Using Archival Digital Orthophotographs to Investigate the Effects of Fire Exclusion and Insect Outbreaks on Douglas-fir in Grand Teton National Park and Surrounding Areas

Project ID: P12AC15006

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Partner Institution: Oregon State University

Fiscal Year: 2012

Initial Funding: $9,449

Total Funding: $9,449

Project Type: Research

Project Disciplines: Biological

National Park: Grand Teton National Park

Principal Investigator: Donato, Daniel

Agreement Technical Representative: Mellander, Kathryn

Abstract: The National Park Service and Oregon State University will collaborate on a combined field and remote sensing study of Douglas-fir forests in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Specifically, data on tree ages, stand structure, and fire history will be gathered from pre-identified locations of two kinds: 1) Where 1945 aerial photograph indicates that Douglas-fir appears to have encroached into open shrub communities in recent decades; and 2) areas where past fire stand-replacement fire scars are evident. Field observations and tree cores will be analyzed to determine growth patterns that may be extrapolated to additional landscapes in the future with remote sensing. Results will be presented in published reports and conference presentations.

Deliverables:

• USING ARCHIVAL DIGITAL ORTHOPHOTOGRAPHS TO INVESTIGATE THE DOUGLAS-FIR FIRE REGIME: A PRELIMINARY STUDY FROM GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK AND THE BRIDGER-TETON NAITONAL FOREST, WYOMING (Final Report)
• USING ARCHIVAL DIGITAL ORTHOPHOTOGRAPHS TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS OF FIRE EXCLUSION AND INSECT OUTBREAKS ON DOUGLAS-FIR IN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK AND SURROUNDING AREAS (Final Report)