Identification_Information: Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: David L. Peterson and R. David Hammer Publication_Date: 2001 Title: From open to closed canopy: a century of change in Douglas-fir forest, Orcas Island, Washington Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Journal article Series_Information: Series_Name: Northwest Science Issue_Identification: 75(3):262-269 Other_Citation_Details: Science Information System Project #: 746 Publication Control #: 1040 Description: Abstract: Open savanna-like coniferous forests are uncommon in western Washington except for a few areas, including the San Juan Islands and the southern edge of the Puget Lowlands. The south face of Mount Constitution, on one of the San Juan Islands (Orcas Island), contains a closed-canopy forest. The USGS, in collaboration with the University of Missouri, quantified the current structure of undisturbed closed canopy Douglas-fir forest on Orcas Island and compared it to reconstructed forest structure of the 19th century. The research documented a large increase in Douglas-fir tree density over the last century. A fire-history analysis conducted on relict (old, remaining trees) trees indicates that at least seven fires occurred on Mount Constitution since 1736, but only one fire has occurred since 1893. This suggests that fire exclusion is the primary cause of the recent increase in tree density. It is likely that high fire intensities with a high probability of crown fires, will kill the relict Douglas-fir in the future, given the current distribution of fuels in the understory on Orcas Island. The researchers suggest that manual thinning and repeated prescribed burns may be necessary to preserve the relict trees and to restore an open, Douglas-fir forest on Mount Constitution Purpose: Reporting research results Supplemental_Information: Extent of item: 7pp Illustrative Matter: tables, maps Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 2001 Currentness_Reference: publication date Status: Progress: Complete Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned Spatial_Domain: Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Orcas Island, Washington Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -123 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.75 North_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.7 South_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.6 Keywords: Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: Science Information System Controlled Vocabulary Theme_Keyword: Fire Theme_Keyword: Forests Theme_Keyword: Human Impacts Theme_Keyword: Monitoring Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: none Place_Keyword: Orcas Island Place_Keyword: Washington Place_Keyword: WA Place_Keyword: San Juan Islands Access_Constraints: None Use_Constraints: None Point_of_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Peterson, David L. Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: Fire and Environmental Research Applications Team Box 352100 City: Seattle State_or_Province: WA Postal_Code: 98195 Contact_Voice_Telephone: (206) 543-1587 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: wild@u.washington.edu Distribution_Information: Distributor: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: Olendorff Library Contact_Position: Librarian Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: USGS FRESC Snake River Field Station 970 Lusk Street City: Boise State_or_Province: ID Postal_Code: 83706 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 208 426-5218 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 208 426-5210 Resource_Description: Publication Control #: 1040 Distribution_Liability: The USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center and its research partners make every effort to provide and maintain accurate, complete, usable, and timely information. 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Metadata_Reference_Information: Metadata_Date: 20011104 Metadata_Review_Date: 20011111 Metadata_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: Olendorff Library Contact_Position: Librarian Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: USGS FRESC Snake River Field Station 970 Lusk Street City: Boise State_or_Province: ID Postal_Code: 83706 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 208 426-5218 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 208 426-5210 Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999