Regeneration of four boreal bryophytes: colonization of experimental gaps by naturally occurring propagules

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
pp. 1937-1942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine A. Frego
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Growth ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Pleurozium Schreberi ◽  
Gap Dynamics ◽  
Feather Moss ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Gap Characteristics ◽  
Spruce Needles ◽  
Experimental Gaps

The feather moss community in upland black spruce stands is dominated by Pleurozium schreberi, with small pure colonies and mixtures of ubiquitous and apparently persistent minor species. Previous studies indicated that this spatial pattern is not due to microsite conditions. This study tested the hypothesis that the minor species persist by dynamic occupation of small disturbance-type gaps. Colonization of experimental gaps (10 cm diameter, three substrate types) was tracked over 2 years to determine (i) how Pleurozium and the three minor species colonize gaps and (ii) how characteristics of the gaps affect colonization. All species colonized by encroachment of surrounding vegetative shoots. Availability of propagules, i.e., species composition of the surrounding bed, had the greatest impact, but regeneration of two species was affected by substrate: Ptilium growth was reduced on spruce needles, whereas that of Ptilidium was increased. Pleurozium schreberi displayed the most rapid growth in terms of shoot encroachment regardless of gap characteristics. By virtue of its abundant propagules and rapid growth, Pleurozium is most likely to colonize randomly located disturbance-type gaps, hence maintaining its dominance. Differentiation in regeneration characteristics does not account for the persistence of the minor species in the community. Keywords: Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Dicranum polysetum, Ptilidium ciliare, gap dynamics, community structure.

Ecological studies in the boreal spruce–fir forests of the North American taiga. II. Analysis of the bryophyte flora

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 619-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
George H. La Roi ◽  
Muriel H. L. Stringer
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Pleurozium Schreberi ◽  
Hylocomium Splendens ◽  
Important Species ◽  
The North ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Community Types

The bryoflora of 34 white spruce – fir and 26 black spruce stands in the boreal forest subzone consisted of 100 mosses and 33 liverworts. Short turfs, smooth mats, threaded mats, and tall erect turfs were the most species-rich growth-forms; wefts were cover dominants. White spruce – fir stands had more species but lower cover than black spruce. The liverwort:moss species ratio in white spruce – fir increased with precipitation. Based on bryoflora and geography, stands were classified as follows: white spruce – fir, Hylocomium splendens – Pleurozium schreberi order (= three associations of western Ceratodon purpureus – Pylaisiella polyantha alliance and two associations of eastern Rhynchostegium serrulatum – Tetraphis pellucida alliance); black spruce, Pleurozium schreberi – Hylocomium splendens order (= three associations of western Drepanocladus uncinatus – Brachythecium salebrosum alliance and two associations of eastern Sphagnum – Hypnum pallescens alliance). Of the 32 most important species, 16 'preferred' wood, 7 needle litter, 6 mineral soil, and 3 bark. The ground cover hierarchy in white spruce – fir was weft mosses > detritus [Formula: see text] needles > wood > other bryophytes > lichens > bark > soil; in black spruce, wood and other bryophytes were reversed. Higher species richness of white spruce – fir stands was ascribed to higher productivity and greater age, which gives a greater diversity and quantity of woody substrates for microsuccessional species. Shortage of suitable substrate and competition from weft mosses may explain the consistently low abundance of most other bryophytes in the two community types.

Prescribed burning for lowland black spruce regeneration in northern Minnesota

1984 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott E. Aksamit ◽  
Frank D. Irving
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
University Of Minnesota ◽  
Feather Moss ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Labrador Tea ◽  
Tall Shrub ◽  
The University ◽  
Larger Sample

Concern over the variability of black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) regeneration on peatlands in northern Minnesota following prescribed burning led to a cooperative study between the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Twenty-seven black spruce cutovers on State lands that had been prescribed burned and either seeded or left to regenerate naturally were sampled. These were stratified into sphagnum – Labrador-tea – leather-leaf (SPHG) sites (10), feather moss (FM) sites (9), and alder – graminoid – other tall shrub (ALDR) sites (8). Results indicate that fire was not necessary to regenerate SPHG sites. FM sites required fire to modify unfavorable seedbeds and to reduce competition. Best results were obtained by burning when the upper layers of the peat were highly desiccated. ALDR sites occupied a wide range of ecological conditions which led to highly variable regeneration results. A larger sample size and possibly more carefully controlled study conditions are needed to fully understand ALDR site regeneration. Seeding results were uncertain for all sites.

scholarly journals Comparative Height Growth of Eastern Larch and Black Spruce in Northwestern Ontario

1978 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 296-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Mead
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Larix Laricina ◽  
Stem Analysis ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Analysis Methods ◽  
Spruce Stands

Height growth of eastern larch (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) was determined using standard stem analysis methods on trees from two sites in northwestern Ontario. The data were obtained from mixed larch-spruce stands which were relatively undisturbed. The larch exhibited substantially better height growth than the spruce through age 65.

