ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES in rocky mountain coniferous ...

BIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
Initial changes in the physical and biological characteristics of the forest
ecosystem combine and interact to bring about a secondary series of responses. These
responses -- termed "2nd order responses" by Program researchers -- include changes
in site productivity, in vegetative growth and diversity, and in susceptibility to
loss from insects, disease, or fire. Whether a particular response is desirable or
undesirable depends upon the management objectives for the site. In general, those
secondary responses viewed as desirable include early regeneration and development of
a new stand of trees; development of understory vegetation favored by wild1 ife; and
reduced 1 eve1 s of forest pest activity. Generally undesirable responses may include
reduction in site productivity; inabi 1 i ty to obtain tree regeneration; excessive
vegetative competition for natural or planted regeneration ; and development of severe
insect, disease, or fire hazards.
In this section, researchers discuss observed or measured biological responses of
a secondary nature -- those resulting from the combined effects of basic changes in the
character of the ecosystem. These responses provide an early indication of what the
aggregate effects of harvesting- induced environmental changes are 1 i kely to be. They
provide a basis for defining cause-and-effect relationships, and for predicting longer-
term implications for resource management.