A fir wave is a set of alternating bands of firtrees in sequential stages of development, observed in forests on exposed mountain slopes in several areas, including northeastern North America and Japan. Fir waves develop by wave-regeneration following wind disturbance, and is one of various types of patterned vegetation.
Fir waves form by the ecological process of wave-regeneration. When a tree falls, a gap in the canopy is formed. This exposes trees at the leeward edge of the gap to greater wind. These trees are thus more likely to die from damage and desiccation than windward trees. These leeward trees eventually die, gradually expanding the gap downwind. At the same time, young trees start to grow in the wind shadow in the windward portion of the gap, protected from the high winds by the surviving trees. The combination of dying trees at the leeward edge and regenerating trees at the windward edge results in the propagation of the fir waves in the direction of the predominant prevailing wind. The period of the waves is variable, typically about 60 years in balsam fir (Abies balsamea). One can view these from the Appalachian Trail as it ascends the Hunt Spur of Mount Katahdin in Maine. "Looking out to the Owl" and "The Brothers" are extensive areas of this phenomenon.
"College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science | Michigan Tech". Michigan Technological University. Wave-Regeneration in High Elevation Subalpine Fir Forests, from Forest and Landscape Ecology course material at Michigan Tech.
. 27 September 2005. Archived from the original on 27 September 2005. Fir waves and life history evolution in the Adirondacks, ecological research by J. Silvertown and M. Dodd.[dead link]
. 17 June 2006. Archived from the original on 17 June 2006. Fir Waves: Regeneration in New England Conifer Forests, from Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology.
Sprugel, D. G. 1976. Dynamic structure of wave-regenerated Abies balsamea forests in the north-eastern United States. Journal of Ecology 64: 889–911.
Shibuya, M., Hagai, N., Sasaji, T., Kikuchi, S., Haruki, M., Noda, M., Takahashi, K., and Matsuda, K. 2004. Stand and self-thinning dynamics in natural Abies stands in northern Hokkaido, Japan. Ecological Research 19:301. Shibuya, Masato; Haga, Norikuni; Sasaki, Takehito; Kikuchi, Shun-ichi; Haruki, Masahiro; Noda, Masato; Takahashi, Kunihide; Matsuda, Kyo (21 May 2004). "Stand and self-thinning dynamics in natural Abies stands in northern Hokkaido, Japan". Ecological Research. 19 (3): 301–309. Bibcode:2004EcoR...19..301S. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1703.2004.00639.x. hdl:2115/68119 – via CrossRef.
April 26, 2024
wave, wave, alternating, bands, trees, sequential, stages, development, observed, forests, exposed, mountain, slopes, several, areas, including, northeastern, north, america, japan, develop, wave, regeneration, following, wind, disturbance, various, types, pat. A fir wave is a set of alternating bands of fir trees in sequential stages of development observed in forests on exposed mountain slopes in several areas including northeastern North America and Japan Fir waves develop by wave regeneration following wind disturbance and is one of various types of patterned vegetation Winter view from Mt Garfield of fir waves on North Twin Mountain White Mountains New HampshireFormation editFir waves form by the ecological process of wave regeneration When a tree falls a gap in the canopy is formed This exposes trees at the leeward edge of the gap to greater wind These trees are thus more likely to die from damage and desiccation than windward trees These leeward trees eventually die gradually expanding the gap downwind At the same time young trees start to grow in the wind shadow in the windward portion of the gap protected from the high winds by the surviving trees The combination of dying trees at the leeward edge and regenerating trees at the windward edge results in the propagation of the fir waves in the direction of the predominant prevailing wind The period of the waves is variable typically about 60 years in balsam fir Abies balsamea One can view these from the Appalachian Trail as it ascends the Hunt Spur of Mount Katahdin in Maine Looking out to the Owl and The Brothers are extensive areas of this phenomenon See also editTemperate coniferous forestsReferences edit College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science Michigan Tech Michigan Technological University Wave Regeneration in High Elevation Subalpine Fir Forests from Forest and Landscape Ecology course material at Michigan Tech Fir waves and life history evolution in the Adirondacks 27 September 2005 Archived from the original on 27 September 2005 Fir waves and life history evolution in the Adirondacks ecological research by J Silvertown and M Dodd dead link Ecology of Disturbance Figure Set 4 Background 17 June 2006 Archived from the original on 17 June 2006 Fir Waves Regeneration in New England Conifer Forests from Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology Sprugel D G 1976 Dynamic structure of wave regenerated Abies balsamea forests in the north eastern United States Journal of Ecology 64 889 911 Shibuya M Hagai N Sasaji T Kikuchi S Haruki M Noda M Takahashi K and Matsuda K 2004 Stand and self thinning dynamics in natural Abies stands in northern Hokkaido Japan Ecological Research 19 301 Shibuya Masato Haga Norikuni Sasaki Takehito Kikuchi Shun ichi Haruki Masahiro Noda Masato Takahashi Kunihide Matsuda Kyo 21 May 2004 Stand and self thinning dynamics in natural Abies stands in northern Hokkaido Japan Ecological Research 19 3 301 309 Bibcode 2004EcoR 19 301S doi 10 1111 j 1440 1703 2004 00639 x hdl 2115 68119 via CrossRef Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fir wave amp oldid 1220177217, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
