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ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES in rocky mountain coniferous ...

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BASIC <strong>ENVIRONMENTAL</strong> RESPONSES<br />

Timber harvest<strong>in</strong>g removes biomass from the site, reduces vegetative cover,<br />

disturbs soil and litter, and <strong>in</strong>creases exposure. Initial ecosystem responses are<br />

changes <strong>in</strong> the basic physical and biological properties and functions of the site.<br />

Micrometeorological effects may <strong>in</strong>clude changes <strong>in</strong> temperature, humidity, air<br />

movement, energy exchange, and significantly greater short-term fluctuations. Soil<br />

and water effects may <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>in</strong>creased overland and subsurface flows, changes <strong>in</strong> soil<br />

moisture, and changes <strong>in</strong> soil water chemistry and nutrient availability. Microbiolo-<br />

gical effects can <strong>in</strong>clude changes <strong>in</strong> fungal and microbial activity, and <strong>in</strong> associated<br />

processes related to decay, nitrogen fixation, and symbiotic plant-fungi functions.<br />

Predict<strong>in</strong>g the consequences of timber harvest<strong>in</strong>g depends upon understand<strong>in</strong>g<br />

and quantify<strong>in</strong>g these basic cause-and-effect re1 ationshi ps. Program research has been<br />

heavily oriented toward study<strong>in</strong>g these k<strong>in</strong>ds of responses, termed "1 st order responses".<br />

Improved knowledge of how harvest<strong>in</strong>g activities affect basic ecosystem character will<br />

provide the basis for prescrib<strong>in</strong>g harvest<strong>in</strong>g practices and for predict<strong>in</strong>g the conse-<br />

quences of a1 ternative practices.<br />

In this section, researchers report observed or measured basic environmental<br />

responses to timber harvest<strong>in</strong>g, under a range of harvest<strong>in</strong>g prescriptions and stand<br />

conditions. Elapsed time s<strong>in</strong>ce treatment is short on all study sites; consequently,<br />

the results reported here must be viewed as <strong>in</strong>itial, short-term results. Cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g<br />

studies will track most responses over time, and may ultimately lead to modify<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

results reported here.

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