Stand reconstructions of natural old-growth (stand age >200 years) Douglas-fir forests have documented both rapid (< 100 year) and prolonged (>100 year) initial establishment periods for the pioneering post-disturbance cohort of Douglas-fir. Few studies have examined the duration of Douglas-fir establishment in age classes of mature stands (stand age 80-200 years) with a rigorous sampling of tree cores. In this study we characterized temporal patterns of Douglas-fir trees in mature Douglas-fir stands throughout the Cascade Mountain Range in
All sites experienced a narrow range (<100 years) of establishment indicating a rapid initial establishment of Douglas-fir. However, establishment of the pioneer Douglas-fircohort was variable among sites and occurred over several decades. Rapid natural forest regeneration occurring over several decades facilitates persistence of open canopyconditions and extends the developmental period characterized by early seral communities and processes. Patterns of tree regeneration following natural disturbance eventscan provide insight into multiple developmental pathways which can potentially guide management of post-disturbance forest ecosystems.