Aspen Bibliography

Ecology of Aspen in Gunnison County, Colorado

M.D. Morgan

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

American Midland Naturalist

Volume

82

Issue

1

First Page

204

Last Page

228

Publication Date

1969

Abstract

The ecology of quaking aspen was studied in Gunnison County, Colorado. In the study area, aspen stands often take the form of small islands surrounded by fescue grasslands. At its upper altitudinal limits, aspen generally abuts the spruce-fir forest. The greatest number of trees were 4- to 7-in DBH with only a few being greater than 10-in DBH. Aspen reproduction is evident, but many of the trees below 4-in DBH were dead. The aspen understory is very lush and is characterized by many tall herbaceous species. The disjunct distribution of several understory species does not seem related to soil or aspect conditions. Aspen soils are generally more fertile than adjacent spruce-fir or fescue grassland soils. All soils possessed several characteristics of immature soils: 1) little variation in silt and clay content throughout the profile, 2) little horizon and structural development, and 3) little variation in per cent base saturation throughout the profile. Aspen seed retained good viability after cool storage for 1 1/2 years. The pattern of morphological characteristics, site conditions, and leafing times is much more complex than that reported in other areas in the central Rocky Mountains. Aspen appears to be successional to spruce-fir in the present study area, although in local sites that may be inaccessible to a spruce-fir seed source the present mosaic pattern of aspen groves within fescue grassland or sagebrush may persist.

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