Gambel Oak Ecology and Management in the Southern Rockies: An overview of current knowledge, climate models, and future researc
Location
USU Eccles Conference Center
Event Website
https://www.restoringthewest.org/
Abstract
Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) is one of the most widespread mountain shrub species through the Central Rockies region. Although it is ubiquitous, surprisingly little research has been devoted in Colorado and Utah to understanding Gambel oak ecology, habitat management, or the dynamics of fire behavior in pure Gambel oak or mixed mountain shrub stands. The need for in-depth research on Gambel oak as well as comprehensive understanding of current management strategies is underscored by changes in climate, increase in drought, changing forest conditions and health, and the dramatic spread of homes and structures in the wildland-urban interface in Gambel oak habitat. What are the ecological similarities and differences in various Gambel oak habitat compositions? What do we know about fire behavior in Gambel oak? What are the challenges and obstacles in landscape management? How do we successfully manage Gambel oak in the wildland-urban interface? This poster presents current status of knowledge as well as preliminary results of a Graduate Research Innovation study on understanding the factors that lead to successful seedling establishment in post-fire environments in the Southern Rockies and how these factors vary across the landscape, helping to understand potential responses to future fire events.
Gambel Oak Ecology and Management in the Southern Rockies: An overview of current knowledge, climate models, and future researc
USU Eccles Conference Center
Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) is one of the most widespread mountain shrub species through the Central Rockies region. Although it is ubiquitous, surprisingly little research has been devoted in Colorado and Utah to understanding Gambel oak ecology, habitat management, or the dynamics of fire behavior in pure Gambel oak or mixed mountain shrub stands. The need for in-depth research on Gambel oak as well as comprehensive understanding of current management strategies is underscored by changes in climate, increase in drought, changing forest conditions and health, and the dramatic spread of homes and structures in the wildland-urban interface in Gambel oak habitat. What are the ecological similarities and differences in various Gambel oak habitat compositions? What do we know about fire behavior in Gambel oak? What are the challenges and obstacles in landscape management? How do we successfully manage Gambel oak in the wildland-urban interface? This poster presents current status of knowledge as well as preliminary results of a Graduate Research Innovation study on understanding the factors that lead to successful seedling establishment in post-fire environments in the Southern Rockies and how these factors vary across the landscape, helping to understand potential responses to future fire events.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/rtw/2017/Oct17/12