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Forest Sciences

Utah State University

Student Research Symposium

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Pheonolgy And Climate Change In The Tw Daniel Experimental Forest Meadow, Elise Riley Apr 2021

Pheonolgy And Climate Change In The Tw Daniel Experimental Forest Meadow, Elise Riley

Student Research Symposium

As the earth’s climate warms many plant species are experiencing phenological stages (the timing of their seasonal life cycle events) earlier than they previously have. Dangers of phenological stages occurring earlier in the year include a greater risk of frost kill and the possibility of the speciation of already small populations, both of which could make species more susceptible to extinction. This research focused on determining if meadow forb species within Utah State University’s TW Daniel Experimental Forest (TWDEF) have experienced earlier phenology -specifically, earlier flowering dates- over the past 52 years. Historical phenological data was obtained from journals kept …


Do Aspen Stands Reduce Fire Severity And Stop Fire Spread?, Elyse Doty Apr 2021

Do Aspen Stands Reduce Fire Severity And Stop Fire Spread?, Elyse Doty

Student Research Symposium

Aspen stands are widely thought to behave as fire breaks, reducing fire severity and preventing fire spread. However, this prevailing belief has not been well studied. With larger more intense fires in recent decades and further projected changes in fire behavior for the future, having a better understanding of how aspen trees and stands interact with fire would be valuable for forecasting how our forests will respond to climate change and disturbance in the future. In addition, forest managers in Utah and other regions of the Intermountain West conduct aspen restoration treatments for multiple objectives, including fire mitigation. To quantify …