Franklin, Jerry F. 1982. Forest succession research in the Pacific Northwest: an overview. In: Means, Joseph E., ed. Forest succession and stand development research in the Northwest: Proceedings of a symposium; 1981 March 26; Corvallis, OR. Corvallis, OR: Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon State University: 164-170.
ABSTRACT--Papers from this symposium volume illustrateseveral important trends in successional research.These include: development of a quantitative data basefrom age structure analyses and stand reconstructions,stratification of successional research by habitattypes, recognition of multiple successional pathways ona given site, increased attention to disturbances atall scales cf frequency and intensity, and developmentof computer models which synthesize existinginformation and provide predictions of successionalrates and directions. Important topics in successionalresearch that are poorly represented in this symposiuminclude chronosequence studies and use of standstructure analyses and permanent sample plots. Keyneeds in future successional research include:establishment and use of permanent sample plots andtransects, spatial and temporal patterns of treemortality, roles of coarse woody debris, models ofearly successional stages, and manipulative experimentsto test specific hypotheses. A general successionalparadigm is offered based upon the life histories ofavailable species, environmental conditions, anddisturbance patterns, including stochastic elements ineach of these components. The general formulation canbe applied operationally by utilizing models such asJABOWA and FORET.
KEYWORDS--stochastic processes, plant succession,age-structure analysis, stand-structure analysis,wildfire, natural disturbance, permanent sample plots,tree mortality, coarse woody debris, forest successionmodels.