The successional stages resulting following logging, fire, windthrow, landslide, sand encroachment, and other disturbances at the Wildcat Hills location resulted in a pioneer stage dominated by bare ground, Polystichum munitm , and various herbs. Similarly, at the Big Lagoon location after a stand replacement disturbance the results in a pioneer community of bare ground, herbs, sword fern, redwood sprouts, Baccharis pilularis , and Rubus spp. About 30 years later, redwood again dominates the site and Grand fir has overtopped the brush, but a few Rubus spectabilis and R. parviforus shrubs remain. In these regions, true fir seed orchards are being developed, Unfortunately, the true firs have a prolonged juvenile period of 20 or more years during which few or no cones form. To bring seed orchards into production earlier, methods must be found to induce or enhance cone-bud differentiation in young trees and ramets.
Symptoms consist of tan discolored bands on the needles.
In some cases the area of discoloration expanded and involved the distal portion of the needle or the entire needle. Often this led to the shedding of those needles infected. In order to better understand the Grand fir survivorship, studies on stem wounding were carried out. This material is important in the defense against pest and pathogens and in wound sealing. The Western Spruce Budworm is a common herbivore that frequently infest mixed conifer forests.