Structure, composition, and diversity of old-growth black spruce boreal forest of the Clay Belt region in Quebec and Ontario

2003 ◽  
Vol 11 (S1) ◽  
pp. S79-S98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Harper ◽  
Catherine Boudreault ◽  
Louis DeGrandpré ◽  
Pierre Drapeau ◽  
Sylvie Gauthier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Structural Development ◽  
Spruce Forest ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests

Old-growth black spruce (Picea mariana) boreal forest in the Clay Belt region of Ontario and Quebec is an open forest with a low canopy, quite different from what many consider to be "old growth". Here, we provide an overview of the characteristics of old-growth black spruce forest for three different site types on organic, clay, and coarse deposits. Our objectives were (1) to identify the extent of older forests; (2) to describe the structure, composition, and diversity in different age classes; and (3) to identify key processes in old-growth black spruce forest. We sampled canopy composition, deadwood abundance, understorey composition, and nonvascular plant species in 91 forest stands along a chronosequence that extended from 20 to more than 250 years after fire. We used a peak in tree basal area, which occurred at 100 years on clay and coarse sites and at 200 years on organic sites, as a process-based means of defining the start of old-growth forest. Old-growth forests are extensive in the Clay Belt, covering 30–50% of the forested landscape. Black spruce was dominant on all organic sites, and in all older stands. Although there were fewer understorey species and none exclusive to old-growth, these forests were structurally diverse and had greater abundance of Sphagnum, epiphytic lichens, and ericaceous species. Paludification, a process characteristic of old-growth forest stands on clay deposits in this region, causes decreases in tree and deadwood abundance. Old-growth black spruce forests, therefore, lack the large trees and snags that are characteristic of other old-growth forests. Small-scale disturbances such as spruce budworm and windthrow are common, creating numerous gaps. Landscape and stand level management strategies could minimize structural changes caused by harvesting, but unmanaged forest in all stages of development must be preserved in order to conserve all the attributes of old-growth black spruce forest. Key words: boreal forest, old growth, paludification, Picea mariana, structural development, succession.

scholarly journals Bryophyte Conservation in Managed Boreal Landscapes: Fourteen-Year Impacts of Partial Cuts on Epixylic Bryophytes

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Opoku-Nyame ◽  
Alain Leduc ◽  
Nicole J. Fenton
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Over Time

Clear cut harvest simplifies and eliminates old growth forest structure, negatively impacting biodiversity. Partial cut harvest has been hypothesized (1) to have less impact on biodiversity than clear cut harvest, and (2) to encourage old growth forest structures. Long-term studies are required to test this hypothesis as most studies are conducted soon after harvest. Using epixylic bryophytes as indicators, this study addresses this knowledge gap. Fourteen years after harvest, we examined changes in epixylic bryophyte community composition richness and traits, and their microhabitats (coarse woody debris characteristics and microclimate) along an unharvested, partial cuts and clear cuts harvest treatment in 30 permanent plots established in the boreal black spruce (Picea mariana) forests of northwestern Quebec, Canada. Our results were compared to those of an initial post-harvest study (year 5) and to a chronosequence of old growth forests to examine species changes over time and the similarity of bryophyte communities in partial cut and old growth forests. Coarse woody debris (CWD) volume by decay class varied among harvest treatments with partial cuts and clear cuts recording lower volumes of early decay CWD. The epixylic community was richer in partial cuts than in mature unharvested forests and clear cuts. In addition, species richness and overall abundance doubled in partial and clear cuts between years 5 and 14. Species composition also differed among treatments between years 5 and 14. Furthermore, conditions in partial cut stands supported small, drought sensitive, and old growth confined species that are threatened by conditions in clear cut stands. Lastly, over time, species composition in partial cuts became more similar to old growth forests. Partial cuts reduced harvest impacts by continuing to provide favorable microhabitat conditions that support epixylic bryophytes. Also, partial cut harvest has the potential to encourage old growth species assemblages, which has been a major concern for biodiversity conservation in managed forest landscapes. Our findings support the promotion of partial cut harvest as an effective strategy to achieve species and habitat conservation goals.

scholarly journals Driving factors of conifer regeneration dynamics in eastern Canadian boreal old-growth forests

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxence Martin ◽  
Miguel Montoro Girona ◽  
Hubert Morin
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Tree Regeneration ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Diameter Distribution ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Regeneration Dynamics ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests

AbstractOld-growth forests play a major role in conserving biodiversity, protecting water resources, sequestrating carbon, and these forests are indispensable resources for indigenous societies. To preserve the ecosystem services provided by these boreal ecosystems, it becomes necessary to develop novel silvicultural practices capable of emulating the natural dynamics and structural attributes of old-growth forests. The success of these forest management strategies depends on developing an accurate understanding of natural regeneration dynamics. Our goal was therefore to identify the main patterns and the drivers involved in the regeneration dynamics of old-growth forests, placing our focus on boreal stands dominated by black spruce (Picea mariana (L.) Mill.) and balsam fir (Balsam fir (L.) Mill.) in eastern Canada. We sampled 71 stands in a 2200 km2 study area located within Quebec’s boreal region. For each stand, we noted tree regeneration (seedlings and saplings), structural attributes (diameter distribution, deadwood volume, etc.), and abiotic (topography and soil) factors. We observed that secondary disturbance regimes and topographic constraints were the main drivers of balsam fir and black spruce regeneration. Furthermore, the regeneration dynamics of black spruce appeared more complex than those of balsam fir. We observed distinct phases of seedling production first developing within the understory, then seedling growth when gaps opened in the canopy, followed by progressive canopy closure. Seedling density, rather than the sapling density, had a major role in explaining the ability of black spruce to fill the canopy following a secondary disturbance. The density of balsam fir seedlings and saplings was also linked to the abundance of balsam fir trees at the stand level. This research helps explain the complexity of old-growth forest dynamics where many ecological factors interact at multiple temporal and spatial scales. This study also improves our understanding of ecological processes within native old-growth forests and identifies the key factors to consider when ensuring the sustainable management of old-growth boreal stands.

Développement d’un outil de classification de la structure des peuplements et comparaison de deux territoires de la pessière à mousses du Québec

2003 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 318-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Boucher ◽  
L De Grandpré ◽  
S Gauthier
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Spruce Forest ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Statistical Tool ◽  
Forest Region ◽  
Spruce Stands

Forest stand structure is an important element for biodiversity and, from a sustainable forest management perspective, uneven-sized stands should be managed in order to maintain the structural diversity over the landscape. The first objective of this study is to develop a statistical tool to characterize stand structure that can be used in forest management planning. The second objective is to classify the stand structure of two regions to illustrate a possible use for the tool. The statistical tool for characterizing stand structure has been developed from forest inventory data gathered by the ministère des Ressources naturelles du Québec, using discriminant analysis. The analysis makes it possible to classify the stands into three types of structure, even-sized, uneven-sized and inverse J-shaped, with an error rate estimated at only 7%. Proportions of different structure types in Quebec’s eastern black spruce forest region have been compared with those found in the western black spruce forest region. Nearly 90% of the western black spruce forest region is composed of pure black spruce stands, contrary to the eastern black spruce region, where there are more pure fir and mixed spruce-fir stands. Most of the western black spruce forest stands are even-sized (62%), while almost 70% of the eastern black spruce forest stands are uneven-sized or inverse J-shaped. Pure black spruce stands are more even-sized than pure fir stands, but regional differences are also found within pure black spruce stands. Our results show that it is possible to develop a robust tool that makes it possible to classify thousands of stands rapidly. Such tools are required if we want to consider stand structure for appropriate management prescriptions in the boreal forest. Key words: Even- and uneven-sized structure, fire regime, Picea mariana, Abies balsamea, boreal forest, structural diversity

Temporal changes in stem decay and dead and sound wood volumes in the northeastern Canadian boreal forest

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 234-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Barrette ◽  
David Pothier ◽  
Charles Ward
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Wood Volume ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Positive Balance ◽  
Canadian Boreal Forest

Yield tables used for stand-level predictions of standing volume typically do not account for the presence of dead trees and stem decay. Yet, recently dead trees, referred to as dead and sound wood (DSW), could be considered as a valuable supplemental wood source. Conversely, stem decay can cause important losses during product recovery. Accordingly, the general objective of this study was to characterize the patterns of change of stem decay and of DSW as functions of time since the last fire (TSF). The amount of stem decay and of DSW per tree species were measured in two chronosequences of 30 stands each, covering more than 1000 years in the northeastern Canadian boreal forest. Stand-level decay volume increased during the first 150 years following fire and then stabilized. This volume was mainly composed of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) when TSF <200 years and of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) when TSF >200 years. Conversely, the volume of DSW declined rapidly after fire and increased gradually from about 200 years TSF. Hence, the loss of wood volume attributable to stem decay in old-growth stands was cancelled out by the increased availability of DSW, with a slightly positive balance of 3.5 m3/ha. This could be significant considering the large amount of old-growth stands in this part of the boreal forest.

