Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Subalpine Forest Gravelly Dry Slopes Kodiak
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
-
Transition T1A
Disease, Insects, land movement; otherwise transition unwarranted - naturally occurring.
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Extensive time for recovery, tree plantings, forest stand management practices
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
State 1
Reference State
Reference State
Description
These subalpine open forests are stunted and have a moderate understory cover of dwarf shrubs and graminoids.
Characteristics and indicators
The trees are Sitka spruce, ranging from medium heights (below 40 feet tall) to stunted, krummholz forms. The high elevation, with shallower, gravelly soils and a thin organic mat, site conditions allow only stunted trees and low shrubs. Soil development is slow under the cool, moist conditions.
Resilience management
Sites of intermixed stunted open forest and low scrublands show no history of fire and no grazing by livestock in this area. Outside of the natural erosional processes, the site is resistant to change and shows resilience to natural disturbances.
Dominant plant species
Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), tree
Lapland cornel (Cornus suecica), shrub
black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), shrub
bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), grass
Schreber's big red stem moss (Pleurozium schreberi), grass
Submodel
State 2
Unforested State
Unforested State
Description
Unforested or non-treed areas within this site are naturally occurring as well as may occur with disturbance within the treed areas. The unforested state is a mixture of dwarf scrubs and an alder/salmonberry community. The convex areas of these slopes are predominantly Sitka spruce. Aging of spruce stands, cover impacted by snowpack, wind, soil movement, or other erosional impacts, reduces the tree cover and the community will transition to a shrub and moss cover typical of this Unforested State.
Characteristics and indicators
The absence or significant lack of cover by trees (less than 15 percent cover) and the prominence of crowberry and other dwarf shrubs or alder and salmonberry indicates the transition to this state.
Resilience management
Due to the soil conditions and slope, this State is slow to recover, and if naturally occurring, many not have the potential to recover to a forested or woodland cover.
Dominant plant species
Sitka alder (Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata), shrub
salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), shrub
black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), shrub
bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), grass
fescue (Festuca), grass
bluegrass (Poa), grass
fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium), grass
common ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina), grass
Schreber's big red stem moss (Pleurozium schreberi), grass
Submodel
Transition T1A
Disease, Insects, land movement; otherwise transition unwarranted - naturally occurring.
Mechanism
Most frequently, State 2 is naturally occurring as a mosaic or patchwork of the forested State. However, the driving factor of spruce decline and loss is root rot or other diseases, insect infestation, soil movement, blow down and other climatic factors.
Constraints to recovery
The colder temperatures, harsh weather and snowfall, as well as steeper slopes restricts the ability and speed with which spruce are able to re-establish on this ecological site.
Context dependence
If naturally occurring, the transitional pathways do not apply. This can be difficult to determine. The lack of land movement, root rot, insect damage or down timber is the best indicator the community is naturally occurring.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Forest Stand Improvement |
Restoration pathway R2A
Extensive time for recovery, tree plantings, forest stand management practices
Mechanism
Extensive time for Sitka spruce to establish and grow is needed for this site to recover. When the site is naturally non-forested, then the site will not support a tree canopy without manipulation and potential seeding of trees into the location. Seedling establishment is slow, especially when grasses and other surface cover is thick. Climate and microsite conditions are not conducive for tree germination and growth, especially in crowberry moss cover.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Forest Stand Improvement |
Model keys
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Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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