Aspen Bibliography

Document Type

Contribution to Book

Editor

W.D. Shepperd, D. Binkley, D.L. Bartos, T.J. Stohlgren

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Sustaining Aspen in Western Landscapes: Symposium Proceedings

Volume

Proceedings RMPS-P-18

Publisher

USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station

First Page

207

Last Page

213

Publication Date

6-2001

Abstract

To determine the number of cavity-containing aspens in old-growth (>80 years), we counted the number of stems containing cavities in 132 0.02-ha plots in Wyoming. There were 8.7 cavities/ha of aspen type. At least 84% of the cavity stems were alive when the initial cavity was constructed; 60% were alive when examined. Fruiting bodies and Phellinus tremulae (a heartrot fungus) were present on 71% of all cavity-bearing stems but on only 9.6% of all stems >15 cm d.b.h. Cavities were present in 7.7% and 0.2% of living stems with and without fruiting bodies, respectively. Average d.b.h. of cavity stems was 27.4 cm. During a 4-year interval, 74 of 226 snags >15 cm d.b.h. fell, giving an average instantaneous rate of snag loss of r = –0.099. Ninety-six new snags >15 cm d.b.h. were created during the 4-year study period. Our results indicate that some primary cavity-nesting birds in northwest Wyoming prefer- entially selected living aspens with heartrot as nest sites and that the average longevity of aspen snags >15 cm d.b.h. is about 10.7 years.

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