Topic 14:

Subalpine Forests & Disturbance

Announcements:

• Animal presentation today in class... (...on subalpine aspen...)

• Lab this week inside, in the classroom

Learning Goals for Day:

Ø      What is the environment like in the subalpine life zone?

Ø      4 main forest types:

o       High Pine Forest 

in Great Basin mtns.; 2 pine spp = dominant; disturbance?; indicator bird?

o       Spruce-Fir Forest

fire disturbance rare; frequency & intensity?; indicator bird?

o       Aspen Groves

aspen capitalize on disturbance

o       Lodgepole Pine Forests

N. Rockies dominant (not SW); fire-adapted sp (how so?)

Ø      Describe & explain the fire disturbance regimes for these forest types

Link to Powerpoint slides used to illustrate this topic

Disturbance Regime Table: