Altered Fire Regimes and the Persistence of Quaking Aspen in the Rocky Mountains: A Literature Review

Aaron Rosenblum^*

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojf.2015.55050                

Abstract

The persistence of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) is of significant importance to land managers in the Rocky Mountain region. Fire suppression in the past century has been implicated as a mechanism influencing aspen population dynamics, as aspen are generally considered an early seral disturbance adapted species. The heterogeneity of aspen community assemblages and fire regimes makes it difficult to discern what the result of fire suppression has been at large spatial and temporal scales. Decision makers should investigate the questions at hand at the stand level in their study location to best determine the mechanisms at play, as well as consider future potential changes to the system.

Keywords

Quaking Aspen, Populus Tremuloides, Fire, Fire Regimes, Rocky Mountains

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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