Vegetation Structure in Old-Growth Stands in the Coram Research Natural Area in Northwestern Montana

Aug 29, 2026

Uploaded by Riley

A general technical report (INT-GTR-364, August 1997) examines vegetation structure in old-growth stands within the Coram Research Natural Area in northwestern Montana. The study situates old-growth forests within competing successional paradigms, emphasizing how disturbance regimes influence long-lived, fire-dependent seral species and spatial-temporal variability. Methods include plot-based sampling and analysis across multiple forest cover types, followed by discussion of findings, acknowledgments, references, and an appendix on understory flora.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time1 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Study Site

Methods

Discussion

Acknowledgments

References

Appendix: Understory Flora of the Old-Growth Forests of the Coram Research Natural Area

Vegetation Structure inOld-Growth Stands in theCoram Research NaturalArea in NorthwesternMontana Forest Service Intermountain Research Station General Technical Report INT-GTR-364 August 1997 Caryl L.ElzingaRaymond C.Shearer drafts of the manuscript. The manuscript was much The Authors improved by comments from Sarah E.Greene. Sugges- tions for the manuscript and identification of collected Caryl L. Elzinga is a Botanist and Ecologist with Alderspring Ecological Consulting in Tendoy, ID, which species were provided by Peter F.Stickney at the Inter- she established in 1993. She received her M.S. degree mountain Research Station, Forestry Sciences Labora- in 1989 and herPh.D.degree in 1992 from the University tory,Missoula,MT.Dr.AngelaEvenden,Program Leader of Wisconsin-Madison, where her research focused on forthe Research Natural Areaprogram in Region 1 of the the environmental determinants of community patterns Forest Service, provided assistance with all phases of in freshwater tidal wetlands. From 1988 to 1993 she the project. Glenn Elzinga and Susan Colt assisted in worked as the district botanist for the Bureau of Land data collection for plots five through eight. The Hungry Horse Ranger District, Flathead National Forest, pro- Management. As the owner and principal of Alderspring, her current projects include an annotated bibliography of vided access and logistical support. monitoring literature,a technical reference on rare plant monitoring, and a book on the ecology of riparian plants Contents of the Intermountain West.Shehas taught several courses on rare plant monitoring throughout the Western United Page States as part of an interagency team. Additional profes- Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………1 sional interests include studying long-term ecological Study Site ………………………………………………………………………………2 change and the use of intensive management of domes- Methods …………………………………………………………………………………………………4 tic livestock to improve uplands, riparian areas, and Western Larch Forest Cover Type:Old-Growth irrigated pastures. Stands……………………………………………………………………………………………5 Raymond C.Shearer received B.S.and M.S. degrees Plot One………………………………………………………………………………………………5 from Utah State University in Logan, UT, and a Ph.D. Plot Two………………………………………………………………………………………………7 degree from the University of Montana, Missoula. Since Plot Four……………………………………………………………………………………………………9 1957 he has been a Research Silviculturist assigned to Plot Eight…………………………………………………………………………………10 the Intermountain Research Station's Ecology and Man- Western Larch Forest Cover Type:Young agement of Northern Rocky Mountain Forests Research Stand…………………………………………………………………………………………………11 WorkUnitattheForestry SciencesLaboratoryinMissoula, Plot Three……………………………………………………………………………………………11 MT. His primary assignment has been the study of Spruce-Subalpine Fir Forest Cover Type………………13 natural and artificial regeneration of western larch and Plot Five…………………………………………………………………………………………13 associated species. He was manager of the Coram Interior Douglas-fir Forest Cover Typ……………………14 Experimental Forest from 1957 to 1996. Plot Six……………………………………………………………………………………………………14 Plot Seven……………………………………………………………………………………16 Discussion…………………………………………………………………………………………………17 Acknowledgments References………………………………………………………………………………………………19 Appendix: Understory Flora of the Old-Growth Dr. James Habeck established plots one through four Forests of the Coram Research Natural Area…21 in 1985 and remeasured them in 1990. He provided extensivereview and suggestions for revisions to the first Intermountain Research Station 324 25th Street Ogden, UT 84401 Caryl L.ElzingaRaymond C.Shearer Old-growth forests are viewed as an unchangingclimax communityunder classicalsuccessional theory(Christensen 1988).Recently,this paradigm has beenreplaced

FAQs

What area and vegetation type does the report focus on?

The report focuses on vegetation structure in old-growth stands within the Coram Research Natural Area in northwestern Montana.

How does the report frame old-growth forests in terms of ecological succession?

It contrasts classical successional theory, which treats old growth as a relatively stable climax community, with a disturbance-based shifting mosaic view of stage classes.

What kinds of forest cover types and plots are included?

The contents indicate multiple western larch, interior Douglas-fir, and spruce-subalpine fir cover types, analyzed through several numbered plots (e.g., plot one, two, four, and others).

Aug 29, 2026

Uploaded by Riley