Aspen-birch forests in northern Wisconsin and western Upper Michigan may be tolerant of increased disturbance to climate change.

The early-successional characteristics of these species, including abundant wind-dispersed seed production and vegetative reproduction, make them highly resilient to many forms of disturbance. Disturbance from stand-replacing wildfire or wind events could benefit this forest type, although small-scale disturbances could increase the rate of succession to other forest types.