Abstract:
Detailed analysis of mixed-conifer and red fir forests were made from extensive, large
vegetation sampling, systematically conducted throughout the Teakettle Experimental
Forest. Mixed conifer is characterized by distinct patch conditions of closed-canopy tree
clusters, persistent gaps and shrub thickets. This heterogeneous spatial structure provides
contrasting microclimate, habitat and resource conditions probably associated with the high
diversity of understory plants, fungi, and invertebrates found in ongoing studies in the Teakettle
Experiment. In contrast, red fir forests are more homogeneous with continuous high
canopy cover, cooler, more consistent microclimate conditions and fewer plant species. In
both forests, annual fluctuations in available soil moisture resulting from El Niño influences
on snow pack depth may have a significant influence on tree establishment and understory
diversity. In depth descriptions of Teakettle’s mixed conifer may provide a target of historic
old-growth conditions for forest management.
