Geographic biotype and host-associated local adaptation in a polyphagous species, Lambdina fiscellaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) feeding on balsam fir on Anticosti Island, Canada

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 619-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Hébert ◽  
R. Berthiaume ◽  
É. Bauce ◽  
J. Brodeur
Keyword(s):  
Local Adaptation ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Anticosti Island

Winter habitat selection by white-tailed deer on Anticosti Island 2: relationship between deer density from an aerial survey and the proportion of balsam fir forest on vegetation maps

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 671-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Potvin ◽  
Barry Boots
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Management ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Window Size ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Deer Density ◽  
Vegetation Maps ◽  
Anticosti Island ◽  
The Relationship

Determining at what scale to operate and how much cover is needed are important questions for winter habitat management of white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780), through logging. We used binary cover maps (reclassified forest vegetation maps) and windows of different sizes (0.2 km × 0.2 km, 0.5 km × 0.5 km, 1 km × 1 km, 2 km × 2 km, and 3 km × 3 km) to describe the relationship between deer density from an aerial survey and the proportion of balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) P. Mill., forest (BF) cover in a 270-km2 block on Anticosti Island, Quebec. Maximum white-tailed deer densities reached were quite similar (31–34 deer/km2) irrespective of window size, except for the 3 km × 3 km window for which maximum density remained half lower. Density increased with the amount of BF cover and then reached a plateau above 60% or 70% (two smaller windows) or decreased above 50% or 60% (1 km × 1 km and 2 km × 2 km windows). Results confirm goals previously used for habitat management of deeryards. This new method allows greater flexibility in research applications for describing density–cover relationships because both scale and proportion of cover can be analysed simultaneously.

scholarly journals Changes in hemlock looper [Lepidoptera: Geometridae] pupal distribution through a 3-year outbreak cycle

2005 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Hébert ◽  
L. Jobin ◽  
R. Berthiaume ◽  
C. Coulombe ◽  
A. Dupont
Keyword(s):  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Anticosti Island ◽  
Hemlock Looper

The hemlock looper, Lambdina fiscellaria, pupal distribution was studied through a 3-year outbreak cycle near Lac Princeton on Anticosti Island in Quebec. Over the 3 years, 10 balsam fir trees were cut and all pupae were counted on the stem and branches (non-foliated vs foliated parts) of the lower, middle and upper crowns and on the stem below crown. In pre-outbreak conditions, pupae were mostly found on branches of the middle and upper crowns. During the outbreak, pupal density did not increase on these parts of the trees, since pupae were mostly found on the stem, from the ground to the middle crown, and on branches of the lower crown. Few pupae were found on the foliated portion of branches in post-outbreak conditions but most were found on the basal non-foliated part of branches, which appears to be a preferred location for hemlock looper pupation. In order to optimize detection of population increases in monitoring networks, we suggest using pupal traps at breast height on balsam fir trees.

Preindustrial reconstruction of a perhumid midboreal landscape, Anticosti Island, Quebec

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 928-942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Barrette ◽  
Louis Bélanger ◽  
Louis De Grandpré
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Forest Dynamics ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Dynamics Model ◽  
Disturbance Dynamics ◽  
Cyclic Model ◽  
Anticosti Island

The knowledge of natural disturbance dynamics and preindustrial landscapes is essential to implement sustainable forest management. Recent findings identify the lack of a forest dynamics model, different from the standard cyclic model of Baskerville (1975. For. Chron. 51: 138–140), for balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) ecosystems of maritime eastern Canada. With the use of historical forest maps and dendrochronology, we reconstructed the range of variability of the preindustrial landscape (6798 km2) and inferred on the natural disturbance dynamics of the balsam fir forest of Anticosti Island. The preindustrial landscape was characterized by a forest matrix of overmature softwood stands with inclusions of younger softwood stands ranging from 0.1 to 7837 ha in size. Widespread stand-initiating events were apparently rare in the preindustrial landscape over the last 160 years. Since our results were not well represented by the cyclic model, which predicts the occurrence of a mosaic of stands in different age classes, we proposed an alternative forest dynamics model for eastern balsam fir ecosystems near the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Forest management inspired by this alternative model may be more appropriate to maintain or restore ecological characteristics of balsam fir forests of this region within their range of natural variability.

