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Phillip van Mantgem

Phil van Mantgem is a research ecologist at the Western Ecological Research Center.

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Conservation biology
  • Fire ecology
  • Forest ecology

 

Professional Experience

  • Research Ecologist, USGS, Redwood Field Station, Arcata, CA, 2008 - Present

  • Ecologist, USGS, Sequoia and Kings Canyon Field Station, Three Rivers, CA, 2000 - 2008

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D., Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 2001

  • M.S., Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 1996

  • B.S., Botany, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 1991

Science and Products

A forest of burnt tree trunks with no leaves. A person in an orange vest and yellow hard hat is in the foreground.

Characterizing Post-Fire Burn Severity And Vegetation Recovery At High Spatial And Temporal Resolutions Using Basal Area Measurements

USGS scientists are studying the effects of wildfires on forests and developing models to predict forest recovery potential after fires. They have collected and analyzed data from several recent California wildfires, including the Dixie, Caldor, KNP Complex, Carr, and Mosquito fires. Researchers are using the data to analyze changes in basal area (the cross-sectional area of tree trunks) to...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
Characterizing Post-Fire Burn Severity And Vegetation Recovery At High Spatial And Temporal Resolutions Using Basal Area Measurements

Characterizing Post-Fire Burn Severity And Vegetation Recovery At High Spatial And Temporal Resolutions Using Basal Area Measurements

USGS scientists are studying the effects of wildfires on forests and developing models to predict forest recovery potential after fires. They have collected and analyzed data from several recent California wildfires, including the Dixie, Caldor, KNP Complex, Carr, and Mosquito fires. Researchers are using the data to analyze changes in basal area (the cross-sectional area of tree trunks) to...
Learn More
WERC Fire

WERC Fire Science

WERC scientists are defining the past, present, and future of wildfires for wildlife and human communities. Explore this webpage to learn about specific, ongoing projects across California and parts of Nevada.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
WERC Fire Science

WERC Fire Science

WERC scientists are defining the past, present, and future of wildfires for wildlife and human communities. Explore this webpage to learn about specific, ongoing projects across California and parts of Nevada.
Learn More
This is a photo of a view east toward the Tarantula Mesa and Henry Mountains.

Understanding Fire-caused Vegetation Type Conversion in Southwestern Conifer Forests under Current and Future Climate Conditions

Fire size, frequency, overall area burned, and severity are increasing across many vegetation types in the southwestern U.S. In many cases, large contiguous areas are burning repeatedly at high severity, triggering vegetation type conversions (VTC), where once-dominant coniferous forests fail to return to their pre-fire state, often transitioning to shrub- or grass-dominated systems...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Wildland Fire Science
Understanding Fire-caused Vegetation Type Conversion in Southwestern Conifer Forests under Current and Future Climate Conditions

Understanding Fire-caused Vegetation Type Conversion in Southwestern Conifer Forests under Current and Future Climate Conditions

Fire size, frequency, overall area burned, and severity are increasing across many vegetation types in the southwestern U.S. In many cases, large contiguous areas are burning repeatedly at high severity, triggering vegetation type conversions (VTC), where once-dominant coniferous forests fail to return to their pre-fire state, often transitioning to shrub- or grass-dominated systems. Loss of these
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Meadow in the Sierra Nevada

Post-Fire Conifer Regeneration Under a Warming Climate: Will Severe Fire Be a Catalyst for Forest Loss?

The Southwest U.S. is experiencing hotter droughts, which are contributing to more frequent, severe wildfires. These droughts also stress vegetation, which can make it more difficult for forests to recover after fire. Forest regeneration in burned areas may be limited because seeds have to travel long distances to recolonize, and when they do arrive, conditions are often unfavorably hot...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Post-Fire Conifer Regeneration Under a Warming Climate: Will Severe Fire Be a Catalyst for Forest Loss?

Post-Fire Conifer Regeneration Under a Warming Climate: Will Severe Fire Be a Catalyst for Forest Loss?

The Southwest U.S. is experiencing hotter droughts, which are contributing to more frequent, severe wildfires. These droughts also stress vegetation, which can make it more difficult for forests to recover after fire. Forest regeneration in burned areas may be limited because seeds have to travel long distances to recolonize, and when they do arrive, conditions are often unfavorably hot and dry
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Photo depicting drought-related tree mortality in Sequoia National Park

Drought and Western Forests

USGS WERC's Dr. Phil van Mantgem and his collaborators are using plot-based methods to describe change and vulnerability to drought in the forests of the western United States. A focus of this work is the installation and maintenance of large (1 ha) monitoring plots. Many other vegetation monitoring strategies are based on small (0.1 ha) plots, which may not be sufficient to detect changes in...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Drought and Western Forests

Drought and Western Forests

USGS WERC's Dr. Phil van Mantgem and his collaborators are using plot-based methods to describe change and vulnerability to drought in the forests of the western United States. A focus of this work is the installation and maintenance of large (1 ha) monitoring plots. Many other vegetation monitoring strategies are based on small (0.1 ha) plots, which may not be sufficient to detect changes in...
Learn More
WERC looking over lush forested hills, Oregon Caves National Monument

Forest Restoration in the Western U.S.

This project uses new and existing field data to assess forest restoration treatment effects across broad spatial and temporal scales. WERC's Dr. Phil van Mantgem and project partners are considering the effects of restoration treatments in terms of forest structure, forest stand development, subsequent tree mortality patterns mortality, and how climate influences the success or failure of...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Forest Restoration in the Western U.S.

Forest Restoration in the Western U.S.

This project uses new and existing field data to assess forest restoration treatment effects across broad spatial and temporal scales. WERC's Dr. Phil van Mantgem and project partners are considering the effects of restoration treatments in terms of forest structure, forest stand development, subsequent tree mortality patterns mortality, and how climate influences the success or failure of...
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WERC Fire

Fire Severity Trends in the Western U.S.

How will increased drought affect forest fire severity? WERC’s Dr. Phil van Mantgem is testing the idea increased drought stress may affect forest fire severity independent of fire intensity. Drought stress prior to fire can affect tree health, potentially resulting in a higher sensitivity to fire-induced damage. Thus, with drought there may be ongoing increases in fire severity (the number of...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
Fire Severity Trends in the Western U.S.

Fire Severity Trends in the Western U.S.

