Journal of NACAA

The Effect of Large Fire on Aspen Recruitment

ISSN 2158-9429

Volume 7, Issue 1 - June 2014

Editor: Linda Chalker-Scott

Abstract

This study explored the effect of large scale disturbance (fire) on Aspen (Populus tremuloides) recruitment.  The 2000 Oldroyd Fire- a 1,329 acre managed fire in Central Utah, suffered complete Aspen clone failure due to grazing.  The 1996 Pole Creek Fire- a 7,113 acre wildfire twenty miles west of the Oldroyd Fire, was studied to determine if a larger disturbance area resulted in more Aspen recruitment.  This information was critical to land managers who needed scientific data for management decisions but wanted to avoid the risks associated with trial and error at large scales.

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