Host tree age as a selective pressure leading to local adaptation of a population of a polyphagous Lepidoptera in virgin boreal forest

2009 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 493-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Berthiaume ◽  
É. Bauce ◽  
C. Hébert ◽  
J. Brodeur
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Local Adaptation ◽  
Age Structure ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Host Tree ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Pupal Weight ◽  
Hemlock Looper ◽  
Two Populations

AbstractWe tested the hypothesis that host tree age may act as a selective factor and lead to local adaptation of the hemlock looper (Lambdina fiscellaria), a geometrid Lepidoptera that has a wide geographical distribution and has evolved in different eco-zones characterized by different levels of floristic composition, age structure and fragmentation level. Considering that hemlock looper outbreaks mainly occurred in old forests, we compared the biological performances of two populations. The first population was collected in the northern virgin boreal forest, which is dominated by mature and overmature coniferous stands that have not suffered from human disturbance. The other population was collected in the southern mixed-wood forest, which is more diversified and has been modified by forest harvesting. Larvae were reared under controlled conditions on foliage from three age classes of balsam fir trees: juvenile, mature and overmature. Although we measured significant variations of biological performances between the two populations, no significant effect of the age of the balsam fir trees could be detected for males from both populations or for females from the southern population. However, northern females were strongly affected by the age of balsam fir trees on which they fed, as their pupal weight was 12% higher and their fecundity increased by 27% on overmature trees compared with juvenile ones. These results indicate that under the same selective pressure, females adapt their strategy to maximize their fitness, and thus they appear as the driving force of evolution through the local adaptation concept. Furthermore, the two populations evolved in distinct habitats and their adaptation reflects selective pressures occurring inside their original environment. This is the first report on local adaptation of an herbivore that is mediated by host tree age. Changes in forest age structure may have a considerable impact on insect local adaptation and presumably on their population dynamics.

Boreal peatland margins as repository sites of long-term natural disturbances of balsam fir/spruce forests

2009 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Lavoie ◽  
Louise Filion ◽  
Élisabeth C. Robert
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Natural Disturbances ◽  
Spruce Forests ◽  
Disturbance Factor ◽  
Pollen Concentrations ◽  
Anticosti Island ◽  
Hemlock Looper

AbstractA multidisciplinary, high-resolution paleoecological study (Lepidoptera and plant remains, macroscopic charcoal, pollen) was conducted on a 4000-yr peat monolith extracted from the margin of an ombrotrophic peatland on Anticosti Island (Gulf of St. Lawrence, eastern Canada) to reconstruct the long-term natural disturbances (insect outbreaks, forest fires) of a balsam fir/spruce forest. We hypothesized that an activity of insect defoliators (spruce budworm, hemlock looper) was the main disturbance factor of conifer forests during the Late Holocene. The earliest remains of spruce budworm and hemlock looper were found ca. 3220 and 2350 cal yr BP, respectively. Peaks of insect head capsules occurred from ca. 1640 to ca. 625 cal yr BP. Low balsam fir pollen concentrations during this period suggest a lengthy episode (∼ 1000 yr) of high insect activity, resulting in extensive fir dieback and mortality. The long-term dynamics of the pristine balsam fir/spruce forests were mainly governed by the activity of insect defoliators. The limited extent and possibly the low occurrence of forest fires in the maritime environment of Anticosti Island allowed the development of mature coniferous stands propitious for insect infestations. Insect head capsules appeared to be a useful and effective tool for establishing insect presence and activity during the Holocene.