How will increased drought affect forest fire severity? WERC’s Dr. Phil van Mantgem is testing the idea increased drought stress may affect forest fire severity independent of fire intensity. Drought stress prior to fire can affect tree health, potentially resulting in a higher sensitivity to fire-induced damage. Thus, with drought there may be ongoing increases in fire severity (the number of...
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Redwoods

Redwood Field Station

The Redwood Field Station is located in Arcata, CA. Click on the following tab to learn more.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Redwood Field Station

Redwood Field Station

The Redwood Field Station is located in Arcata, CA. Click on the following tab to learn more.
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Forest in flames. Smoke billowing

Can Prescribed Fire Help Forests Survive Drought in the Sierra Nevada Mountains?

In 2017, California was experiencing its most severe drought in over a millennia. Low rainfall and record high temperatures resulted in increased tree mortality and complete forest diebacks across the West. Though land managers scrambled to respond, they lacked information needed to make informed decisions. Focusing on California’s central and southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, this...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Wildland Fire Science
Can Prescribed Fire Help Forests Survive Drought in the Sierra Nevada Mountains?

Can Prescribed Fire Help Forests Survive Drought in the Sierra Nevada Mountains?

In 2017, California was experiencing its most severe drought in over a millennia. Low rainfall and record high temperatures resulted in increased tree mortality and complete forest diebacks across the West. Though land managers scrambled to respond, they lacked information needed to make informed decisions. Focusing on California’s central and southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, this project seeks
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Flames consume woody fuels in a managed wildfire, New Mexico

Fighting Drought with Fire: A Comparison of Burned and Unburned Forests in Drought-Impacted Areas of the Southwest

Drought is one of the biggest threats facing our forests today. In the western U.S., severe drought and rising temperatures have caused increased tree mortality and complete forest diebacks. Forests are changing rapidly, and while land managers are working to develop long-term climate change adaptation plans, they require tools that can enhance forest resistance to drought now. To...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Fighting Drought with Fire: A Comparison of Burned and Unburned Forests in Drought-Impacted Areas of the Southwest

Fighting Drought with Fire: A Comparison of Burned and Unburned Forests in Drought-Impacted Areas of the Southwest

Drought is one of the biggest threats facing our forests today. In the western U.S., severe drought and rising temperatures have caused increased tree mortality and complete forest diebacks. Forests are changing rapidly, and while land managers are working to develop long-term climate change adaptation plans, they require tools that can enhance forest resistance to drought now. To address this
Learn More
Image: Smoke From Schultz Pass Forest Fire, Flagstaff, Arizona, June 20, 2010

How Does Drought Influence Fire Severity in the Southwestern U.S.?

There is a growing realization that current warming trends may be associated with increases in the size, frequency, and severity of forest fires in the West. While rising temperatures can create drought conditions that favor severe fires, it is also possible that drought limits the ability of trees to survive a fire. During a drought, there is less water available for trees and more...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
How Does Drought Influence Fire Severity in the Southwestern U.S.?

How Does Drought Influence Fire Severity in the Southwestern U.S.?

There is a growing realization that current warming trends may be associated with increases in the size, frequency, and severity of forest fires in the West. While rising temperatures can create drought conditions that favor severe fires, it is also possible that drought limits the ability of trees to survive a fire. During a drought, there is less water available for trees and more outbreaks of
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USGS science for a changing world logo

Characterizing a link in the terrestrial carbon cycle: a global overview of individual tree mass growth

Forests sequester the majority of the terrestrial biosphere’s carbon and are key components of the global carbon cycle, potentially contributing substantial feedbacks to ongoing climatic changes. It is therefore remarkable that no consensus yet exists about the fundamental nature of tree mass growth (and thus carbon sequestration rate). Specifically, does tree mass growth rate increase...
By
John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis
Characterizing a link in the terrestrial carbon cycle: a global overview of individual tree mass growth

Characterizing a link in the terrestrial carbon cycle: a global overview of individual tree mass growth

Forests sequester the majority of the terrestrial biosphere’s carbon and are key components of the global carbon cycle, potentially contributing substantial feedbacks to ongoing climatic changes. It is therefore remarkable that no consensus yet exists about the fundamental nature of tree mass growth (and thus carbon sequestration rate). Specifically, does tree mass growth rate increase, decrease
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Filter Total Items: 16

Data Describing the Presence of Live Trees for Three Years in Sentinel-2 Pixels Across Four Fires in California, USA Data Describing the Presence of Live Trees for Three Years in Sentinel-2 Pixels Across Four Fires in California, USA

This dataset represents photointerpretation of live tree presence and raw pixel values from 500 randomly selected Sentinel-2 pixels across four fires in the state of California. This dataset was used to run random forest models to predict live tree presence in the Cabin Fire, Rough Fire, Pier Fire, and Schaeffer Fire at 1, 3, and 5 years post fire.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Data Describing Changes in Aboveground Live Tree Carbon With and Without Restoration Treatments in Second-growth Coastal Redwood Forests Data Describing Changes in Aboveground Live Tree Carbon With and Without Restoration Treatments in Second-growth Coastal Redwood Forests

This dataset provides estimates of aboveground forest carbon for all live trees with diameter at breast height at or above 20 centimeters in 151 second-growth forest plots in Redwood National and State Parks. The dataset contains all existing field observations along with projections from the Forest Vegetation Simulator in five year increments from 2024 to 2064.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Proportional Basal Area Mortality Following Four Large Wildfires in California, USA Proportional Basal Area Mortality Following Four Large Wildfires in California, USA

This dataset provides estimates of the proportion of basal area that survived along with burn severity indices for 585 plots following four large fires in California, including the Carr (2018), Dixie (2021), Caldor (2021), and KNP (2021) fires.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Field Validation Data for Live Tree Presence/Absence Following Two Large Wildfires in California, USA Field Validation Data for Live Tree Presence/Absence Following Two Large Wildfires in California, USA

This data file contains observations recorded during field surveys of post-fire vegetation in the 2021 Caldor and 2022 Mosquito Fires in the Sierra Nevada of California. The surveys were performed in summer 2023. All tree species were surveyed and treated the same.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Forest Conditions Following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Forest Conditions Following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

This data release provides forest structure information including basal area and stem density by genus and mortality status for overstory and sapling trees in 149 plots in Whiskeytown National Recreation area in California, USA. The data includes forest structure measurements taken before and after the 2018 Carr Fire, a nearly 93,000 hectare wildfire.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Tree Growth at Redwood National Park from 1970 to 2015 Tree Growth at Redwood National Park from 1970 to 2015

