Regeneration of aspen by suckering on burned sites in Western Wyoming

Abstract

Numbers of suckers produced following burning of aspen stands varied greatly between areas but followed similar trends over a 6-year period: a relative abundance the first year, followed by an abrupt decline by the third year and a gradual decline thereafter. First-year sucker numbers that ranged from 34,000 to 147,000/ha suffered mortality between 54 and 93 percent by the sixth year. Only 40 percent of the variability between sites in number of suckers the second postburn year, and only 44 percent of the variability the sixth year, could be accounted for by season of burn and preburn site and stand charaderistics. Of the variability between sites in the sixth-year sucker numbers, 96 percent is accounted for by season of burn and number of year-old suckers present the second year following burning.