VII. Plant Communities in Lodgepole Pine Forest

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Eleven communities were defined in the lodgepole pine forest. These communities are named after the apparent climax tree species and dominant shrubs and herbaceous species. A key for the identification of the communities in the field accompanies this report as Appendix B. The general distribution of these communities is shown in a type map (Appendix C). We strongly urge that the map be used only for general orientation and that the key be used when deciding management policies for any particular location in the field.

In general, we found that no one community can be said to result entirely from man's activities, though some types apparently prospered as a result of the numerous fires that accompanied the white ' s arrival in the area. One community appears to have experienced fairly frequent ground fires, as well as quite severe fires. Contrary to the popular belief that lodgepole pine is usually seral, we have found three communities where lodgepole pine is the only tree even in old stands, and is reproducing in large numbers.

Brief community descriptions are given below. Accompanying data are presented in Appendices E, F and G. Included in these descriptions are what we believe to be the disturbance histories and the consequences of a fire at the present time. For more complete community description and the facts upon which this summary is based the reader is referred to Robert Zeigler's Masters Thesis. The number in parentheses beside the community name corresponds to the number of the community on the type map (Appendix C).

(1) Incense Cedar/Manzanita

This community is found on steep rocky slopes along Annie Creek Valley. The vegetation includes sparse forest with numerous herbs and shrubs growing among the rocks. Ages indicate that the fires that probably infrequently burned this type likely originated in lodgepole stands downslope from it.

(2) Lodgepole Pine/Bitterbrush/Sedge

Stands of this type are found in the northeast quarter of the Park between Sharp Peak and Desert Creek at elevations between 1650 m and 1750 m. The herbaceous vegetation is similar to community 3, with the addition of a shrub layer of bitterbrush and, to a lesser extent, rabbitbrush goldenweed. These generally open stands are composed of almost pure lodgepole pine. The apparent successful reproduction by lodgepole pine in the absence of fire, and that all charcoal is from lodgepole pine, indicate that this community is a true lodgepole climax.

There is evidence of past mountain pine beetle activity, though litter accumulation is still fairly light. Because of the patchy nature of the ground cover, light ground fires were probably not extensive. Fairly infrequent intense fires probably recycled the stand after heavy fuel buildup. Most of the areas occupied by this community are probably incapable of supporting either kind of fire at present.

(3) Lodgepole Pine/Sedge-Needlegrass

This community is found on flat areas and depressions with deep pumice and/or scoria deposits at elevations from 1570 m to 2000 m. The largest examples are in Pumice Flat, around the Pumice Desert and on the west side of Sand Creek. The ground vegetation in this type is characteristically depauperate, consisting mainly of a sparse, patchy cover of sedges and grasses. There are very few, if any, shrubs. Though there may be some hemlock and white pine near other communities, lodgepole pine is usually the only tree species present in all layers. Therefore, this community is considered a true lodgepole climax.

Most stands were extensively thinned by mountain pine beetle epidemics in the first half of the century. The thinned stands support relatively vigorous lodgepole regeneration. Most older trees are severely infected with dwarf mistletoe. Considering the present fairly abundant reproduction, this will probably lead to stands being heavily infected with dwarf mistletoe; this was likely also the case in the primeval forest.

Stands in this community probably burned only rarely and then only over small areas The litter accumulation, even after 70+ years without fire, is very patchy with islands of heavy fuels separated by large areas of mineral soil Openings in the stand permitting lodgepole regeneration probably resulted from beetle kills. Any fire starting in this type would probably be quite small--limited to one snag or a locally heavy collection of litter. That fire was relatively unimportant in the community in pre-white man times is further supported by the great ages of the stands and the scarcity of charcoal on the forest floor. All charcoal is from lodgepole pine.

(4) Lodgepole Pine/Sedge-Lupine

This third lodgepole pine climax community is found in extensive areas about the Park. It is most accessible on the west side of Sand Creek. Other large stands may be seen northeast of Cascade Spring, southwest of Sharp Peak, west of Timber Crater and southeast of Bald Crater. Stands of this type, found between 1700 m and 1980 m, are recognized by the presence of pine (Anderson's) lupine. In some areas goldenweed and squaw current may be present.

Areas supporting this type were probably visited by intense fires in the past as suggested by the presence of only one or two age classes in all but 2 of 13 sample plots. Recent high bark beetle activity and apparent ice breakage have led to very heavy litter accumulations in some areas. This natural buildup has been increased by locally dense reproduction, resulting in areas of apparently very high flamability. These areas are also characteristically severely infected with dwarf mistletoe. It seems likely that areas such as these would have burned before now without fire suppression. Fire in the area would probably result in nearly 100% tree mortality with a short term reduction in fuel. Dwarf mistletoe in the stand would be eliminated or greatly reduced. As mortality from the fire fell the fuel load would again increase. Another fire, consuming this post-fire fuel and corresponding reproduction, would probably permit the establishment of a stand of vigorously growing trees in an open meadow-like environment.

