In a region dominated by coniferous forests, montane meadows contribute greatly to landscape diversity, wildlife habitat, and other important ecological functions and societal values. Throughout the Pacific Northwest, suppression of fire and changes in climate and grazing pressure have led to rapid succession of meadow to forest. Faced by gradual loss of these habitats, land managers are experimenting with tree removal and prescribed fire as tools for restoration. Research at Bunchgrass Ridge explores the history of conifer encroachment, the consequences for meadow vegetation, and the potential to restore native meadows through tree removal and prescribed burning. Spatially explicit reconstructions of the invasion history provide the context for a large-scale restoration experiment testing the efficacy of tree removal, with or without prescribed fire. Measurements from the experimental plots include pre- and post-treatment data on plant species composition for subplots of known invasion history. Data from adjacent, uninvaded meadows serve as targets for assessing restoration success. Our ultimate goal is to determine whether tree removal is sufficient to reverse the effects of encroachment, whether fire is also necessary, and whether the duration or density of invasion pose barriers to meadow reassembly.
Charles B. Halpern, Frederick J. Swanson, Joseph A. Antos
To understand the processes and consequences of conifer encroachment of dry, montane meadows in the western Cascade Range, and to test responses to experimental restoration treatments, including tree removal and prescribed burning.