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.

Effects of fenitrothion on the arthropod food of tree-foraging forest songbirds

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 2235-2242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhonda L. Millikin
Keyword(s):  
Active Ingredient ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Betula Papyrifera ◽  
White Birch ◽  
Forest Songbirds ◽  
The Impact

The impact of fenitrothion on the arthropod food of songbirds was measured using white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) branch sample and drop trays. Following ground application of fenitrothion at 293 g active ingredient/ha, there was a significant decrease in the biomass of arthropods as determined using branch samples from both tree species, but not until 5 days after the application (29% reduction for balsam fir, 35% for white birch). Samples from drop trays indicated an immediate kill of arthropods not associated with the tree. Most remaining arthropods on treated balsam fir trees were dead. These dead arthropods would not be suitable food for birds that require movement to detect their prey. There was no significant relationship between amount of deposit (treated trees only) and the reduction of arthropods for either tree species.

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.

Short-term effects of cut-to-length versus full-tree harvesting on conifer regeneration in jack pine, mixedwood, and black spruce forests in Manitoba

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1938-1945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isobel Waters ◽  
Steven W Kembel ◽  
Jean-François Gingras ◽  
Jennifer M Shay
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Tree Regeneration ◽  
Understorey Vegetation ◽  
Advance Regeneration ◽  
The Impact

This study compares the effects of full-tree versus cut-to-length forest harvesting methods on tree regeneration in jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), mixedwood (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss – Populus tremuloides Michx. – Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.), and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) sites in southeastern Manitoba, Canada. We surveyed tree regeneration densities, disturbance characteristics, and understorey vegetation in replicated control and harvested plots in each site type preharvest (1993) and 1 and 3 years postharvest (1994, 1996). In jack pine sites, the full-tree harvest method promoted regeneration of Pinus banksiana through increased disturbance of soil and the moss layer, and decreased slash deposition relative to the cut-to-length method. Conversely, in mixedwood sites the cut-to-length method resulted in less damage to advance regeneration and proved better at promoting postharvest regeneration of Abies balsamea and Picea glauca relative to the full-tree method. In black spruce sites, there were few differences in the impact of the two harvesting methods on regeneration of Picea mariana, which increased in frequency and density after both types of harvesting.

scholarly journals Dynamique d'établissement d'un peuplement bi-étagé de bouleau blanc et de sapin baumier en zone boréale

1993 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Bélanger ◽  
Daniel Allard ◽  
Philippe Meek
Keyword(s):  
Age Structure ◽  
Initial Period ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
White Birch ◽  
Vegetation Dynamic ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Regeneration Pattern ◽  
Seed Sources

The age structure of a boreal two-storied stand formed by an upperstory of white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) with an understory of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) was analysed. The establishment of this 50-year stand followed a burn that ran through a cut-over area. The objective was to verify if the establishment of the fir understory followed the traditional succession model or the initial floristic composition model. The age structure analysis indicated an immediate and rapid establishment of white birch during a period of 6 years after the fire. Establishment of fir, however, was initiated only 16 years after the fire. Peak establishment was 33 years after the fire. Fir regeneration followed a cycle. The regeneration pattern was characterized by the absence of fir establishment the first 16 years after the fire, followed by sporadic fir regeneration the next 12 years, then by a 13-year period of abundant regeneration after which there was a complete halt to fir regeneration. So, in this case, the successional model was more fit to describe the dynamics of balsam fir. The absence of fir regeneration during the initial period after the fire could be explained by the absence of the nearby fir seed sources due to harvesting. However, the total absence of fir establishment during the last period is more difficult to explain. Seedbed evolution since the fire could possibly be in cause. This and other studies indicate that in the boreal balsam fir-white birch ecoclimatic domain vegetation dynamic after fire does not limit itself to one pathway. Stand regeneration after fire is significantly affected by local conditions.

Stochastic simulation of growth loss in thinned balsam fir stands defoliated by the spruce budworm in Newfoundland

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 703-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erhard John Dobesberger
Keyword(s):  
Stochastic Simulation ◽  
Larval Density ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Damage Function ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Negative Exponential Function ◽  
Attack Pattern ◽  
Growth Loss ◽  
The Impact

A stochastic simulation model was developed to derive a damage function for the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana Clem. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., herbivore interaction at the stand level for open-grown trees. Both aggregated and uniform models of attack pattern by late-instar larvae based on k of the negative binomial were evaluated to determine the impact of larval density and attack pattern on the loss in stemwood volume increment of young, thinned balsam fir stands in Newfoundland. Percentage loss in stemwood increment was a nonlinear, negative exponential function of initial larval density. Implementation of control measures to prevent 50% defoliation that is caused by about 14 larvae/branch tip would result in saving 24% of the annual stemwood increment after 1 year of defoliation and about 32% after 2 years of cumulative defoliation. Aggregation of spruce budworm larvae among trees within a forest stand results in less growth loss compared with a uniform pattern of attack. The nonlinear damage function may suggest tolerance and possibly compensatory growth after herbivory by low population levels of the spruce budworm.

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.

Demography and spatial dynamics in balsam fir stands after a spruce budworm outbreak

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 1112-1120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Rossi ◽  
Hubert Morin
Keyword(s):  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Spatial Dynamics ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Random Pattern ◽  
Advance Regeneration ◽  
Competition For Resources

The renewal of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) P. Mill.) stands is related to the recurrent spruce budworm (Archips fumiferana Clemens [syn.: Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens)]) outbreaks that favour the growth of the regeneration following death of the dominant trees. The aim of this study was to investigate the population demography and the spatial relationships among individuals in four permanent plots of the boreal forest of Quebec, Canada, after a spruce budworm outbreak. This was realized by collecting data on trees and saplings every five years from 1994 to 2004 and by using Ripley’s K statistics. The younger plots showed recruitment of up to 90 new trees·ha–1·year–1, and mortality following competition among individuals affected up to 27% and 50% of the trees and saplings, respectively. In the plot with the lowest tree density, sapling recruitment was estimated as 378 new individuals·ha–1·year–1. Saplings were aggregated at all spatial scales, whereas trees showed a random pattern of stem distribution. A significant tendency to separation between saplings and trees was observed. The specific stand dynamics observed in balsam fir are connected to an abundant advance regeneration and an age-dependent competition for resources in a heterogeneous environment with different levels of resource availability.

Comparative responses of small mammals, vegetation, and food sources to natural regeneration and conifer release treatments in boreal balsam fir stands of Quebec

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1128-1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Gagné ◽  
Louis Bélanger ◽  
Jean Huot
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Rubus Idaeus ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Advance Regeneration

Abundance and species diversity of small mammals were compared among three regeneration methods used in boreal balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) forests. Those methods were natural regeneration after "careful logging" to retain advance regeneration and planting (black spruce, Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) followed by herbicide (Vision®) release or brushsaw cutting release. Deciduous vegetation was reduced for two growing seasons in both plantation types after treatment, and foliar arthropods decreased for one growing season. In herbicide-treated plantations, red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) shrub cover, near-ground vegetation, and production of berries were reduced for two growing seasons. After herbicide release, the abundance of the red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi (Vigors)) was significantly lowered for two growing seasons. This negative effect was associated with reduced cover during the first two post-treatment growing seasons. In the short term, herbicide-treated plantations constitute poorer red-backed vole habitats than brushsaw plantations. In early successional boreal balsam fir stands, planting did not markedly affect small mammals probably because natural regeneration was common in these plantations.

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