The relationship of buried, germinating seeds to vegetation in an old-growth Colorado subalpine forest

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (13) ◽  
pp. 1505-1509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Whipple
Keyword(s):  
Subalpine Forest ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Rapid Loss ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Viable Seeds ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Germinating Seeds ◽  
The Relationship

Species of buried, germinating seeds and species occurring in the vegetation are compared for two Colorado subalpine forest stands, one dry and one mesic, both over 325 years old. The total numbers of seeds found were small and the correspondence with species in the vegetation was poor. This is consistent with reports from other old-growth forests and may be accounted for by a combination of low seed input and rapid loss of viable seeds from the soil reservoir for old-growth forest species.

scholarly journals Compared to Wildfire, Management Practices Reduced Old-Growth Forest Diversity and Functionality in Primary Boreal Landscapes of Eastern Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxence Martin ◽  
Pierre Grondin ◽  
Marie-Claude Lambert ◽  
Yves Bergeron ◽  
Hubert Morin
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Industrial Scale ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Ecosystem Based Management ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Boreal Landscapes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Primary Forests

Large primary forest residuals can still be found in boreal landscapes. Their areas are however shrinking rapidly due to anthropogenic activities, in particular industrial-scale forestry. The impacts of logging activities on primary boreal forests may also strongly differ from those of wildfires, the dominant stand-replacing natural disturbance in these forests. Since industrial-scale forestry is driven by economic motives, there is a risk that stands of higher economic value will be primarily harvested, thus threatening habitats, and functions related to these forests. Hence, the objective of this study was to identify the main attributes differentiating burned and logged stands prior to disturbance in boreal forests. The study territory lies in the coniferous and closed-canopy boreal forest in Québec, Canada, where industrial-scale logging and wildfire are the two main stand-replacing disturbances. Based on Québec government inventories of primary forests, we identified 427 transects containing about 5.5 circular field plots/transect that were burned or logged shortly after being surveyed, between 1985 and 2016. Comparative analysis of the main structural and environmental attributes of these transects highlighted the strong divergence in the impact of fire and harvesting on primary boreal forests. Overall, logging activities mainly harvested forests with the highest economic value, while most burned stands were low to moderately productive or recently disturbed. These results raise concerns about the resistance and resilience of remnant primary forests within managed areas, particularly in a context of disturbance amplification due to climate change. Moreover, the majority of the stands studied were old-growth forests, characterized by a high ecological value but also highly threatened by anthropogenic disturbances. A loss in the diversity and functionality of primary forests, and particularly the old-growth forests, therefore adds to the current issues related to these ecosystems. Since 2013, the study area is under ecosystem-based management, which implies that there have been marked changes in forestry practices. Complementary research will be necessary to assess the capacity of ecosystem-based management to address the challenges identified in our study.

scholarly journals Boreal old-growth forest structural diversity challenges aerial photographic survey accuracy

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxence Martin ◽  
Nicole J. Fenton ◽  
Hubert Morin
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Forest Succession ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Forest Inventories ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Aerial Surveys ◽  
Old Growth Forests

The erosion of old-growth forests in boreal managed landscapes is a major issue currently faced by forest managers; however, resolving this problem requires accurate surveys. The intention of our study was to determine if historic operational aerial forest surveys accurately identified boreal old-growth forests in Quebec, Canada. We first compared stand successional stages (even-aged vs. old-growth) in two aerial surveys performed in 1968 (preindustrial aerial survey) and 2007 (modern aerial survey) on the same 2200 km2 territory. Second, we evaluated the accuracy of the modern aerial survey by comparing its results with those of 74 field plots sampled in the study territory between 2014 and 2016. The two aerial surveys differed significantly; 80.8% of the undisturbed stands that were identified as “old-growth” in the preindustrial survey were classified as “even-aged” in the modern survey, and 60% of the stands identified as “old-growth” by field sampling were also erroneously identified as “even-aged” by the modern aerial survey. The scarcity of obvious old-growth attributes in boreal old-growth forests, as well as poorly adapted modern aerial survey criteria (i.e., criteria requiring high vertical stratification and significant changes in tree species composition along forest succession), were the main factors explaining these errors. It is therefore likely that most of Quebec’s boreal old-growth forests are currently not recognized as such in forest inventories, challenging the efficacy of sustainable forest management policies.

Remote sensing of biophysical variables in boreal forest stands of Picea mariana

1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (15) ◽  
pp. 3077-3081 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. G. HALL ◽  
D. R. PEDDLE ◽  
E. F. LEDREW
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Forest Stands
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