This dataset describes tree growth and site characteristics for 26 monitoring plots in 3 sites in Redwood National Park in California, USA. One site (A972) was established and sampled in 2007, 2008, and 2013 (Dagley and others, 2023). Two sites (Holter Ridge and Whiskey 40) were established and sampled in 2009 (van Mantgem and Das, 2014). Six existing plots in the Holter Ridge and...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Data Describing Site Characteristics Including Conifer Regeneration Following the 2018 Carr Fire in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Data Describing Site Characteristics Including Conifer Regeneration Following the 2018 Carr Fire in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

This dataset provides seedling density and site characteristics for 131 plots in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in California, USA. Site characteristics include modeled seed availability and terrain indices calculated using a 1 meter resolution digital elevation model (DEM).
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Stem and Needle Growth for Whitebark Pine in the Sierra Nevada Stem and Needle Growth for Whitebark Pine in the Sierra Nevada

These data represent stem growth, needle length growth, and carbon stable isotope ratios from whitebark pine at 27 sites in the Sierra Nevada of California. Values for stem growth were derived from increment cores, processed following standard methods. Needle characteristics were captured for individual trees across all years needles were present on the internodes. Needle length was...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

poscrptR poscrptR

poscrptR is a simple R package with the sole purpose of distributing a shiny app for predicting post-fire conifer regeneration. Learn more about shiny apps here.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Growth, Drought Response, and Genomic Structure Data for Whitebark Pine in the Sierra Nevada of California (ver. 2.0, May 2023) Growth, Drought Response, and Genomic Structure Data for Whitebark Pine in the Sierra Nevada of California (ver. 2.0, May 2023)

These data represent stem growth from whitebark pine at 27 sites in the Sierra Nevada of California. Values for stem growth were derived from increment cores, processed following standard methods. Samples were also compared against a genomic data collected at the same trees. These data support the following publication: van Mantgem, P.J., Milano, E.R., Dudney, J., Nesmith, J.C.B...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks Mortality and Fire Data (1990-2019) for Competition-Fire-Drought Interaction Analysis Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks Mortality and Fire Data (1990-2019) for Competition-Fire-Drought Interaction Analysis

This dataset records mortality-- including involvement of bark beetles-- and burn severity information for trees in long term forest dynamics plots in Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park that experienced fire. These data support the following publication: Furniss, T.J., Das, A.J., van Mantgem, P.J., Stephenson, N.L. and Lutz, J.A., 2021. Crowding, climate, and the case for...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Seed source, not drought, determines patterns of seed production in Sierra Nevada conifers Seed source, not drought, determines patterns of seed production in Sierra Nevada conifers

This release consists of data collected from 26 plots in two national parks over a 19-year period. The data consists of plot-level seed counts for three genera, number of seed traps, live tree basal area, plot area, and climate metrics from the gridmet gridded data set, the daymet gridded data set, the PRISM gridded data set, and two nearby COOP stations.
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
USGS
USGS Visual Identity - Black (TM)
USGS Visual Identity - Black (TM)
SneakPeek: USGS Public Lecture, Can Our Western Forests Take the Heat?
SneakPeek: USGS Public Lecture, Can Our Western Forests Take the Heat?
USGS
USGS Visual Identity - Black (TM)
USGS Visual Identity - Black (TM)

SneakPeek: USGS Public Lecture, Can Our Western Forests Take the Heat?

SneakPeek: USGS Public Lecture, Can Our Western Forests Take the Heat?
  • Tree death rates have more than doubled over the last few decades in old-growth forests of our western states, possibly reflecting increasing temperatures, with potentially serious consequences for wildlife, fire risks, and the global carbon cycle
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Communications and Publishing
USGS
USGS Visual Identity - Black (TM)
USGS Visual Identity - Black (TM)

SneakPeek: USGS Public Lecture, Can Our Western Forests Take the Heat?

SneakPeek: USGS Public Lecture, Can Our Western Forests Take the Heat?

  • Tree death rates have more than doubled over the last few decades in old-growth forests of our western states, possibly reflecting increasing temperatures, with potentially serious consequences for wildlife, fire risks, and the global carbon cycle
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Communications and Publishing
Filter Total Items: 77

Effects of restoration thinning on live tree carbon in northern secondary coastal redwood forests Effects of restoration thinning on live tree carbon in northern secondary coastal redwood forests

At Redwood National and State parks restoration efforts are underway to promote the recovery of forests following a history of intense logging. Unmanaged secondary forests at the parks have high stem density with slow stand development. Restoration thinning treatments of these stands are designed to promote the representation of redwood and improve the growth of residual trees...
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Micah Wright, Jason Teraoka
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Vegetation community monitoring: Forest structure in Klamath Network parks Vegetation community monitoring: Forest structure in Klamath Network parks

The Klamath Network, comprising six national park units in northern California and southern Oregon, initiated a vegetation monitoring protocol in 2011 to discern ecologically significant vegetation trends in these parks. The premise of the protocol is that multivariate analyses of species composition data is the most robust means for early detection of vegetation change over time. Here...
Authors
Sean Smith, Lauren N. Youngblood, Micah Wright, Phillip van Mantgem
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Drought before fire increases tree mortality after fire Drought before fire increases tree mortality after fire

Fire and drought are expected to increase in frequency and severity in temperate forests due to climate change. To evaluate whether drought increases the likelihood of post-fire tree mortality, we used a large database of tree survival and mortality from 32 years of wildland fires covering four dominant western North American conifers. We used Bayesian hierarchical modeling to predict...
Authors
C. Cansler, Micah Wright, Phillip J. van Mantgem, Timothy Shearman, J. Morgan Varner, Sharon Hood
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Learning from a high-severity fire event—Conditions following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Learning from a high-severity fire event—Conditions following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

The 2018 Carr Fire burned more than 90 percent of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, with much of the park burning at high severity. California yellow pine and mixed conifer forests are not well adapted to large, high-severity fires, and forest recovery after these events may be problematic. Large, high-severity fire patches pose difficulties for recruitment with interiors that are...
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Micah Wright, Karen Thorne, Jill Beckmann, Kevin Buffington, Lyndsay Rankin, Audrey Colley, Eamon Engber
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Spatially explicit models of seed availability improve predictions of conifer regeneration following the 2018 Carr Fire in northern California Spatially explicit models of seed availability improve predictions of conifer regeneration following the 2018 Carr Fire in northern California

For many conifer species in dry conifer forests of North America, seeds must be present for postfire regeneration to occur, suggesting that seed dispersal from surviving trees plays a critical role in postfire forest recovery. However, the application of tree fecundity and spatial arrangement to postfire conifer recovery predictions have only recently become more common, and is often...
Authors
Micah Wright, Phillip J. van Mantgem, Kevin Buffington, Karen M. Thorne, Eamon Engber, Sean Smith
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Best practices for distributing and deploying U.S. Geological Survey Shiny applications Best practices for distributing and deploying U.S. Geological Survey Shiny applications

