Emily Browne
Keywords: Elevational gradient, forest density, stem diameter
My hypothesis is concerned with adaptation to local environments, which on a larger scale would be survival of the fittest and organisms adapting to a local environment to survive based on the environmental conditions. The predictions of my field project are that mature conifer trees will have decreased stem diameter with increasing elevation, and a decreased forest density with increased elevation. Some variables that may cause this pattern could be resource availability, access to the water table, exposure to harsher weather, and temperature changes with elevation. Therefore, trees at higher elevations would not have as much access to water and other resources, so they would have smaller tree stem diameters, and a lower forest density. Trees at high elevations are exposed to colder temperatures for longer periods, and therefore would not have the same potential to grow as large. The lack of resources would cause competition for resources so less individuals could survive on the limited resources, leading to a lower tree density in a higher-elevation forest.