Early Succession Following Clearcutting of Aspen Communities in Northern Utah

Abstract

Changes in aspen reproduction and undergrowth production and composition were recorded over a 3-year period following clearcutting. Aspen suckers increased from 2,300 per hectare prior to cutting to a maximum of 44,000 per hectare the second post-cut year, and dropped to approximately 25,000 per hectare by the third year. Undergrowth production on the cut units increased from 1,013 kg/ha prior to cutting to 3,000 kg/ha after three growing seasons; production on the uncut control areas increased from 1,199 kg/ha to 1,539 kg/ha during this period. The significant increase in undergrowth is attributed to the reduction in competition from the removal of the aspen overstory. Clearcutting appeared to increase the proportion of shrubs in the undergrowth and decrease the proportion of forbs. A similarity index comparing the cut and uncut areas suggested that the greatest change in species composition occurred the first year after cutting, with a gradual return towards the precut conditions.