Lodgepole – VII. Plant Communities in Lodgepole Pine Forest

2) Fires caused by white man in the late 19th century increased the area of this community and created areas of lodgepole that were previously in fir-hemlock. Thus, the area of this community is larger now than in the primeval situation.

(9) Mixed Conifer/Manzanita-Bitterbrush/Sedge

This community is found only in steep slopes northeast of Mazama Rock at elevations around 1770 m. It is similar in structure and composition to the Mixed Conifer/Manzanita community. It apparently experiences periodic ground fire. Severe fires are probably infrequent.

(10) Mountain Hemlock/Grouse Huckleberry

This seral community, found between 1600 m and 1770 m, is recognized by patches of grouse huckleberry in an otherwise depauperate understory. Tree reproduction is mixed hemlock and fir with the former usually dominant. The litter accumulation, age structure and apparent history of this type are similar to the Fir-Hemlock/Sedge-Lupine community (number 8).

(11) Mixed Conifer/Manzanita

This is one of the communities of lodgepole pine that probably experiences fairly frequent ground fires. It grows in small areas throughout the Park between elevations of 1570 and 1900 m. The sparse understory is dominated by pinemat manzanita and/or greenleaf manzanita. Tree reproduction is well represented by Shasta red fir, western white pine and lodgepole pine. Ponderosa pine may be found in stands on the east side of the Park. A sizeable stand is found along Highway 62 north of the Panhandle. Other stands may be found along the East Fork of Annie Creek, the east side of Sand Creek, northeast of Mazama Rock and west of Bald Crater.

These stands are typically quite old and heavily infected with dwarf mistletoe. Bark beetle mortality is apparently continuous. Many trees exhibit fire scars with the interval between scars on white pine being between 30 and 40 years. This community probably experiences several light fires be tween the infrequent severe fires which would be responsible for stand destruction. These light, patchy fires would allow continued reproduction by lodgepole pine.

 

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