Tree species composition change - Soil organism interaction: Potential effects on nutrient cycling and conservation in interior forests

Current conditions in western Interior forests show large-scale changes in species compositions and accompanying above- and below-ground structures an d nutrient distribution. Typical forests occupy constantly changing, often resource limited environments. Biological decomposition does not keep pace with production and natural wildfire is critical to recycling. Appropriate protection and recycling of nutrients is key to both short- and long-term p roductivity and sustainability. Comparisons of physical, physiological and genetic natures of the species dominating historic (pines/larch), current a nd likely future forests (firs/cedar/hemlock) indicate microbe/fire codepen dant processes mediating adaptation of forest vegetation, nutrient use rate s, soil nutrient storage and recycling processes will all be significantly altered. This is likely to produce forests that are drought, pest, competit ion and change intolerant with high mortality rates, and high fuel accumula tion/loss potentials, when compared to historic norms. Prudent future manag ement would emphasize reintroduction of appropriate pine stocks and western larch at every opportunity! Control of density in dry forests can also mak e an important contribution.