A goal of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research is to create actionable science for U.S. Department of the Interior managers and partners. Properly managed and released software tools can quickly, accurately, and easily translate scientific results to aid managers’ decision-making. The USGS policies on software development and distribution affect how authors of USGS software products...
Authors
Daniel F. Shryock, Micah Wright, Phillip van Mantgem, Todd Esque
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Growth, drought response, and climate-associated genomic structure in whitebark pine in the Sierra Nevada of California Growth, drought response, and climate-associated genomic structure in whitebark pine in the Sierra Nevada of California

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) has experienced rapid population declines and is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in the United States. Whitebark pine in the Sierra Nevada of California represents the southernmost end of the species' distribution and, like other portions of its range, faces threats from an introduced pathogen, native bark beetles, and a...
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Elizabeth Milano, Joan Dudney, Jonathan Nesmith, Amy Vandergast, Harold Zald
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

The energy–water limitation threshold explains divergent drought responses in tree growth, needle length, and stable isotope ratios The energy–water limitation threshold explains divergent drought responses in tree growth, needle length, and stable isotope ratios

Predicted increases in extreme droughts will likely cause major shifts in carbon sequestration and forest composition. Although growth declines during drought are widely documented, an increasing number of studies have reported both positive and negative responses to the same drought. These divergent growth patterns may reflect thresholds (i.e., nonlinear responses) promoted by changes...
Authors
Joan Dudney, Andrew Latimer, Phillip J. van Mantgem, Harold S. Zald, Claire Willing, Jonathan Nesmith, Jennifer Cribbs, Elizabeth Milano
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Forest structure and residual tree growth at the Northwest Gateway project area, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California Forest structure and residual tree growth at the Northwest Gateway project area, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

Mechanical thinning and prescribed fire are common mitigation treatments to reduce fire hazards. However, these treatments are infrequently applied together within national parks. The Northwest Gateway project at Lassen Volcanic National Park is an exception to this pattern. Various thinning prescriptions were applied to the project area in 2014, with a subset of the area prescribed...
Authors
Micah Wright, Phillip van Mantgem, Calvin Farris
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Drought survival strategies differ between coastal and montane conifers in northern California Drought survival strategies differ between coastal and montane conifers in northern California

Increasingly severe and prolonged droughts are contributing to tree stress and forest mortality across western North America. However, in many cases, we currently have poor information concerning how drought responses in forests vary in relation to competition, climate, and site and tree characteristics. We used annual tree ring evidence of 13C discrimination (Δ13C) and growth metrics to...
Authors
Wallis Robinson, Lucy Kerhoulas, Rosemary L. Sherriff, Gabriel Roletti, Phillip J. van Mantgem
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Predictive accuracy of post-fire conifer death declines over time in models based on crown and bole injury Predictive accuracy of post-fire conifer death declines over time in models based on crown and bole injury

A key uncertainty of empirical models of post-fire tree mortality is understanding the drivers of elevated post-fire mortality several years following fire, known as delayed mortality. Delayed mortality can represent a substantial fraction of mortality, particularly for large trees that are a conservation focus in western US coniferous forests. Current post-fire tree mortality models...
Authors
Timothy Shearman, J. Morgan Varner, Sharon Hood, Phillip J. van Mantgem, C. Cansler, Micah Wright
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Vegetation type conversion in the US Southwest: Frontline observations and management responses Vegetation type conversion in the US Southwest: Frontline observations and management responses

Forest and nonforest ecosystems of the western United States are experiencing major transformations in response to land-use change, climate warming, and their interactive effects with wildland fire. Some ecosystems are transitioning to persistent alternative types, hereafter called “vegetation type conversion” (VTC). VTC is one of the most pressing management issues in the southwestern...
Authors
Christopher Guiterman, Rachel Gregg, Laura Marshall, Jill Beckmann, Phillip J. van Mantgem, Donald Falk, Jon Keeley, Anthony Caprio, Jonathan Coop, Paula Fornwalt, Collin Haffey, R. Hagmann, Stephen Jackson, Ann Lynch, Ellis Margolis, Christopher Marks, Marc Meyer, Hugh Safford, Alexandra Syphard, Alan Taylor, Craig Wilcox, Dennis Carril, Carolyn Enquist, David W. Huffman, Jose Iniguez, Nicole Molinari, Christina Restaino, Jens T. Stevens
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

poscrptR poscrptR

poscrptR is a simple R package with the sole purpose of distributing a shiny app for predicting post-fire conifer regeneration. Learn more about shiny apps here.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Seed source, not drought, determines patterns of seed production in Sierra Nevada conifers Seed source, not drought, determines patterns of seed production in Sierra Nevada conifers

This release consists of data collected from 26 plots in two national parks over a 19-year period. The data consists of plot-level seed counts for three genera, number of seed traps, live tree basal area, plot area, and climate metrics from the gridmet gridded data set, the daymet gridded data set, the PRISM gridded data set, and two nearby COOP stations.
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Drought
12 Days of Conifers: Where the Forest Meets the Sea: Seabirds, Conifers, and Wildfire

12 Days of Conifers: Where the Forest Meets the Sea: Seabirds, Conifers, and Wildfire

It’s Day 12 of 12 Days Of Conifers and today we feature a tale of land and sea, involving two conifers and the little seabird that nests in their...

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12 Days of Conifers: Whitebark at Risk

12 Days of Conifers: Whitebark at Risk

It’s Day 8 of 12 Days Of Conifers, and our featured species today is the whitebark pine (Pinus albucaulis), a high elevation species that often forms...

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12 Days of Conifers: Coring the Prickly Ponderosa

12 Days of Conifers: Coring the Prickly Ponderosa

For Day 2 of 12 Days Of Conifers, we’re going to start with the stately Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and explore how scientists use tree rings to...

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Research Spotlight: New Models Demonstrate the Role of Climate and Seed Production in Post-fire Forest Regeneration

Research Spotlight: New Models Demonstrate the Role of Climate and Seed Production in Post-fire Forest Regeneration

A new publication from USGS scientists and collaborators assessed how post-fire climate and seed production influence conifer regeneration following...
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Fire Impacts in U.S. West: Droughts Lead to More Tree Deaths from Fire

Fire Impacts in U.S. West: Droughts Lead to More Tree Deaths from Fire

Warming temperatures are likely causing many indirect effects and complex interactions. These nuanced and layered effects can be difficult for...

