Environmental characteristics of the Grand Fir Mosaic and adjacent habitattypes

Grand Fir Mosaic habitats differ from adjacent forest habitats in their slo w rate of secondary succession to woody vegetation. Remote monitoring stati ons were used to sample the environment at a Grand Fir Mosaic site and th r ee adjacent habitat types. The Grand Fir Mosaic site has shorter growing se asons, cooler temperatures, and more soil moisture than the other sites. So il pH at the Grand Fir Mosaic site cycled from 5.5 to 6.5 in winter months to 4.0 to 5.0 in summer months. These unique site and environmental charact eristics are shown to cause highly acidic soils with high aluminum availabi lity below pH 5.0.