Long-term aspen dynamics, trophic cascades, and climate in northern Yellowstone National Park

摘要: We report long-term patterns of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) recruitment for five ungulate exclosures in the northern winter range Yellowstone National Park. Aspen was low ( 1 m height increased over 30-fold (from 105 to 3194 aspen·ha−1). Increased heights young occurred primarily from 2007 2012, a period with relatively high predator-prey ratios, declining elk numbers, and decreasing browsing rates. Consistent re-established trophic cascade, stands Yellowstone's have increasingly begun recover.