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When a Giant Sequoia Falls Down...

When a Giant Sequoia Falls Down...

Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) can live for thousands of years and grow to over 200 feet in height. So when a large sequoia comes crashing...

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Science and Products

A forest of burnt tree trunks with no leaves. A person in an orange vest and yellow hard hat is in the foreground.

Characterizing Post-Fire Burn Severity And Vegetation Recovery At High Spatial And Temporal Resolutions Using Basal Area Measurements

USGS scientists are studying the effects of wildfires on forests and developing models to predict forest recovery potential after fires. They have collected and analyzed data from several recent California wildfires, including the Dixie, Caldor, KNP Complex, Carr, and Mosquito fires. Researchers are using the data to analyze changes in basal area (the cross-sectional area of tree trunks) to...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
Characterizing Post-Fire Burn Severity And Vegetation Recovery At High Spatial And Temporal Resolutions Using Basal Area Measurements

Characterizing Post-Fire Burn Severity And Vegetation Recovery At High Spatial And Temporal Resolutions Using Basal Area Measurements

USGS scientists are studying the effects of wildfires on forests and developing models to predict forest recovery potential after fires. They have collected and analyzed data from several recent California wildfires, including the Dixie, Caldor, KNP Complex, Carr, and Mosquito fires. Researchers are using the data to analyze changes in basal area (the cross-sectional area of tree trunks) to...
Learn More
WERC Fire

WERC Fire Science

WERC scientists are defining the past, present, and future of wildfires for wildlife and human communities. Explore this webpage to learn about specific, ongoing projects across California and parts of Nevada.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
WERC Fire Science

WERC Fire Science

WERC scientists are defining the past, present, and future of wildfires for wildlife and human communities. Explore this webpage to learn about specific, ongoing projects across California and parts of Nevada.
Learn More
This is a photo of a view east toward the Tarantula Mesa and Henry Mountains.

Understanding Fire-caused Vegetation Type Conversion in Southwestern Conifer Forests under Current and Future Climate Conditions

Fire size, frequency, overall area burned, and severity are increasing across many vegetation types in the southwestern U.S. In many cases, large contiguous areas are burning repeatedly at high severity, triggering vegetation type conversions (VTC), where once-dominant coniferous forests fail to return to their pre-fire state, often transitioning to shrub- or grass-dominated systems...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Wildland Fire Science
Understanding Fire-caused Vegetation Type Conversion in Southwestern Conifer Forests under Current and Future Climate Conditions

Understanding Fire-caused Vegetation Type Conversion in Southwestern Conifer Forests under Current and Future Climate Conditions

Fire size, frequency, overall area burned, and severity are increasing across many vegetation types in the southwestern U.S. In many cases, large contiguous areas are burning repeatedly at high severity, triggering vegetation type conversions (VTC), where once-dominant coniferous forests fail to return to their pre-fire state, often transitioning to shrub- or grass-dominated systems. Loss of these
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Meadow in the Sierra Nevada

Post-Fire Conifer Regeneration Under a Warming Climate: Will Severe Fire Be a Catalyst for Forest Loss?

The Southwest U.S. is experiencing hotter droughts, which are contributing to more frequent, severe wildfires. These droughts also stress vegetation, which can make it more difficult for forests to recover after fire. Forest regeneration in burned areas may be limited because seeds have to travel long distances to recolonize, and when they do arrive, conditions are often unfavorably hot...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Post-Fire Conifer Regeneration Under a Warming Climate: Will Severe Fire Be a Catalyst for Forest Loss?

Post-Fire Conifer Regeneration Under a Warming Climate: Will Severe Fire Be a Catalyst for Forest Loss?

The Southwest U.S. is experiencing hotter droughts, which are contributing to more frequent, severe wildfires. These droughts also stress vegetation, which can make it more difficult for forests to recover after fire. Forest regeneration in burned areas may be limited because seeds have to travel long distances to recolonize, and when they do arrive, conditions are often unfavorably hot and dry
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Photo depicting drought-related tree mortality in Sequoia National Park

Drought and Western Forests

USGS WERC's Dr. Phil van Mantgem and his collaborators are using plot-based methods to describe change and vulnerability to drought in the forests of the western United States. A focus of this work is the installation and maintenance of large (1 ha) monitoring plots. Many other vegetation monitoring strategies are based on small (0.1 ha) plots, which may not be sufficient to detect changes in...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Drought and Western Forests

Drought and Western Forests

USGS WERC's Dr. Phil van Mantgem and his collaborators are using plot-based methods to describe change and vulnerability to drought in the forests of the western United States. A focus of this work is the installation and maintenance of large (1 ha) monitoring plots. Many other vegetation monitoring strategies are based on small (0.1 ha) plots, which may not be sufficient to detect changes in...
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WERC looking over lush forested hills, Oregon Caves National Monument

Forest Restoration in the Western U.S.

This project uses new and existing field data to assess forest restoration treatment effects across broad spatial and temporal scales. WERC's Dr. Phil van Mantgem and project partners are considering the effects of restoration treatments in terms of forest structure, forest stand development, subsequent tree mortality patterns mortality, and how climate influences the success or failure of...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Forest Restoration in the Western U.S.

Forest Restoration in the Western U.S.

This project uses new and existing field data to assess forest restoration treatment effects across broad spatial and temporal scales. WERC's Dr. Phil van Mantgem and project partners are considering the effects of restoration treatments in terms of forest structure, forest stand development, subsequent tree mortality patterns mortality, and how climate influences the success or failure of...
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WERC Fire

Fire Severity Trends in the Western U.S.

How will increased drought affect forest fire severity? WERC’s Dr. Phil van Mantgem is testing the idea increased drought stress may affect forest fire severity independent of fire intensity. Drought stress prior to fire can affect tree health, potentially resulting in a higher sensitivity to fire-induced damage. Thus, with drought there may be ongoing increases in fire severity (the number of...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
Fire Severity Trends in the Western U.S.

Fire Severity Trends in the Western U.S.

How will increased drought affect forest fire severity? WERC’s Dr. Phil van Mantgem is testing the idea increased drought stress may affect forest fire severity independent of fire intensity. Drought stress prior to fire can affect tree health, potentially resulting in a higher sensitivity to fire-induced damage. Thus, with drought there may be ongoing increases in fire severity (the number of...
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Redwoods

Redwood Field Station

The Redwood Field Station is located in Arcata, CA. Click on the following tab to learn more.
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Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Redwood Field Station

Redwood Field Station

The Redwood Field Station is located in Arcata, CA. Click on the following tab to learn more.
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Forest in flames. Smoke billowing

Can Prescribed Fire Help Forests Survive Drought in the Sierra Nevada Mountains?

