Sphagnum establishment and expansion in black spruce (Picea mariana) boreal forests

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole J. Fenton ◽  
Catherine Béland ◽  
Sylvie De Blois ◽  
Yves Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Partial Correlation ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Control Factor ◽  
Canopy Openness

Boreal forest bryophyte communities are made up of distinct colonies of feathermosses that cover the forest floor. In some black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) boreal forests, Sphagnum spp. establish colonies on the forest floor 30–40 years after the feathermosses, and ultimately expand to dominate the community. The mechanisms that permit the Sphagnum spp. to establish and expand are unknown. The objectives of this study were to examine the establishment and expansion substrates of Sphagnum spp., and the conditions correlated with colony expansion. Forty colonies, in six stands, of Sphagnum capillifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw. were dissected to determine their substrates, and the environmental conditions in which all colonies present were growing were measured. Coarse woody debris was the dominant establishment and early expansion substrate for Sphagnum capillifolium colonies. With age as the control factor, large colonies showed a significant partial correlation with canopy openness, and there were fewer individuals per cm3 in large colonies than there were in small colonies. These results suggest that Sphagnum establishment in these communities is dependent on the presence of coarse woody debris, and expansion is linked to the stand break-up, which would allow an increase in light intensity, and rainfall to reach the colony. Consequently the community change represented by Sphagnum establishment and expansion is initially governed by a stochastic process and ultimately by habitat availability and species competition.

Short-term effect of thinning on carbon storage in soil, forest floor and coarse woody debris ofQuercusspp. stand in Hoengseong, Gangwon-do, Korea

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 168-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
A-Ram Yang ◽  
Nam Jin Noh ◽  
Sue Kyoung Lee ◽  
Tae Kyung Yoon ◽  
Choonsig Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Storage ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Term Effect ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Effect

Forest floor mass and nutrients in two chronosequences of plantations: Jack pine vs. black spruce

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmut Krause
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Pine Plantations ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Natural Forests

The purpose of this study was to determine whether change of forest cover had an effect on the development of the organic surface horizons, particularly on those variables that influence nutrient cycling and forest productivity. Jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) plantations were selected from among the youngest to oldest (2–16 yr) within a 100 km2 area in southeastern New Brunswick. Natural forests were also included as benchmark sites. The forest floor and tree foliage was sampled and trees measured on 0.05-ha plots. The forest floor samples were used to determine organic mass, nutrient contents and pH. In pine plantations, organic matter accumulated rapidly during the period of exponential tree growth, but leveled off at about 45 Mg ha–1. This was within the range of benchmark sites with mixed conifer-hardwood cover. In spruce plantations, the forest floor mass ranged upward to 77 Mg ha–1. Development was strongly influenced by the nature of the previous forest. Spruce forest floors were on average more acid and had lower nutrient concentrations, particularly N and Ca. The observed differences suggest that nutrients are recycled more rapidly in the pine plantations, partly explaining the superior growth of the latter. Key words: Forest floor, Kalmia angustifolia L., Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P., Pinus banksiana Lamb., nutrient cycling, plantation forest

Disturbance history affects dead wood abundance in Newfoundland boreal forests

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 3194-3208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin T Moroni
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Diameter Distribution ◽  
Natural Disturbances ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Almost All

Dead wood (dead standing tree (snag), woody debris (WD), buried wood, and stump) abundance was estimated in Newfoundland balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) forests regrown following natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Although harvesting left few snags standing, natural disturbances generated many snags. Most were still standing 2 years after natural disturbance, but almost all had fallen after 33–34 years. Snag abundance then increased in stands aged 86–109 years. Natural disturbances generated little WD 0–2 years following disturbance. Harvesting, however, immediately generated large amounts of WD. Thirty-two to forty-one years following disturbance, most harvesting slash had decomposed, but naturally disturbed sites had large amounts of WD from collapsed snags. Harvested sites contained less WD 32–72 years following disturbance than naturally disturbed sites. Amounts of WD in black spruce regrown following harvesting and fire converged 63–72 years following disturbance, despite significant initial differences in WD quantities, diameter distribution, and decay classes. Abundance of WD increased from sites regrown 32–72 years following disturbance to older sites. Precommercial thinning had a minor impact on dead wood stocks. Stumps contained minor biomass. Buried wood and WD biomass were equivalent at some sites.

