It has been hypothesized by Serge Payette that the spruce-moss forest ecosystem was changed into the lichen woodland biome due to the initiation of two compounded strong disturbances: large fire and the appearance and attack of the spruce budworm.Payette, 289. The spruce budworm is a deadly insect to the spruce populations in the southern regions of the taiga. J.P. Jasinski confirmed this theory five years later stating, "Their [lichen woodlands] persistence, along with their previous moss forest histories and current occurrence adjacent to closed moss forests, indicate that they are an alternative stable state to the spruce–moss forests".Jasinski, 561.
It has been hypothesized by Serge Payette that the spruce-moss forest ecosystem was changed into the lichen woodland biome due to the initiation of two compounded str?ong disturba.nces: large fire and the appearance and attack of the spruce budworm.Payette, 289. The spruce budworm is a deadly :insect to the spruce populations in the s:outhern regions of the taiga. J.P. Jasinski confirmed this theory five years later stating, "Their [lichen woodlands] pe!rsistence, along with their previous moss forest histories and current occurrence adjacent to closed moss forests, indicate that they are an alternative stable state to the spruce–moss forests".Jasinski, 561.