In 2017, California was experiencing its most severe drought in over a millennia. Low rainfall and record high temperatures resulted in increased tree mortality and complete forest diebacks across the West. Though land managers scrambled to respond, they lacked information needed to make informed decisions. Focusing on California’s central and southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, this...
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Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Wildland Fire Science
Can Prescribed Fire Help Forests Survive Drought in the Sierra Nevada Mountains?

Can Prescribed Fire Help Forests Survive Drought in the Sierra Nevada Mountains?

In 2017, California was experiencing its most severe drought in over a millennia. Low rainfall and record high temperatures resulted in increased tree mortality and complete forest diebacks across the West. Though land managers scrambled to respond, they lacked information needed to make informed decisions. Focusing on California’s central and southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, this project seeks
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Flames consume woody fuels in a managed wildfire, New Mexico

Fighting Drought with Fire: A Comparison of Burned and Unburned Forests in Drought-Impacted Areas of the Southwest

Drought is one of the biggest threats facing our forests today. In the western U.S., severe drought and rising temperatures have caused increased tree mortality and complete forest diebacks. Forests are changing rapidly, and while land managers are working to develop long-term climate change adaptation plans, they require tools that can enhance forest resistance to drought now. To...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Fighting Drought with Fire: A Comparison of Burned and Unburned Forests in Drought-Impacted Areas of the Southwest

Fighting Drought with Fire: A Comparison of Burned and Unburned Forests in Drought-Impacted Areas of the Southwest

Drought is one of the biggest threats facing our forests today. In the western U.S., severe drought and rising temperatures have caused increased tree mortality and complete forest diebacks. Forests are changing rapidly, and while land managers are working to develop long-term climate change adaptation plans, they require tools that can enhance forest resistance to drought now. To address this
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Image: Smoke From Schultz Pass Forest Fire, Flagstaff, Arizona, June 20, 2010

How Does Drought Influence Fire Severity in the Southwestern U.S.?

There is a growing realization that current warming trends may be associated with increases in the size, frequency, and severity of forest fires in the West. While rising temperatures can create drought conditions that favor severe fires, it is also possible that drought limits the ability of trees to survive a fire. During a drought, there is less water available for trees and more...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
How Does Drought Influence Fire Severity in the Southwestern U.S.?

How Does Drought Influence Fire Severity in the Southwestern U.S.?

There is a growing realization that current warming trends may be associated with increases in the size, frequency, and severity of forest fires in the West. While rising temperatures can create drought conditions that favor severe fires, it is also possible that drought limits the ability of trees to survive a fire. During a drought, there is less water available for trees and more outbreaks of
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USGS science for a changing world logo

Characterizing a link in the terrestrial carbon cycle: a global overview of individual tree mass growth

Forests sequester the majority of the terrestrial biosphere’s carbon and are key components of the global carbon cycle, potentially contributing substantial feedbacks to ongoing climatic changes. It is therefore remarkable that no consensus yet exists about the fundamental nature of tree mass growth (and thus carbon sequestration rate). Specifically, does tree mass growth rate increase...
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John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis
Characterizing a link in the terrestrial carbon cycle: a global overview of individual tree mass growth

Characterizing a link in the terrestrial carbon cycle: a global overview of individual tree mass growth

Forests sequester the majority of the terrestrial biosphere’s carbon and are key components of the global carbon cycle, potentially contributing substantial feedbacks to ongoing climatic changes. It is therefore remarkable that no consensus yet exists about the fundamental nature of tree mass growth (and thus carbon sequestration rate). Specifically, does tree mass growth rate increase, decrease
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Filter Total Items: 16

Data Describing the Presence of Live Trees for Three Years in Sentinel-2 Pixels Across Four Fires in California, USA Data Describing the Presence of Live Trees for Three Years in Sentinel-2 Pixels Across Four Fires in California, USA

This dataset represents photointerpretation of live tree presence and raw pixel values from 500 randomly selected Sentinel-2 pixels across four fires in the state of California. This dataset was used to run random forest models to predict live tree presence in the Cabin Fire, Rough Fire, Pier Fire, and Schaeffer Fire at 1, 3, and 5 years post fire.
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Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Data Describing Changes in Aboveground Live Tree Carbon With and Without Restoration Treatments in Second-growth Coastal Redwood Forests Data Describing Changes in Aboveground Live Tree Carbon With and Without Restoration Treatments in Second-growth Coastal Redwood Forests

This dataset provides estimates of aboveground forest carbon for all live trees with diameter at breast height at or above 20 centimeters in 151 second-growth forest plots in Redwood National and State Parks. The dataset contains all existing field observations along with projections from the Forest Vegetation Simulator in five year increments from 2024 to 2064.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Proportional Basal Area Mortality Following Four Large Wildfires in California, USA Proportional Basal Area Mortality Following Four Large Wildfires in California, USA

This dataset provides estimates of the proportion of basal area that survived along with burn severity indices for 585 plots following four large fires in California, including the Carr (2018), Dixie (2021), Caldor (2021), and KNP (2021) fires.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Field Validation Data for Live Tree Presence/Absence Following Two Large Wildfires in California, USA Field Validation Data for Live Tree Presence/Absence Following Two Large Wildfires in California, USA

This data file contains observations recorded during field surveys of post-fire vegetation in the 2021 Caldor and 2022 Mosquito Fires in the Sierra Nevada of California. The surveys were performed in summer 2023. All tree species were surveyed and treated the same.
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Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Forest Conditions Following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Forest Conditions Following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

This data release provides forest structure information including basal area and stem density by genus and mortality status for overstory and sapling trees in 149 plots in Whiskeytown National Recreation area in California, USA. The data includes forest structure measurements taken before and after the 2018 Carr Fire, a nearly 93,000 hectare wildfire.
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Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Tree Growth at Redwood National Park from 1970 to 2015 Tree Growth at Redwood National Park from 1970 to 2015

This dataset describes tree growth and site characteristics for 26 monitoring plots in 3 sites in Redwood National Park in California, USA. One site (A972) was established and sampled in 2007, 2008, and 2013 (Dagley and others, 2023). Two sites (Holter Ridge and Whiskey 40) were established and sampled in 2009 (van Mantgem and Das, 2014). Six existing plots in the Holter Ridge and...
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Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Data Describing Site Characteristics Including Conifer Regeneration Following the 2018 Carr Fire in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Data Describing Site Characteristics Including Conifer Regeneration Following the 2018 Carr Fire in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

