Posted by Lynn Davis (63.160.62.119) on September 12, 2002 at 10:37:49:
In Reply to: Re: Trees after fire posted by Ranger Hobie on September 11, 2002 at 17:11:50:
: : I visited Yellowstone after the fires of 1988. In some areas, the new trees are spread out, in other areas, the new trees are packed together. Which area will produce a healthier forest, or does it matter?
: Thanks for your question about fires and their effects in Yellowstone, Joanne. What you observed during your visit were two different types of forest, and both types are healthy. A long time down the road you might begin to see more packed together trees crowd out some of the less resilient ones, but both types of forest are healthy. I hope you are able to return to Yellowstone again to see how areas that experienced fire in 1988 continue to regenerate.
: Ranger Hobie
Thank you for your response, Ranger Hobie; I have wondered about this difference, too.
WHY do the trees grow differently? Are they different species, is it different soil, was the fire different -- or is it something else? It seems there must be reasons some trees are far apart and some are close together.