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Postglacial vegetation and fire history of the southern Cascade Range, Oregon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Alicia White ,
Christy Briles  and
Cathy Whitlock
Alicia White*
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
Christy Briles
Affiliation:
Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Colorado at Denver, Denver, CO 80217, USA
Cathy Whitlock
Affiliation:
Dept. Earth Sciences and Montana Institute on Ecosystems, MSU, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

The Cascade Range of southwestern Oregon contains some of North America's most diverse forests, but the ecological history of this area is poorly understood. A 7900-yr-long pollen and charcoal record was examined to better understand past changes in vegetation and fire activity in relation to large-scale climate variability. From 7900 to 3500 cal yr BP, the dominance of xerophytic species and the frequent fires are consistent with a climate that was warmer and drier than at present. The period from 3500 cal yr BP to present experienced an abundance of mesophytic taxa and reduced fire frequency, suggesting cooler and wetter conditions. The regional history of Abies indicates that it was most widespread during the late-glacial period; its range contracted during the early Holocene thermal maximum, and it steadily expanded during the middle and late Holocene. In contrast, Pseudotsuga was restricted in range during the glacial period, became abundant at low-elevation sites in the Coast and northern Cascade ranges during the early Holocene, and was more prevalent in southern mid-elevation sites as the climate became cooler and wetter in the late Holocene. The sensitivity of these species to past climate change suggests that biogeographic responses to future conditions will be highly variable in this region.

Keywords

HoloceneFire historyClimate historyVegetation historyPollenCharcoalCascade RangeOregon
Type
Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 84 , Issue 3 , November 2015 , pp. 348 - 357
Copyright
University of Washington

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