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Effects of Climate Change on Forest Vegetation in the Northern Rockies

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Climate Change and Rocky Mountain Ecosystems

Part of the book series: Advances in Global Change Research ((AGLO,volume 63))

Abstract

Increasing air temperature, through its influence on soil moisture, is expected to cause gradual changes in the abundance and distribution of tree, shrub, and grass species throughout the Northern Rockies, with drought tolerant species becoming more competitive. The earliest changes will be at ecotones between lifeforms (e.g., upper and lower treelines). Ecological disturbance, including wildfire and insect outbreaks, will be the primary facilitator of vegetation change, and future forest landscapes may be dominated by younger age classes and smaller trees. High-elevation forests will be especially vulnerable if disturbance frequency increases significantly. Increased abundance and distribution of non-native plant species, as well as the legacy of past land uses, create additional stress for regeneration of native forest species.

Most strategies for conserving native tree, shrub, and grassland systems focus on increasing resilience to chronic low soil moisture, and to more frequent and extensive ecological disturbance. These strategies generally include managing landscapes to reduce the severity and patch size of disturbances, encouraging fire to play a more natural role, and protecting refugia where fire-sensitive species can persist. Increasing species, genetic, and landscape diversity (spatial pattern, structure) is an important “hedge your bets” strategy that will reduce the risk of major forest loss. Adaptation tactics include using silvicultural prescriptions (especially stand density management) and fuel treatments to reduce fuel continuity, reducing populations of nonnative species, potentially using multiple genotypes in reforestation, and revising grazing policies and practices. Rare and disjunct species and communities (e.g., whitebark pine, quaking aspen) require adaptation strategies and tactics focused on encouraging regeneration, preventing damage from disturbance, and establishing refugia.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Art Zack, Megan Strom, Chris Schnepf, Paul Zambino, and Kevin Greenleaf for technical reviews. We thank Gregg DiNitto, Paul Zambino, Blakey Lockman, Marcus Jackson, Joel Egan, Sandra Kegley, and Brytten Steed for contributions to the disturbance sections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, MT, USA

    Robert E. Keane & Lisa M. Holsinger

  2. U.S. Forest Service, Northern, Rocky Mountain, Southwestern, and Intermountain Regions, Moscow, ID, USA

    Mary Frances Mahalovich

  3. U.S. Forest Service, Northern Region, Missoula, MT, USA

    Barry L. Bollenbacher & Mary E. Manning

  4. U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK, USA

    Rachel A. Loehman

  5. U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Moscow, ID, USA

    Terrie B. Jain

  6. Department of Forest Management, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA

    Andrew J. Larson

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  1. Robert E. Keane
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Correspondence to Robert E. Keane .

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  1. School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Jessica E. Halofsky

  2. U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Seattle, Washington, USA

    David L. Peterson

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Keane, R.E. et al. (2018). Effects of Climate Change on Forest Vegetation in the Northern Rockies. In: Halofsky, J., Peterson, D. (eds) Climate Change and Rocky Mountain Ecosystems. Advances in Global Change Research, vol 63. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56928-4_5

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