Common and uncommon understory species differentially respond to restoration treatments in ponderosa pine/Douglas‐fir forests, Montana

Published source details Dodson E.K., Metlen K.L. & Fiedler C.E. (2007) Common and uncommon understory species differentially respond to restoration treatments in ponderosa pine/Douglas‐fir forests, Montana. Restoration Ecology, 15, 696-708.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Thin trees within forests: effects on understory plants Action Link
	Use prescribed fire: effect on understory plants Action Link

Thin trees within forests: effects on understory plants

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2001-2004 in temperate conifer forest in Montana, USA (Dodson, Metlen & Fiedler 2007) found that thinning increased native plant species richness. Species richness (in 1,000 m²) for common (thinned: 34; unthinned: 32) and uncommon (thinned: 15; unthinned: 12) native plant species was higher in thinned plots. Data were collected in 2004 in 10 thinned (in 2001, 11 m²/ha retained) and 10 unthinned plots (1000 m²) in each of three blocks.
Use prescribed fire: effect on understory plants

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2001-2004 in temperate coniferous forest in Montana, USA (Dodson, Metlen & Fiedler 2007) found that prescribed burns increased species richness of uncommon but not of common plant species. The number of uncommon species was higher in burned plots (burned: 14; unburned: 11) while the number of common species was similar between treatments (burned: 30; unburned: 32). Data were collected in 2004 in ten burned (prescribed burn in 2002) and ten control (unburned) treatment plots (1,000 m²) in each of three blocks.