An empirical, hierarchical typology of tree species assemblages for assessing forest dynamics under global change scenarios.

ABSTRACT: The composition of tree species occurring in a forest is important and can be affected by global change drivers such as climate change. To inform assessment and projection of global change impacts at broad extents, we used hierarchical cluster analysis and over 120,000 recent forest inventory plots to empirically define forest tree assemblages across the U.S., and identified the indicator and dominant species associated with each. Cluster typologies in two levels of a hierarchy of forest assemblages, with 29 and 147 groups respectively, were supported by diagnostic criteria. Groups in these two levels of the hierarchy were labeled based on the top indicator species in each, and ranged widely in size. For example, in the 29-cluster typology, the sugar maple-red maple assemblage contained th

SUBMITTER: Costanza JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5587308 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature