Évolution de la structure diamétrale et production ligneuse des pessières noires issues de coupe et de feu

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 526-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Martin Lussier ◽  
Hubert Morin ◽  
Réjean Gagnon

The widespread use of careful logging in the province of Quebec raises many questions about the effects of this practice on the structure and productivity of boreal black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) stands compared with fire-origin stands that are currently being harvested. The objective of this study is to describe and compare the evolution pattern of the diameter structure of stands originating from fire or logging dating back to the first half of the 20th century. The dendrochronological approach allowed the reconstitution of the dynamics of 40- to 96-year-old stands. Second-growth stands differ from fire-origin stands by their highly hierarchized initial structure. After the recruitment period, the degree of hierarchy of the structure of second-growth and fire-origin stands is comparable. After logging, the diameter structure of black spruce stands keeps a higher skewness index than that of stands originating from fire. For both stand types the skewness decreases or remains constant with time, which invalidates the model proposed by Mohler et al. (C.L. Mohler, P.L. Marks, and D.G. Sprugel. 1978. J. Ecol. 66: 599–614). This observation questions the existence of a strong asymmetric competition among trees in black spruce stands. Results indicate that the yield of black spruce stands originating from clearcuts from the early 20th century is higher than or equal to fire-origin stands mainly because (i) basal area was maintained to levels higher than or equal to fire-origin stands and (ii) most advanced growth was taller that 1 m at the time of logging.

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Mailly ◽  
Sylvain Turbis ◽  
David Pothier

A current trend in the development of forest stand models is to use spatially explicit, individual-tree information to simulate forest dynamics with increased accuracy. By adding spatial information, such as tree coordinates, crown shape, and size, it is hypothesized that the computation of the model's driving function is improved over traditional competition indices, especially when simulating multistoried stands. In this paper, we want to test whether computationally demanding competition indices outperform traditional indices in predicting mean basal area increment. The study was undertaken in old, uneven-aged black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) stands in northeastern Quebec, Canada. The predictability of individual tree growth rates was related to crown dimensions and other stand and tree variables measured in the field. Data were collected from 90 trees coming from stands of varying site quality (range 9.6–16.5 m height at 50 years, age taken at 1 m) and age (range 66–257 years). Hegyis's distance-dependent competition index was found to be the most strongly correlated competition measure (r = 0.57) with mean basal area growth of the last 20 years. This value, 12% higher than the value obtained from the best distance-independent competition index (r = 0.45), clearly shows that precision gains can be achieved when estimating basal area increment with spatial indices in black spruce stands. Using indices computed from virtual hemispherical images did not prove superior to simpler distance-dependent indices based on their individual correlations with basal area increment. When included in a basal area increment model for the last 20 years of growth, however, the gains in precision were comparable to Hegyi's competition index. This indicates that indices derived from a hemispherical approach have some value in spatially explicit forest simulations models but that further tests using younger stands are needed to confirm this result in black spruce stands.


1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 621-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannu Hökkä ◽  
Arthur Groot

A basal area growth model was developed to predict the growth of individual trees in second-growth black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) stands on northeastern Ontario peatlands. The data were derived from stem analysis trees collected in 1985 and 1986 from stands harvested 47-68 years earlier. For a period starting from the date of data collection and going back to 10 years from the harvesting, tree basal area growth, diameters, and stand characteristics were retrospectively calculated at 5-year intervals. To estimate previous mortality, self-thinning relationships for black spruce were applied. In the model, 5-year basal area growth of a tree was expressed as a function of tree diameter, stand-level competition, tree-level competition, and peat thickness. There was considerable change in the growth-size relationship over time. A random parameter approach was applied in model construction to account for the spatial and temporal correlations of the observations. The proposed model explicitly incorporates factors normally included in a "random error" term and, therefore, should provide more sensitive tests of the contributions of the various factors to growth prediction. The estimated model showed only slight bias against the modeling data and the predicted stand basal area development was comparable with that given in other studies.


1998 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 428-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Claude Ruel ◽  
François Ouellet ◽  
Roch Plusquellec ◽  
Chhun-Huor Ung

This paper presents results from a 30 year monitoring of 15 clearcut areas. Study areas were located before cutting in stands having an abundant advance regeneration. Four study areas were initially dominated by black spruce, four by balsam fir, three by jack pine and the last four comprised a mix of species. Stand inventories and regeneration surveys were conducted before harvesting. Harvesting was done in regular logging operations, without any special care to protect the advance growth. Regeneration surveys were taken again after harvesting, 5 years, 10 years, 20 years and 30 years after harvesting. Black spruce stands regenerated to black spruce dominated stands. Balsam fir, which was sometimes abundant in the advance regeneration, did not invade the stands and the abundance of hardwoods was temporary. In some cases a reduction in yield is to be expected. In balsam fir stands, harwoods were more aggressive. A reduction in softwood yield is predicted for three of the four cutovers. The presence of a tall regeneration seems to lead to higher yields in black spruce and balsam fir stands. The evolution of jack pine and mixed stands is quite variable. In some jack pine stands, hardwoods will constitute a significant component of the new stand. In some mixed stands, softwoods are not very abundant whereas in others they form an important part of the stand at 30 years. This study has shown an urgent need for a better understanding of stand dynamics in young stands. Such an understanding is necessary for an adequate forecast of the yield of second growth stands.


1991 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 712-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chhun-Huor Ung ◽  
Denis Ouellet

Within the framework of large-scale forest management, the application of Eichhorn's law, which employs dominant height or mean height exclusively to predict tree volumes per hectare, is certainly rapid, but high accuracy is not guaranteed. Substantial error occurred when this method was used in a study of boreal black spruce stands (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.). Use of both basal area per hectare and dominant height, however, permitted estimation of total volume per hectare and volume to 9 cm top with only 11 and 12% error, respectively. The form factors for total volume and volume to 9 cm top showed great stability. For this reason, use of the simple conventional formula (V = G.H.F.) to estimate standing volumes is justified. Key words: Stand volume table, Eichhorn's law, stand form factor


1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 613-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raynald Paquin ◽  
René Doucet

Height-growth patterns of black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) in the boreal forest were studied in layer-origin stands released by clear-cutting in the first half of this century. Most stems responded to release brought about by clear-cutting of the main stand. Initially, small stems responded more rapidly and more strongly, but their height-growth rate culminated between 20 and 30 years following release, the same period when height-growth rate culminated for the taller, older stems. After the culmination period, growth rates were independent of height at the time of release. Consequently, the taller stems at time of release were able to maintain their dominant position. Height growth over the recent years indicates that this position could be maintained in the years to come, and even indefinitely. It seems that second-growth black spruce stands behave like even-aged stands despite their uneven-aged structure. Consequently, years since release and stem height are more accurate measures of stem effective age than total age. Moreover, the taller stems in the understory, which are usually considerably older, should be considered to be as valuable as smaller regeneration when a stand is cut.


1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Groot ◽  
Brian J. Horton

Age and size structures were determined in 40 stands of black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) growing on peatlands and transitional peatlands in northeastern Ontario, Canada. Natural and second-growth stands representing several site types were examined. The age structure of natural black spruce stands varied from even aged in young stands (<160 years) to uneven aged in older stands. Uneven-aged black spruce stands on nutrient-poor peats appear to be self perpetuating in the absence of intense disturbance. Natural stands on more fertile peats or on transitional peatlands are less likely to escape disturbance and more likely to undergo succession to other species. Second-growth stands, which originated after forest harvesting 50–70 years ago, were uneven-aged, although a high frequency of stems commonly occurred in the age-class associated with the time of harvesting. The age and size structures of second-growth stands currently differ from that of natural stands, but will likely become similar to natural stands over time.


1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 1720-1731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter F. Newton

Size hierarchy development is a commonly observed structural feature within naturally regenerating forest tree populations. The objective of this study was to describe initial size hierarchy development within second-growth black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) stands. Three dense black spruce stands that developed naturally following conventional cut and skid harvesting, conducted in 1970, were selected for analysis within insular Newfoundland. Employing historical stand reconstruction techniques within 13 temporary sample plots of variable size, temporal and spatial establishment patterns, structural development patterns, and competitive relationships were described. Size inequality peaked during the period in which 87.5% of the population became established (degree of inequality within the height and volume frequency distributions as measured by the Gini coefficient). Subsequently, size inequality and asymmetry decreased (degree of asymmetry within the volume frequency distribution as measured by the skewness coefficient and Shapiro–Wilk's W statistic). The rate of decline in size inequality and asymmetry was inversely proportional to stand density. Temporal declines in individual-tree vigour across size classes were approximately proportional (vigour as measured by relative volume production rate). These patterns suggested competition was symmetric (individuals share the finite environmental resources equally or in direct proportion to their relative sizes). However, variation in individual-tree vigour, possibly due to temporal and spatial establishment pattern heterogeneity, negated the conclusive acceptance of the resource depletion hypothesis. Based on these observations, a size hierarchy developmental pattern is proposed for second-growth black spruce stands.


2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J Perry ◽  
Jean Bousquet

cDNA-based sequence-tagged-site (STS) markers were used to examine the genetic composition of three mature, layer-origin populations of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP), which were the result of logging operations in the first half of the 20th century, and compare them with four mature, seedling-origin populations that regenerated naturally following fire. The amount of STS-marker variation revealed in these populations was very similar to that previously observed in a rangewide panel of black spruce trees. There was little differentiation among populations, and no significant differences in heterozygosities, numbers of alleles, or fixation indices were evident between layer-origin and fire-origin stands. Likewise, when mating-system parameters were estimated in one population of each of these two types, no significant differences were found; outcrossing was essentially complete with no evidence of mating among relatives. The estimated correlation of paternity within progeny arrays was about 17 and 13% in the fire-origin and layer-origin stands, respectively, but again the observed difference was not statistically significant. At least at the current scale of sampling, silvicultural practices that result in stand replacement by layer-origin advance regeneration appear not to have had negative impact upon the genetic diversity or level of inbreeding in second-growth black spruce stands.


1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 1917-1929 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.F. Newton ◽  
P.A. Jolliffe

Three density-stressed black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) populations that naturally regenerated following harvesting in 1970 were selected for study within central insular Newfoundland. Employing historical tree and stand reconstruction techniques, bark, stem, branch, foliage, and total mass distributions were estimated by age-class. Regression analysis was used to assess the effect of density stress on distributional indices, and stepwise multivariate analysis of variance was used to investigate dry matter partitioning patterns. Bark and foliar mass proportions increased with increasing density stress, whereas stem and branch mass proportions declined. Among components, decreased stem proportions best expressed the effects of increasing density stress on dry matter partitioning. Asymmetry within the mass frequency distributions for bark, branch, and foliar components shifted from negative skewness at low relative densities to positive values at high relative densities. Inequality (mass concentration) within the stem mass frequency distributions remained constant, whereas inequality within the bark mass frequency distribution declined in direct proportion to increasing density stress. Inequality within both the branch and foliar mass distributions had curvilinear relationships with increasing density stress: inequality increased from low to intermediate levels of density stress, but declined thereafter. Specific leaf areas did not differ among trees of varying size, suggesting that competition for light may not have been of consequence within the sampled stands. The results are consistent with a resource depletion competitive process, implying that competition within the dense second-growth black spruce stands may have been principally for belowground resources.


2009 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 609-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas E.B. Reid ◽  
Steven Young ◽  
Queju Tong ◽  
S Y Zhang ◽  
Dave M Morris

Three black spruce plantations in northwestern Ontario, with varied stand densities and site indices were studied to determine lumber properties and yield. Based on visual grading rules, each stand produced at least 87% No. 2 and Better grade lumber. Wane and skip were the 2 most prominent defects causing lumber downgrades. The compliance of visually graded No. 2 and Better lumber with bending modulus of elasticity (MOE) design values for visual grades varied among stands, as did the proportion that qualified as machine stress-rated (MSR) lumber. MOE and Modulus of Rupture (MOR) differed among stands, consistent with differences in MSR yield. The stand with the highest density and the lowest site index produced the highest yield of MSR grade lumber, but not the highest compliance with bending MOE design values. Regardless of the grading scenario, the most productive stand with the largest average tree size produced the highest value per hectare ($28K per ha) under an MSR grading scenario. These results suggest that MSR grading can improve revenues, and that it will be needed to maintain market confidence in the quality of lumber from second-growth black spruce stands. Key words: lumber quality, Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP, market value, density regulation, stand-level effects, intensive silviculture


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