This dataset provides seedling density and site characteristics for 131 plots in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in California, USA. Site characteristics include modeled seed availability and terrain indices calculated using a 1 meter resolution digital elevation model (DEM).
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Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Stem and Needle Growth for Whitebark Pine in the Sierra Nevada Stem and Needle Growth for Whitebark Pine in the Sierra Nevada

These data represent stem growth, needle length growth, and carbon stable isotope ratios from whitebark pine at 27 sites in the Sierra Nevada of California. Values for stem growth were derived from increment cores, processed following standard methods. Needle characteristics were captured for individual trees across all years needles were present on the internodes. Needle length was...
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Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

poscrptR poscrptR

poscrptR is a simple R package with the sole purpose of distributing a shiny app for predicting post-fire conifer regeneration. Learn more about shiny apps here.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Growth, Drought Response, and Genomic Structure Data for Whitebark Pine in the Sierra Nevada of California (ver. 2.0, May 2023) Growth, Drought Response, and Genomic Structure Data for Whitebark Pine in the Sierra Nevada of California (ver. 2.0, May 2023)

These data represent stem growth from whitebark pine at 27 sites in the Sierra Nevada of California. Values for stem growth were derived from increment cores, processed following standard methods. Samples were also compared against a genomic data collected at the same trees. These data support the following publication: van Mantgem, P.J., Milano, E.R., Dudney, J., Nesmith, J.C.B...
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Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks Mortality and Fire Data (1990-2019) for Competition-Fire-Drought Interaction Analysis Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks Mortality and Fire Data (1990-2019) for Competition-Fire-Drought Interaction Analysis

This dataset records mortality-- including involvement of bark beetles-- and burn severity information for trees in long term forest dynamics plots in Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park that experienced fire. These data support the following publication: Furniss, T.J., Das, A.J., van Mantgem, P.J., Stephenson, N.L. and Lutz, J.A., 2021. Crowding, climate, and the case for...
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Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Seed source, not drought, determines patterns of seed production in Sierra Nevada conifers Seed source, not drought, determines patterns of seed production in Sierra Nevada conifers

This release consists of data collected from 26 plots in two national parks over a 19-year period. The data consists of plot-level seed counts for three genera, number of seed traps, live tree basal area, plot area, and climate metrics from the gridmet gridded data set, the daymet gridded data set, the PRISM gridded data set, and two nearby COOP stations.
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
USGS
USGS Visual Identity - Black (TM)
USGS Visual Identity - Black (TM)
SneakPeek: USGS Public Lecture, Can Our Western Forests Take the Heat?
SneakPeek: USGS Public Lecture, Can Our Western Forests Take the Heat?
USGS
USGS Visual Identity - Black (TM)
USGS Visual Identity - Black (TM)

SneakPeek: USGS Public Lecture, Can Our Western Forests Take the Heat?

SneakPeek: USGS Public Lecture, Can Our Western Forests Take the Heat?
  • Tree death rates have more than doubled over the last few decades in old-growth forests of our western states, possibly reflecting increasing temperatures, with potentially serious consequences for wildlife, fire risks, and the global carbon cycle
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Communications and Publishing
USGS
USGS Visual Identity - Black (TM)
USGS Visual Identity - Black (TM)

SneakPeek: USGS Public Lecture, Can Our Western Forests Take the Heat?

SneakPeek: USGS Public Lecture, Can Our Western Forests Take the Heat?

  • Tree death rates have more than doubled over the last few decades in old-growth forests of our western states, possibly reflecting increasing temperatures, with potentially serious consequences for wildlife, fire risks, and the global carbon cycle
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Communications and Publishing
Filter Total Items: 77

Effects of restoration thinning on live tree carbon in northern secondary coastal redwood forests Effects of restoration thinning on live tree carbon in northern secondary coastal redwood forests

At Redwood National and State parks restoration efforts are underway to promote the recovery of forests following a history of intense logging. Unmanaged secondary forests at the parks have high stem density with slow stand development. Restoration thinning treatments of these stands are designed to promote the representation of redwood and improve the growth of residual trees...
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Micah Wright, Jason Teraoka
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Vegetation community monitoring: Forest structure in Klamath Network parks Vegetation community monitoring: Forest structure in Klamath Network parks

The Klamath Network, comprising six national park units in northern California and southern Oregon, initiated a vegetation monitoring protocol in 2011 to discern ecologically significant vegetation trends in these parks. The premise of the protocol is that multivariate analyses of species composition data is the most robust means for early detection of vegetation change over time. Here...
Authors
Sean Smith, Lauren N. Youngblood, Micah Wright, Phillip van Mantgem
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Drought before fire increases tree mortality after fire Drought before fire increases tree mortality after fire

Fire and drought are expected to increase in frequency and severity in temperate forests due to climate change. To evaluate whether drought increases the likelihood of post-fire tree mortality, we used a large database of tree survival and mortality from 32 years of wildland fires covering four dominant western North American conifers. We used Bayesian hierarchical modeling to predict...
Authors
C. Cansler, Micah Wright, Phillip J. van Mantgem, Timothy Shearman, J. Morgan Varner, Sharon Hood
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Learning from a high-severity fire event—Conditions following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Learning from a high-severity fire event—Conditions following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

The 2018 Carr Fire burned more than 90 percent of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, with much of the park burning at high severity. California yellow pine and mixed conifer forests are not well adapted to large, high-severity fires, and forest recovery after these events may be problematic. Large, high-severity fire patches pose difficulties for recruitment with interiors that are...
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Micah Wright, Karen Thorne, Jill Beckmann, Kevin Buffington, Lyndsay Rankin, Audrey Colley, Eamon Engber
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Spatially explicit models of seed availability improve predictions of conifer regeneration following the 2018 Carr Fire in northern California Spatially explicit models of seed availability improve predictions of conifer regeneration following the 2018 Carr Fire in northern California

For many conifer species in dry conifer forests of North America, seeds must be present for postfire regeneration to occur, suggesting that seed dispersal from surviving trees plays a critical role in postfire forest recovery. However, the application of tree fecundity and spatial arrangement to postfire conifer recovery predictions have only recently become more common, and is often...
Authors
Micah Wright, Phillip J. van Mantgem, Kevin Buffington, Karen M. Thorne, Eamon Engber, Sean Smith
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Best practices for distributing and deploying U.S. Geological Survey Shiny applications Best practices for distributing and deploying U.S. Geological Survey Shiny applications

