Subalpine forests:
In western North America, aspen communities support higher biodiversity and generate significantly greater water yields than conifer dominated stands. However, changing fire regimes, climate change and insect and mammal herbivory influence the competitive balance between aspen and conifers. Experiments are being conducted that examine how aspen-conifer interactions, fire ecology, herbivory and climatic factors are altering aspen-conifer forests. We are characterizing functional traits that confer tolerance to the wide spectrum of stresses that aspen experiences in its western range.