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Layering in the Rocky Mountain treeline ecotone: clonal conifer groups’ distribution, structure, and functional role

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Layering plays a major role in treeline stability. Growth ring pattern of clonal groups reflects both an individualistic and an only temporally common response to the harsh treeline environment.

Abstract

Clonal groups are common to alpine and polar treelines. Distribution, shape, architecture, and development of clonal Picea engelmannii and Abies lasiocarpa in an extremely windy Rocky Mountain treeline ecotone are considered. Clonal groups prevail (>70% of all tree groups). Most of them consist of A. lasiocarpa (65%). Number, growth form, and damage were documented along transects and field routes. Age structure and development of the clonal groups were assessed using increment cores and stem disks. The groups usually consisted of different clonal series with several clonal members in each. On wind-swept terrain, clonal groups exhibit wedge-like, hedge-like, or mat-like habit. One clonal A. lasiocarpa group was studied in detail and it serves as an example showing formation, architecture, and internal growth pattern of clonal series. The clone members in the clone series exhibited an individualistic growth pattern. Wind-control of growth occasionally overruled the often ‘chaotic’ internal group growth pattern. The effect of prevailing winds, however, temporally overlapped with a ‘force’ directed from the center of the group margin (e.g., competition for light, high stem density), as reflected in recurrent change of eccentricity within the clonal trunks. Clonal groups may be of major importance in treeline dynamics.

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Fig. 1
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(modified from Holtmeier 1978; Holtmeier and Broll 2010). The inset (upper left) shows the geographical position of the Colorado Front Range. The inset (middle left) shows mean wind directions (% of total wind data) at 500 hPa level. Airflow directions were taken from the daily high-level weather maps (1958–1974). The box at the right hand side indicates the location of the study site on Niwot Ridge

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Modified from Holtmeier 1999

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Modified from Holtmeier 1999

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Acknowledgements

Our thanks go to Prof. Robert M. M. Crawford (University of St. Andrews, Scotland) for revising the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Landscape Ecology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Heisenbergstraße 2, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Friedrich-Karl Holtmeier

  2. Institute of Geography, University of Osnabrück, Seminarstraße 19 a/b, 49074, Osnabrück, Germany

    Gabriele Broll

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  1. Friedrich-Karl Holtmeier
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Correspondence to Friedrich-Karl Holtmeier.

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Communicated by A. Bräuning.

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Holtmeier, FK., Broll, G. Layering in the Rocky Mountain treeline ecotone: clonal conifer groups’ distribution, structure, and functional role. Trees 31, 953–965 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-017-1520-z

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