western Aspen Alliance

US Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Publisher

Utah State University

Award Number

US Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) L21AC10369

Methodology

The data consists of location, mensuration, regeneration/recruitment, and animal browse/scat data from the Pando aspen clone near Fish Lake, Utah. This is a full remeasurement of this famous grove. Previous full or partial measures of Pando were conducted in 2014-2016, 2017.

Scientfic Names

Populus spp., Populus tremuloides Michx.

Related Content

Rogers, P. C., and C. M. Mittanck. 2014. Herbivory strains resilience in drought-prone aspen landscapes of the western United States. Journal of Vegetation Science 25:457-469. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12099

Location

Fish Lake, Utah

Language

eng

Code Lists

See README file.

Disciplines

Plant Sciences

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.26078/8agw-0368

Recommended Citation

Rogers, P. C. (2022). Pando Aspen 2021 Remeasure [Data set]. Utah State University. https://doi.org/10.26078/8AGW-0368

Checksum

MD5: b7c09c0854b4ccb757ed10dc95f91cfd