The closed, highly flammable areas of this community are found between the North Entrance Road and Timber Crater and at the southeastern end of the Pinnacles Valley. Open stands, whose origins are likely those hypothesized above, are found in the upper western Pinnacles Valley, the area southwest of Sharp Peak, and west and north of Desert Cone.

(5) White Fir /California Brome-Lupine

This community is found only in a small area northeast of the Panhandle and west of Sun Creek at elevation 1460 m. White fir is the dominant tree in the understory. There is extreme accumulation of litter from past bark beetle epidemics in some areas. Age data indicate that this type existed prior to the white man's arrival in the area. Following 1855, fires may have increased the area occupied by this type. A fire at present would probably destroy most of the stand in some areas, with lodgepole pine re-establishing itself following fire.

(6) Subalpine Fir/Collomia-Peavine

This community is found in very wet areas near the headwaters of Bybee Creek and Copeland Creek at about 1700 m. The community is best distinguished by the presence of collomia and peavine, though very wet sites may contain a rich flora. Lodgepole pine grows very rapidly on these sites and both Shasta red fir and subalpine fir occur. The dynamics of this type are probably quite similar to the subalpine fir/goldenweed/aster-blue wildrye type (no. 7 below), though tree invasion is even slower because of intense competition with herbaceous species.

(7) Subalpine Fir/Goldenweed/Aster-Blue Wildrye

This relatively lush seral community is found between 1540 and 1920 m in the vicinity of streams and at the base of steep ridges. The most extensive stands are on the west slope of Mount Mazama, Munson Valley, and along upper Sand Creek. Smaller stands occur near Sphagnum Bog, Crater Springs and Pole Bridge Creek. Floristically, this type differs from others in the presence of Cascade aster, blue wildrye, Green's rabbitbrush and/or Rydberg's penstemon. Subalpine fir is also present in almost all areas. Rather than being a true forest, the community is a forest-meadow mosaic. Patches of relatively dense trees of all sizes are separated by relatively lush meadows of lupines, grasses and sedges. The islands of tree reproduction appear to be slowly spreading into the meadow areas. Heavy litter accumulations occur only in the tree islands. In older, nearly closed stands, such as those found in upper Munson Valley, tree mortality from mountain pine beetle has been and continues to be quite high among older, larger trees.

Most of these areas were burned before 1900 by ranchers, to improve grazing for their herds. Age analysis indicates that most of the west slope stands are of post-white man origin while those in Munson Valley contain pre-white man age classes. Charcoal data indicate that some earlier stands contained predominantly fir and hemlock. Fires in this type, at present, would probably be limited to a few tree " islands'" and the intervening meadow-like areas. In the primeval forest, intense fires through nearly closed forests of this type probably resulted in very open forest-meadow mosaics. These mosaics gradually closed over several generations of trees, with closure retarded or temporarily reversed by periodic light or small fires. The closed forests either burned again or developed to pure fir-hemlock stands.

(8) Shasta Fir-Mountain Hemlock/Sedge-Lupine

This widespread seral community is found between 1690 m and 2080 m through out the Park. Extensive stands may be found in the northwest quarter of the Park, on the slopes of Timber Crater and in Castle Creek Valley. This community is recognized by the presence of pine and/or broadleaf lupine in an understory of conspicuous and apparently vigorous fir and hemlock reproduction.

Bark beetle activity and breakage at galls on the main stems of trees have contributed to a heavy accumulation of lodgepole pine litter. Fires in this community would probably result in nearly 100% tree mortality and a post-fire forest of lodgepole pine. However, litter loads would again be high within a decade or two after the fire as fire-killed trees fell.

Age analysis of stands comprising this community reveals that only half of the stands contain trees which germinated before 1855. Charcoal from some of the stands indicates that the sites were occupied earlier by fir and hemlock forests. In addition, many stands contain old, unburned logs and stumps that were obviously quite old firs and hemlocks from a previous forest. Some stands contain surviving large trees of these species. Other stands of almost pure medium-sized fir and hemlock contain a few very large lodgepole pines and have considerable lodgepole mortality on the forest floor.

These data and observations in this community suggest that:

1) A natural cycle exists where lodgepole pine forests are created from mature fir-hemlock forests by fire. Lodgepole pine forests created in this manner may be maintained as lodgepole by repeated fire for a period of time before developing to fir-hemlock again (Fig. 1).

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.