Mountain pine beetle impacts on vegetation and carbon stocks
In the Southern Rocky Mountains, an epidemic outbreak of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae; MPB) has caused levels of tree mortality unprecedented in recorded history. The impacts of this mortality on vegetation composition, forest structure, and carbon stocks have only recently received attention, although the impacts of other disturbances such as fires and land-use/land-cover change are much better known. This study, initiated in 2010, aims to increase our understanding of MPB outbreaks and their impacts. We have integrated field-collected data with vegetation simulation models to assess and quantify how long-term patterns of vegetation and carbon stocks have and may change in response to MPB outbreaks and other disturbances.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2013 |
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Title | Mountain pine beetle impacts on vegetation and carbon stocks |
DOI | 10.3133/fs20133095 |
Authors | Todd Hawbaker, Jennifer S. Briggs, Megan K. Caldwell, Susan Stitt |
Publication Type | Report |
Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
Series Title | Fact Sheet |
Series Number | 2013-3095 |
Index ID | fs20133095 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center |