Development patterns in young conifer‐hardwood forests of interior Alaska

The age structure and growth patterns of 53 young conifer‐hardwood stands on upland, south‐facing sites of interior Alaska were analyzed to determine the length of time for stand establishment after disturbance, the composition of early‐successional stands compared to existing stands, and the potential for late‐successional stands dominated by conifers. Mixed stands of Picea glauca , Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera represented five plant community types and developed as single cohorts after stand‐replacement fires. In the Populus tremuloides/Arctostaphylos uva‐ursi and Populus tremuloides/Shepherdia canadensis community types, hardwoods established rapidly and Picea glauca established slowly. In contrast, stands in the Betula papyrifera‐Populus tremuloides/Viburnum edule , Betula papyrifera‐Populus tremuloides/Alnus crispa , and Picea glauca‐Betula papyrifera/Hylocomium splendens community types generally developed as a result of rapid, concurrent establishment of conifers and hardwoods. These single‐cohort, mixed species development patterns are not consistent with continual establishment of conifers and are likely the result of unique life‐history traits and frequent stand‐replacement fires.