Distribution and abundance of coarse woody debris in a managed forest landscape of the central Appalachians

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1317-1329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian C. McCarthy ◽  
Ronald R. Bailey
Keyword(s):  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Moderate Amount ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Central Appalachians ◽  
Management Regime ◽  
Commercial Thinning

Coarse woody debris (CWD) is integral to the functioning and productivity of forested ecosystems. Standing snags and large logs on the forest floor affect soil processes, soil fertility, hydrology, and wildlife microhabitat. Few data are available pertaining to the distribution and abundance of CWD in the managed hardwood forests of the central Appalachians. We surveyed 11 stands, at various stages of development (succession) after clear-cutting (<2, 15–25, 65–90, >100 years old), to evaluate the density, volume, and biomass of trees, snags, and logs under the local forest management regime. As expected, density, volume, and biomass of CWD (stems ≥2.5 cm diameter) were greatest in young stands (<2 years old) immediately following clear-cutting; the vast majority of CWD existed as relatively labile, small-diameter, low decay state logging slash. Young stands retained a few large logs in advanced decay states but observations suggest that these elements were often disturbed (i.e., crushed) by logging equipment during the harvest process. Crushed logs do not function ecologically in the same capacity as large intact logs. A marked decline in CWD was observed in young pole stands (15–25 years old) as slash decomposed. These stands were characterized by a high density of young hardwood stump sprouts in the overstory while maintaining a moderate amount of CWD in middle size and decay states on the forest floor. More mature hardwood stands (65–90 years old) generally exhibited a decrease in live-stem density and an increase in basal area, accompanied by a slight increase in CWD. Commercial thinning presumably limits the contribution of large CWD to the forest floor. This was most clearly evident in the oldest stands (>100 years old) where large CWD was not widely observed. A striking feature across all stands was the near absence of logs in large size classes (>65 cm diameter) and a paucity of logs in mid to late decay stages. We discuss our data in the context of hardwood forest structure and management in the central Appalachians.

Suillus tomentosus tuberculate ectomycorrhizal abundance and distribution in Pinus contorta woody debris

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 460-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie R Paul ◽  
Bill K Chapman ◽  
Christopher P Chanway
Keyword(s):  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Nitrogen Economy ◽  
Basaltic Soils ◽  
Abundance And Distribution

Tuberculate ectomycorrhizae (TEM) have been observed in decaying coarse woody debris (CWD) and may play a role in the nitrogen economy of forests. This study evaluates the occurrence of Suillus tomentosus (Kauff.) Singer, Snell and Dick TEM within CWD in Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm. stands and relates their occurrence to CWD and soil characteristics as well as stand age. TEM were more abundant in the basal end of CWD incorporated in the forest floor than in the middle and top portions. Tubercle abundance was positively correlated with moisture and texture of CWD, degree of incorporation of CWD into the forest floor, and the amount of roots within CWD. There were significantly more TEM in CWD in young stands than in old stands and on sites with granitic soils than on sites with basaltic soils. Highly degraded CWD that is well incorporated in the forest floor appears to be an important microhabitat for the formation and occurrence of TEM.

Coarse woody debris and forest floor respiration in an old-growth coniferous forest on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1811-1817 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Marra ◽  
Robert L. Edmonds
Keyword(s):  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Respiration Rates ◽  
Decay Class ◽  
Class 1

Carbon dioxide evolution rates for downed logs (coarse woody debris) and the forest floor were measured in a temperate, old-growth rain forest in Olympic National Park, Washington, using the soda lime trap method. Measurements were taken every 4 weeks from October 22, 1991, to November 19, 1992. Respiration rates for Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), logs were determined for decay classes 1–2, 3, and 5 in two diameter classes. Overall, western hemlock logs respired at a rate 35% higher (4.37 g CO2•m−2•day−1) than Douglas-fir logs (3.23 g CO2•m−2•day−1). Respiration rates for decay class 1–2 logs of both species were similar to decay class 5 logs (4.46 and 4.07 g CO2•m−2•day−1, respectively), but decay class 3 logs respired at a lower rate (3.23 g CO2•m−2•day−1). Seasonal patterns of respiration rates occurred, particularly for decay class 1 and 2 western hemlock logs where monthly averages ranged from a low of 2.67 g CO2•m−2•day−1 in February 1992 to a high of 8.30 g CO2•m−2•day−1 in September 1992. Rates for decay class 1–2 western hemlock logs were greater than those from the forest floor, which ranged from 3.42 to 7.13 g CO2•m−2•day−1. Respiration rates were depressed in late July and August compared with fall and spring owing to the summer drought characteristic of the Pacific Northwest. Large-diameter western hemlock logs in decay class 1–2 had higher respiration rates than small-diameter logs, whereas large-diameter decay class 3 western hemlock logs had lower respiration rates than small-diameter logs.

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