Information AboutFir Wave |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT FIR WAVE | |
| ecology | |
|
A fir wave is a set of alternating bands of Fir Tree s in sequential stages of development, observed in Forest s on exposed Mountain slopes in several areas, including northeastern North America and Japan . Fir waves develop by wave-regeneration following Wind Disturbance , and is one of various types of Patterned Vegetation . HOW FIR WAVES FORM Fir waves from by the Ecological process of wave-regeneration. When a tree falls, a Gap in the canopy is formed. This exposes trees at the Leeward edge of the gap to greater wind. These trees are thus more likely to die from damage and desiccation than Windward trees. These leeward trees eventually die, gradually expanding the gap downwind. At the same time, young trees start to grow in the wind shadow in the windward portion of the gap, protected from the high winds by the surviving trees. The combination of dying trees at the leeward edge and regenerating trees at the windward edge results in the propagation of the fir waves in the direction of the predominant prevailing wind. The period of the waves is variable, typically about 60 years in Balsam Fir (''Abies balsamea''). REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
SEE ALSO Temperate Coniferous Forests |
|
|