Aboveground Organic Matter and Production of a Montane Forest on the Eastern Slopes of the Washington Cascade Range

1989

1 Abb., 1 Tab., 23 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

9716

200038986

Aboveground biomass and production were determined for a 70-year-old mixed conifer forest of western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range in Washington state. Live aboveground biomass, projected leaf area, and aboveground net primary production for the mixed conifer forest were 194 Mg.ha-1, 4.2 m2.m-2, and 6.1 Mg.ha-1.year-1, respectively. Based on the few studies of montane forests on the eastern slope of the Cascades, aboveground biomass, leaf area index, and aboveground net primary production of these forests are more similar to those of montane coniferous forests in the Rocky Mountains than to those of similar forests located on the western slopes of the Cascades.