Spruce/fir forest | Adaptation Workbook

This forest ecosystem consists of forests, woody wetlands, shrublands, and grasslands on a variety of landforms in the highest elevation zone of the Allegheny Mountains, ranging from 2400 to 4600 feet. It is dominated by combinations of red spruce and balsam fir, and can include yellow birch, eastern hemlock, red maple, sweet birch, cucumbertree, American mountain ash, black cherry, American beech, mountain magnolia, black ash, and sugar maple.

Climate Impact Statements

Projected increases in temperature and decreases in summer and fall precipitation may exceed the ecological tolerances of the spruce/fir forest ecosystem’s defining species.

The geographic extent of the spruce/fir forest ecosystem is limited to a narrow range of environmental conditions.

Projected increases in temperature and potential decreases in precipitation later in the growing season may decrease the amount of atmospheric moisture that could develop into fog in summer or snow in winter impacting the spruce/fir forest ecosystem.

Decreased precipitation and increased temperatures may interact to ultimately decrease soil moisture during summer and fall impacting the spruce/fir forest ecosystem.

The complex topography in the Central Appalachians will potentially provide refugia for the spruce/fir forest ecosystem, where some disjunct populations may persist.

Wildfire potential could increase under drier conditions to negatively impact the spruce/fir forest ecosystem.

Insect pests will increase or become more damaging to the spruce/fir forest ecosystem.

Vulnerability

High

Adaptive Capacity

Moderate