Forest Ecosystems in the Alaskan Taiga

The information presented in this book is the result of combined research efforts of scientists at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, the Institute of Northern Forestry, USDA Forest Service, and the Systems Ecology Research Group, San Diego State University. The objective of the volume is to present a synthetic overview of structure and function of taiga forest ecosystems in interior Alaska. The data base for this work has appeared in earlier published articles including the special issue of the Canadian Journal of Forest Research Volume 13:5 (1983). Stimulus for this book was a conference held in Fairbanks from June 10-14, 1983. The papers presented at the conference were fore runners of the chapters in this book. We invited 19 scientists from North America and England to critique our research and synthesis efforts. Six of these people were asked to write introductory chapters for each section of the book. Formal presentation sessions, combined with field trips to research sites, introduced the invitees to the primary and secondary successional ecosystems with which we were dealing. A major wildfire, only 24 km from the University campus, was contained the week prior to the conference and one field trip provided graphic evidence of fire impact in subarctic forests. The conference conveners regretted that it was not possible to host a similar meeting during synthesis efforts in mid-January.

Contenu

Section 1 Nature of Taiga Environment.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Climatic Characteristics of the Taiga in Interior Alaska.- 3. Forest Ecosystem Distribution in the Taiga Environment.- 4. Natural Regeneration of Trees and Tall Shrubs on Forest Sites in Interior Alaska.- 5. Fire in Taiga Communities of Interior Alaska.- Section 2 Environmental Controls Over Organism Activity.- 6. Introduction.- 7. Controls Over Growth and Nutrient Use by Taiga Forest Trees.- 8. Nitrogen Fixation in the Alaskan Taiga.- 9. The Role of Bryophytes in Nutrient Cycling in the Taiga.- 10. Substrate Quality Influences on Microbial Activity and Mineral Availability in the Taiga Forest Floors.- Section 3 Environmental Controls Over Ecosystem Processes.- 11. Introduction.- 12. Interaction of Temperature, Moisture, and Soil Chemistry in Controlling Nutrient Cycling and Ecosystem Development in the Taiga of Alaska.- 13. Forcyte-Extension of A Stand Level Growth and Yield Model Utilizing Nitrogen Dynamics to Taiga White Spruce Forests.- 14. Association Of Plants And Phytophagous Insects in Taiga Forest Ecosystems.- 15. Browsing-Woody Plant Interactions During Boreal Forest Plant Succession.