| Forest restoration in a mixed-ownership landscape under climate change. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20405791 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The extent to which current landscapes deviate from the historical range of natural variability (RNV) is a common means of defining and ranking regional conservation targets. However, climate-induced shifts in forest composition may render obsolete restoration strategies and conservation targets based on historic climate conditions and disturbance regimes. We used a spatially explicit forest ecosystem model, LANDIS-II, to simulate the interaction of climate change and forest management in northeastern Minnesota, USA. We assessed the relevance of restoration strategies and conservation targets based on the RNV in the context of future climate change. Three climate scenarios (no climate change, low emissions, and high emissions) were simulated with three forest management scenarios: no harvest, current management, and a restoration-based approach where harvest activity mimicked the frequency, severity, and size distribution of historic natural disturbance regimes. Under climate change there was a trend toward homogenization of forest conditions due to the widespread expansion of systems dominated by maple (Acer spp.). White spruce (Picea glauca), balsam fir (Abies balsamea), and paper birch (Betula papyrifera) were extirpated from the landscape irrespective of management activity; additional losses of black spruce (P. mariana), red pine (Pinus resinosa), and jack pine (P. banksiana) were projected in the high-emissions scenario. In the restoration management scenario, retention and conversion to white pine (P. strobus) restricted maple expansion. But, widespread forest loss in the restoration scenario under high-emissions projections illustrates the potential pitfalls of implementing an RNV management approach in a system that is not compositionally similar to the historic reference condition. Given the uncertainty associated with climate change, ensuring a diversity of species and conditions within forested landscapes may be the most effective means of ensuring the future resistance of ecosystems to climate-induced declines in productivity. |
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Authors:
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Catherine Ravenscroft; Robert M Scheller; David J Mladenoff; Mark A White |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America Volume: 20 ISSN: 1051-0761 ISO Abbreviation: Ecol Appl Publication Date: 2010 Mar |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-04-21 Completed Date: 2010-05-06 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9889808 Medline TA: Ecol Appl Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 327-46 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA. chravens@syr.edu |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Climate Change* Conservation of Natural Resources Ecosystem Geography Population Dynamics Trees* United States |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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