Scientists used tree-ring data to determine the age of trees on the Yellowstone Plateau. They found...
Scientists used tree-ring data to determine the age of trees on the Yellowstone Plateau. They found that the landscape was made up of patches representing different stages of forest succession. Can you interpret the graph to answer these questions? 70 Establishment Stage (Lodgepole pines become established.) 60 Thinning Stage (Lodgepole pines begin to die.) Transition Stage Old-growth Stage (Shade-tolerant trees (Shade-tolerant become established.) trees mature.) 50 PERCENTAGE OF LANDSCAPE OCCUPIED BY FOREST STAGE 30 20 10 0 1700 1750 1800 1900 1950 2000 1850 YEAR Infrequent small fires Extensive fires burn over half of the landscape 1988 - Fires burn over half of the landscape Pearson Education, Inc. Source: Romme, W. H. and D. G. Despain, Historical perspective on the Yellowstone fires of 1988. Bioscience 39-695-899