Recovery and diversity of the forest shrub community 38 years after biomass harvesting in the northern Rocky Mountains

摘要: Abstract We investigated the long-term impact of biomass utilization on shrub recovery, species composition, and biodiversity 38 years after harvesting at Coram Experimental Forest in northwestern Montana. Three levels removal intensity (high, medium, low) treatments combined with prescribed burning treatment were nested within three regeneration harvest (shelterwood, group selection, clearcut). Four surveys (pre-treatment, 2, 10, treatment) conducted. Shrub for all units exceeded pre-treatment level, did not affect recovery (ratio dry time t to biomass). Species composition changed immediately (2 years); however, treated differ from untreated control harvesting. Biodiversity indices (Shannon’s Pielou’s indices) also decreased following harvesting, but recovered 10 The responses diversity over differed among high-utilization level unburned producing most even diverse assemblages Our results indicate community is quite resilient this forest type.