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| Field Trip "A"
Forest ecology research in interior Alaska |
Led by:
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| The Bonanza Creek (BNZ) site is one of 24 areas in the U.S. Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER)
network. The experimental forest unit of the BNZ site encompasses about 5,000 ha and includes forests, wetlands
and grassland from the Tanana River floodplain to 470 m elevation. The BNZ LTER has operated since 1987, building
on a research program begun in the 1960s. Its overall objective is to document the major controls over forest
dynamics, biogeochemistry, and disturbance and their interactions in the face of a changing climate.
We will travel the George Parks Highway about 35 km west of Fairbanks along the upland ridge portion of the LTER. We will take advantage of overlooks along the highway to observe fire effects, local forest types in relationship to landscape and site, discuss fire ecology, and see harvest blocks in the landscape. At BNZ we will enter a 200-yr old upland white spruce forest on south slopes and contrasting black spruce type on a north aspect. We will see aspects of long-term monitoring and experimental studies including forest growth and climate, nutrient amendments, spruce reproduction, and ongoing insect-caused tree mortality in relationship to climate events. Field clothes advised. |
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