Tools and Concepts
“Expansion of pinyon and juniper woodlands with climate and anthropogenic-related disturbances over the past 150 years, makes distinguishing historic old-growth and post-settlement woodlands difficult” Distinguishing post-settlement from old-growth or reestablishing persistent woodlands after a stand-replacing event is an important step to making vegetation management decisions. Proper identification can help identify potential vegetation and characteristics of the ecological…
Miller, R. F., J. D. Bates, T. J. Svejcar, F. B. Pierson, and L. E. Eddleman. 2007. Western juniper field guide: asking the right questions to select appropriate management actions. US Department of Interior/ US Geological Survey Circular 1321. 57 p. Tausch, R. J., R. F. Miller, B. A. Roundy, and J. C. Chambers. 2009.…
Fire severity describes the effects of fire on ecological processes, soil, flora, and fauna; degree to which a site has been altered or disrupted by fire. Fire severity is typically rated in three categories: low, moderate, and high. The level of fire severity has a large impact on combustion of invasive and native seed, mortality of perennial…
Conceptual model of (A) resilience to disturbance and (B) resistance to invasives as they relate to three environmental gradients: soil temperature and moisture regimes, elevation, and productivity. Soil moisture availability is also modified by soil characteristics. (A) The solid blue line in the top graph is the resilience as it relates to elevation (dashed dark blue…
A conceptual model of the primary components that influence plant succession following disturbance or vegetation management treatment. Consideration of key characteristics of these primary components substantially increases the ability to predict outcomes following disturbance and vegetation management (Miller et al. 2013, 2014, and 2015). Primary components are the basis for a series of key questions…
Primary components of an ecological site are climate, topography, and soils; all of which influence available moisture, temperature, and potential vegetation and productivity. Ecological site characteristics determine soil temperature and moisture regimes, potential vegetation, and resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasive plants. The regimes are identified in soil maps as mesic (warm), frigid (cool),…