Effects of lichen, Sphagnum spp. and feather moss leachates on jack pine and black spruce seedling growth

2020 ◽  
Vol 452 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 441-455
Author(s):  
M. Pacé ◽  
D. Paré ◽  
N. J. Fenton ◽  
Y. Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Feather Moss

scholarly journals Sample Sizes Required To Estimate Defoliation of Spruce and Balsam Fir Caused by Spruce Budworm Accurately

1998 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. MacLean ◽  
Wayne E. MacKinnon
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
Travel Costs ◽  
Host Trees ◽  
Sampling Protocols ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Number Of Branches

Abstract Data from the assessment of current defoliation levels on 172,000 individual shoots from 6890 midcrown branches sampled from balsam fir and spruce stands were used to define sampling protocols for assessing defoliation caused by spruce budworm. The method was based on sampling one midcrown branch from each of x host trees per stand, and assessing defoliation of y individual shoots per branch. Both the number of shoots per branch and the number of branches required per stand varied with host species (balsam fir, white spruce, or red-black spruce) and with average defoliation level. Sample sizes required to estimate mean defoliation with 90% confidence that the confidence interval is ±10% ranged from 7 to 24 branches per stand and from 17 to 58 shoots per branch, with the largest samples required at moderate (31-70%) defoliation levels. Estimated costs of shoot and branch sampling and processing ranged from $40-110/stand, based on a 90% confidence level salary rate of $12(Can.)/hr, and excluding travel costs. Results can be applied using a preliminary assessment to determine the general defoliation level, which along with species, determines the required sample size. North. J. Appl. For. 15(3):135-140.

scholarly journals Changes in the nutrition and health status of young Norway spruce stands in the Krkonoše Mts. in a 17-year period

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 344-354
Author(s):  
Novotný Radek ◽  
Lomský Bohumír ◽  
Šrámek Vít
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Height Increment ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Future Health ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
N Nutrition ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Spruce Needles

For 17 Norway spruce stands located in the Krkonoše Mts. in the Czech Republic a long-term assessment of defoliation, height increment, foliage concentration of nutrients (N, P, Ca, K, Mg) and stress elements (S, F) was carried out. The results show a decrease of defoliation and a slight increase of height increment, which occur in accordance with the decreasing concentration of sulphur in spruce needles. However, neither sulphur concentration nor height increment trends are significant, suggesting that both the main pollution abatement and the growth resumption took place already in the 1990’s. During the late 1990’s the average spruce defoliation was greater than 35%, while since 2007 it has fluctuated between 18 and 25%, which corresponds with the figures for the forest stands located in the other regions of the Czech Republic. The evaluation of single nutrient concentrations detected occasional deficiencies of P and Mg at individual plots. The good N nutrition (&gt; 15 mg N·g<sup>–1</sup>) in combination with a significantly decreasing trend of P, K and Ca concentrations in Norway spruce needles may potentially constitute a problem in regard to both the future health and the stability of forest stands in the studied region.

Relationships between microsite type and the growth and nutrition of young black spruce on post-disturbed lowland black spruce sites in eastern Canada

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Lavoie ◽  
David Paré ◽  
Yves Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Annual Increment ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Rooting Zone ◽  
Growth Substrates ◽  
Humic Materials ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Decaying Wood

The surface of the soil in recently harvested or burned lowland black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) sites is composed of a fine mosaic of different bryophytes (mostly Sphagnum spp. and feathermosses), disturbed organic material originating mostly from mosses at different stages of decay, and exposed mineral soil. Growth substrates were compared in lowland black spruce stands regenerating after either careful logging or wildfire. The 3-year annual increment for black spruce seedlings was greatest with substrates of feathermosses, mainly Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt., fibric material of P. schreberi origin, and a mixture of fibric P. schreberi and humic materials; it was least with fibric Sphagnum spp., mineral soil, and decaying wood substrates. The most favourable substrates for growth were characterized by better black spruce N and P foliar status. Our results also suggest that categories of growth substrates in the rooting zone reflect nutritional quality better than categories of growth substrates on the soil surface. To maintain or increase black spruce growth following careful logging of sites prone to paludification, we recommend fill-planting of seedlings in substrates originating from P. schreberi; management techniques that favour P. schreberi over Sphagnum mosses should also be developed.

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