Note: Study Objectives per proposal are presented in BLUE

1	INTRODUCTION

1.1	Background

1.2	Objectives PER PROPOSAL

1.2.1	Document the fire regime along an elevation transect from grass and woodland communities to upper elevation mixed-conifer forest

1.2.2	Compare reconstructed fire regimes with GIS spatial models of vegetation and physical parameters (eg. slope, aspect, and elevation) to assess linkages between these characteristics and fire regimes

1.2.3	Develop a model of historical fire occurrence in the mixed-conifer zone that can be applied to fire management of the forest.

MC Analysis-Questions

1.2.3.1	What is the scale of forest structure?

Duncan and Stewart (1991)

1.2.3.1.1	Density -- running counts (Number v Posn on Transect)

Determine subplot size that yields enuff trees to create age distributions (x=30)

1.2.3.1.2	Compute age distributions of different-sized sub-plots on each transect. Begin with entire transect -- use overlapping sub-plots?

1.2.3.1.2.1	Variables:

1.2.3.1.2.1.1	Overstory and Understory

1.2.3.1.2.1.2	Species

1.2.3.1.3	Compute size distributions different-sized sub-plots on each transect. Begin with entire transect -- use overlapping sub-plots?

1.2.3.1.3.1	Variables:

1.2.3.1.3.1.1	dbh

1.2.3.1.3.1.2	BA

1.2.3.1.4	Interpret results using fire scar data and/or release data.

1.2.3.1.5	Compute Moran's I for age

1.2.3.2	Spatial autocorrelation (use moving average)

1.2.3.2.1	species % similarity

1.2.3.2.2	relation between seedling density and location of parent tree

1.2.3.2.3	Proportion of shade tolerant species (proxy of succession)

1.2.3.2.3.1	by density

1.2.3.2.3.2	by BA

1.2.3.3	Aspen

1.2.3.3.1	Spatial and temporal distribution in transects

1.2.3.3.2	Size-age correlations

1.2.3.4	Succession

1.2.3.4.1	density v. age

1.2.3.4.1.1	of trees

1.2.3.4.1.2	of seedlings

1.2.3.4.2	species composition v. age

1.3	Products PER PROPOSAL

1.3.1	Final report describing fire regime characteristics as a function of elevation, vegetation type and land-use history

1.3.2	Data for input into spatial FUELS model

1.3.3	Display samples for public information efforts

1.3.4	Primary data

Potentially Useful References

1) Gradient studies: Barton; Martin 1982; Harmon et al.; Villalba and Veblen; Wilkinson 1997;

2) Spruce-fir studies: Stromberg and Patten; Grissino -Mayer.

2	METHODS AND MATERIALS

2.1	Site Descriptions

2.1.1	Field

2.1.1.1	Vegetation description

2.1.1.2	Site Maps

Figure 1. Sites Map

Table 1. Site descriptions

2.1.2	Lab

2.1.2.1	Sample prep, etc.

2.2	Analysis - Fire History

2.2.1	Descriptive statistics of fire-interval data

2.2.1.1	within sites

Figure 2. Fire History Chart with all sites

Figure 3. Fire Interval Distributions

2.2.1.2	among sites (spreading fires)

Figure 4. Fire History Chart with spreading fires

Figure 5. Fire Interval Distributions

2.3	Analysis - Fire-climate

2.3.0.1	spreading fires

Figure 6. SEA for fires occurring in lower elevation sites

Figure 7. SEA for fires occurring in upper elevation sites

2.4	Analysis - Stand and Age Structure of S-F and Aspen

2.5

2.5.1	Species composition

Figure 8. Species pie charts for each transect

Figure 9. Overstory-Understory pie charts for each transect

2.5.2	Basal Area

Figure 10. by Species for each transect

2.5.3	Age structure S-F

Figure 11. Age-Location plots for each transect

2.5.4	Age structure aspen

Figure 12. Establishment dates histogram for each stand

2.5.5	Role of fire in S-F

Figure 13. Establishment dates and fire dates

2.5.6	Role of fire in aspen

Figure 14. Establishment dates and fire dates

3	Discussion

What are the patterns of fire frequency along an elevation gradient?

Why?

What are the patterns between elevation and fire spread?

Why?

What are the patterns between fire spread and climate?

Why?

What are the patterns between fire severity and climate?

Why?

What is the role of fire in spruce-fir & aspen forest composition and structure?

Why?

4	Management Implications

Tentative Schedule:

Task	Completion Date	Comments
Produce Figures and Tables	mid-Sept
Produce First draft	late Sept/early Oct
Produce Final draft	mid-late Oct