The eradication of balsam fir stands by white-tailed deer on Anticosti Island, Québec: A 150-year process

Ecoscience ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Potvin ◽  
Pierre BeauprÉ ◽  
Gaétan Laprise
Keyword(s):  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Anticosti Island

Establishment of natural regeneration under severe browsing pressure from white-tailed deer after group seed-tree cutting with scarification on Anticosti Island

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 596-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Beguin ◽  
Marcel Prévost ◽  
David Pothier ◽  
Steeve D. Côté
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
White Birch ◽  
Conifer Species ◽  
Double Pass ◽  
Advance Regeneration ◽  
Anticosti Island ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Tree Group

The use of large clearcuts with protection of advance regeneration is inappropriate for regeneration of balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) under severe browsing from white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann)). However, little is known about the effects of tree-retention methods along with scarification on the establishment of balsam fir in a context of severe herbivory. Consequently, we hypothesized that seed-tree-group cutting in conjunction with soil scarification creates favourable conditions for balsam fir regeneration. In 1998 and 1999 we set up three circular forest groups of different sizes (40, 60, and 80 m in diameter) surrounded by three different intensities of scarification (no treatment, single pass, double pass) in two balsam fir stands on Anticosti Island, Quebec, Canada. Moreover, we used a network of fenced and unfenced regeneration plots to evaluate the impact of white-tailed deer browsing. The results showed that up to 7 years after harvest, seed-tree-group cutting did not improve the establishment of conifer species. Scarification had a negative impact on the abundance of conifer species, whereas white birch ( Betula papyrifera Marshall) density was significantly higher in areas scarified twice than in unscarified areas. Overall, the development of palatable tree species appears unlikely at deer densities >20 individuals/km2.

Long-term decline in white-tailed deer browse supply: can lichens and litterfall act as alternative food sources that preclude density-dependent feedbacks

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (8) ◽  
pp. 1087-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Tremblay ◽  
Isabel Thibault ◽  
Christian Dussault ◽  
Jean Huot ◽  
Steeve D Côté
Keyword(s):  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Alternative Food ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Deer Population ◽  
Recruitment Failure ◽  
Anticosti Island ◽  
Alternative Food Sources ◽  
The Impact

Selective browsing by cervids has persistent impacts on forest ecosystems. On Anticosti Island, Quebec, Canada, introduced white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780)) have caused massive changes to the native boreal forest. Despite the apparent stability of the deer population over recent decades, we suspected that they were not at equilibrium with their browse supply and that further degradation of the habitat had occurred. A comparison of two browse surveys conducted 25 years apart showed a strong decline in browse availability. Although balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) P. Mill.) remained the most available browse species, it declined or disappeared from most stands (n = 13). Preferred deciduous species that were still available 25 years ago have almost disappeared. The continuous decline of the browse supply confirmed our hypothesis. This situation may be exacerbated by a subsidy from the winter litterfall, a significant and stable alternative food source. The abundance of litterfall from mature trees is independent of browsing over a long time period, which introduces a temporal uncoupling between the impact of deer browsing on balsam fir seedlings and the negative feedback from recruitment failure of mature balsam fir on the deer population. This means that the system is susceptible to being forced into an alternative regime.

scholarly journals Anticosti Island: a hot spot for Neospondylis upiformis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in eastern Canada?

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e25553
Author(s):  
Christian Hébert ◽  
Serge Laplante ◽  
Mario Fréchette ◽  
Luc Jobin
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Eastern North America ◽  
Insect Diversity ◽  
Longhorned Beetle ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
South Central ◽  
Anticosti Island

During an inventory of insect diversity on Anticosti Island in 1993, we caught unprecedented numbers of Neospondylisupiformis (Mannerheim), a longhorned beetle rarely observed in eastern North America. All specimens were caught using 12-funnel Lindgren traps baited with 95% ethanol and α-pinene. This longhorned beetle was captured again in 2007 on Anticosti with the same traps. Other than that, seven specimens of N.upiformis were caught elsewhere in Quebec between 1993 and 2015. Only 14 specimens were found in the 45 most important insect collections of the province, the most recent specimen dating back to 1964. At least 90% of the captures came from old-growth balsam fir stands of the south-central part of the island. Seasonal flight activity ranged from early June to late July, but adult captures peaked in early July. Results suggest that Anticosti Island might be a hot spot for N.upiformis in eastern North America, particularly in its south-central part where old-growth balsam fir forests still exist.

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