Patterns of Community Dynamics in Colorado Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fire Forests

Authors

Gregory H. Aplet
Richard D. Laven
Frederick W. Smith

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Ecology

Publication Date

1988

Issue

2

Volume

69

First Page

312

Last Page

319

Abstract

Based on a 5-stand chronosequence (>500 yr), changes are characterized for age structure, overstorey mortality, recruitment, and understorey growth in developing Picea engelmanniiAbies lasiocarpa /forests. It is suggested that stand development involves aspects of two models: an equilibrium coexistence model in which spruce and fir constitute a stable, climax community through balanced life-history strategies; and a nonequilibrium coexistence model relying on periodic catastrophic disturbance (from large-scale wildfires to small-scale tree deaths) to disrupt competitive exclusion of spruce by fir.

Comments

Copyright by the Ecological Society of America. Publisher's PDF available through remote link via JSTOR.
Note: This article originally appeared in the Ecology journal.

Recommended Citation

Aplet, G., Laven, R. and Smith, F. (1988). Patterns of community dynamics in Colorado Engelmann spruce-subalpine fire forests. Ecology, 69(2): 312-319.