Reconstrution of a Presettlement Giant Sequoia‐Mixed Conifer Forest Community Using the Aggregation Approach

Abstract

The presettlement state of a giant sequoia—mixed conifer forest community in the Redwood Creek watershed, Kings Canyon National Park, is reconstructed using in backward projection in time of plant aggregations. The most conspicuous change in the forest community from the presettlement condition (°1890) was a general increase in the area of aggregations dominated by polesize trees and mature trees, and a corresponding decrease in the area of aggregations dominated by sapling— and seedling—size trees. Aggregations dominated by white fir had both the greatest decline in area for sapling and seedling aggregations and the greatest increase in area for large mature, mature, and pole aggregations of any species in the watershed. The area of aggregations dominated by shrubs also declined, with manzanita aggregations showing the largest loss in area for any shrub species. Hardwoods were also a far more important part of the presettlement forest community than they are today.