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Ecology of curlleaf mahogany in western and central Nevada: community and population structure
Author
Schultz, B. W.
Tueller, P. T.
Tausch, R. J.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1990-01-01
Body

Curlleaf mahogany is an important browse species for mule deer in the mountain brush zone of the Intermountain West. Past research on increasing browse availability of curlleaf mahogany has been inconclusive. This appeared to be directly related to limited understanding of community and population structure and dynamics. To obtain information on the community and population structure of curlleaf mahogany we sampled 25, 30 × 30-m macroplots in western and central Nevada. Data on mahogany density, maturity class structure, size, ages, and population growth rates were obtained. Understory cover and composition and percent rock, bare ground, and litter were also recorded. Mahogany density in central Nevada was one-half that in western Nevada, but mahogany cover and total cover were significantly (P lesser than or equal to 0.05) greater. Maturity class distribution in central Nevada was heavily skewed towards large mature mahogany, suggesting an older population dominated by fewer large individuals. This dominance resulted in significantly (P lesser than or equal to 0.05) lower population and relative growth rates and the necessity of canopy gaps for the survival of young mahogany. Range improvement of mature mahogany stands dominated by large individuals will require the removal of the mature and over mature individuals so that young forage producing plants are released from intraspecific competition. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/3899112
Additional Information
Schultz, B. W., Tueller, P. T., & Tausch, R. J. (1990). Ecology of curlleaf mahogany in western and central Nevada: community and population structure. Journal of Range Management, 43(1), 13-19.
ISSN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/644849
Journal Volume
43
Journal Number
1
Journal Pages
13-19
Collection
Rangeland Ecology & Management (REM)
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
tree classes
maturity groups
wildlife food plants
size
Cercocarpus ledifolius
tree age
distribution
understory
dominant species
growth rate
plant communities
Odocoileus hemionus
spatial distribution
plant density
Nevada