A goal of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research is to create actionable science for U.S. Department of the Interior managers and partners. Properly managed and released software tools can quickly, accurately, and easily translate scientific results to aid managers’ decision-making. The USGS policies on software development and distribution affect how authors of USGS software products...
Authors
Daniel F. Shryock, Micah Wright, Phillip van Mantgem, Todd Esque
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Growth, drought response, and climate-associated genomic structure in whitebark pine in the Sierra Nevada of California Growth, drought response, and climate-associated genomic structure in whitebark pine in the Sierra Nevada of California

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) has experienced rapid population declines and is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in the United States. Whitebark pine in the Sierra Nevada of California represents the southernmost end of the species' distribution and, like other portions of its range, faces threats from an introduced pathogen, native bark beetles, and a...
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Elizabeth Milano, Joan Dudney, Jonathan Nesmith, Amy Vandergast, Harold Zald
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

The energy–water limitation threshold explains divergent drought responses in tree growth, needle length, and stable isotope ratios The energy–water limitation threshold explains divergent drought responses in tree growth, needle length, and stable isotope ratios

Predicted increases in extreme droughts will likely cause major shifts in carbon sequestration and forest composition. Although growth declines during drought are widely documented, an increasing number of studies have reported both positive and negative responses to the same drought. These divergent growth patterns may reflect thresholds (i.e., nonlinear responses) promoted by changes...
Authors
Joan Dudney, Andrew Latimer, Phillip J. van Mantgem, Harold S. Zald, Claire Willing, Jonathan Nesmith, Jennifer Cribbs, Elizabeth Milano
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Forest structure and residual tree growth at the Northwest Gateway project area, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California Forest structure and residual tree growth at the Northwest Gateway project area, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

Mechanical thinning and prescribed fire are common mitigation treatments to reduce fire hazards. However, these treatments are infrequently applied together within national parks. The Northwest Gateway project at Lassen Volcanic National Park is an exception to this pattern. Various thinning prescriptions were applied to the project area in 2014, with a subset of the area prescribed...
Authors
Micah Wright, Phillip van Mantgem, Calvin Farris
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Drought survival strategies differ between coastal and montane conifers in northern California Drought survival strategies differ between coastal and montane conifers in northern California

Increasingly severe and prolonged droughts are contributing to tree stress and forest mortality across western North America. However, in many cases, we currently have poor information concerning how drought responses in forests vary in relation to competition, climate, and site and tree characteristics. We used annual tree ring evidence of 13C discrimination (Δ13C) and growth metrics to...
Authors
Wallis Robinson, Lucy Kerhoulas, Rosemary L. Sherriff, Gabriel Roletti, Phillip J. van Mantgem
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Predictive accuracy of post-fire conifer death declines over time in models based on crown and bole injury Predictive accuracy of post-fire conifer death declines over time in models based on crown and bole injury

A key uncertainty of empirical models of post-fire tree mortality is understanding the drivers of elevated post-fire mortality several years following fire, known as delayed mortality. Delayed mortality can represent a substantial fraction of mortality, particularly for large trees that are a conservation focus in western US coniferous forests. Current post-fire tree mortality models...
Authors
Timothy Shearman, J. Morgan Varner, Sharon Hood, Phillip J. van Mantgem, C. Cansler, Micah Wright
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Vegetation type conversion in the US Southwest: Frontline observations and management responses Vegetation type conversion in the US Southwest: Frontline observations and management responses

Forest and nonforest ecosystems of the western United States are experiencing major transformations in response to land-use change, climate warming, and their interactive effects with wildland fire. Some ecosystems are transitioning to persistent alternative types, hereafter called “vegetation type conversion” (VTC). VTC is one of the most pressing management issues in the southwestern...
Authors
Christopher Guiterman, Rachel Gregg, Laura Marshall, Jill Beckmann, Phillip J. van Mantgem, Donald Falk, Jon Keeley, Anthony Caprio, Jonathan Coop, Paula Fornwalt, Collin Haffey, R. Hagmann, Stephen Jackson, Ann Lynch, Ellis Margolis, Christopher Marks, Marc Meyer, Hugh Safford, Alexandra Syphard, Alan Taylor, Craig Wilcox, Dennis Carril, Carolyn Enquist, David W. Huffman, Jose Iniguez, Nicole Molinari, Christina Restaino, Jens T. Stevens
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

poscrptR poscrptR

poscrptR is a simple R package with the sole purpose of distributing a shiny app for predicting post-fire conifer regeneration. Learn more about shiny apps here.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Seed source, not drought, determines patterns of seed production in Sierra Nevada conifers Seed source, not drought, determines patterns of seed production in Sierra Nevada conifers

This release consists of data collected from 26 plots in two national parks over a 19-year period. The data consists of plot-level seed counts for three genera, number of seed traps, live tree basal area, plot area, and climate metrics from the gridmet gridded data set, the daymet gridded data set, the PRISM gridded data set, and two nearby COOP stations.
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Drought
12 Days of Conifers: Where the Forest Meets the Sea: Seabirds, Conifers, and Wildfire

12 Days of Conifers: Where the Forest Meets the Sea: Seabirds, Conifers, and Wildfire

It’s Day 12 of 12 Days Of Conifers and today we feature a tale of land and sea, involving two conifers and the little seabird that nests in their...

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12 Days of Conifers: Whitebark at Risk

12 Days of Conifers: Whitebark at Risk

It’s Day 8 of 12 Days Of Conifers, and our featured species today is the whitebark pine (Pinus albucaulis), a high elevation species that often forms...

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12 Days of Conifers: Coring the Prickly Ponderosa

12 Days of Conifers: Coring the Prickly Ponderosa

For Day 2 of 12 Days Of Conifers, we’re going to start with the stately Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and explore how scientists use tree rings to...

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Research Spotlight: New Models Demonstrate the Role of Climate and Seed Production in Post-fire Forest Regeneration

Research Spotlight: New Models Demonstrate the Role of Climate and Seed Production in Post-fire Forest Regeneration

A new publication from USGS scientists and collaborators assessed how post-fire climate and seed production influence conifer regeneration following...
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Fire Impacts in U.S. West: Droughts Lead to More Tree Deaths from Fire

Fire Impacts in U.S. West: Droughts Lead to More Tree Deaths from Fire

Warming temperatures are likely causing many indirect effects and complex interactions. These nuanced and layered effects can be difficult for...

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When a Giant Sequoia Falls Down...

When a Giant Sequoia Falls Down...

Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) can live for thousands of years and grow to over 200 feet in height. So when a large sequoia comes crashing...

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