Susceptibility of balsam fir to spruce budworm defoliation as affected by thinning

1979 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 428-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory W. Crook ◽  
Paul E. Vézina ◽  
Yvan Hardy
Keyword(s):  
Forest Type ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Number Of Stems

Spruce budworm, Choristoneurafumiferana (Clemens), defoliation of balsam fir, Abiesbalsamea (L.) Mill., was studied in thinned stands of the Lower St. Lawrence region of Quebec. The object of the study was to quantify defoliation levels in treated and control plots in order to determine what effect, if any, thinning had on the susceptibility of balsam fir.Three main forest types were studied: (a) coniferous, (b) mixed, and (c) hardwood with a fir understory. The coniferous forest type was subdivided into three types: (1) pure balsam fir; (2) balsam fir – white spruce, Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss; (3) balsam fir – hardwoods. Defoliation levels were estimated using two current techniques: the Dorais–Hardy (1976) and the Fettes (1950) methods.Susceptibility of balsam fir to spruce budworm defoliation was not affected after thinning in coniferous and hardwood forest types; however, susceptibility was increased in mixed stands when part of the hardwood cover was removed. In any situation, defoliation of fir was found to be more intense with an increase of the basal area of the coniferous species (balsam fir, red spruce, Picearubens Sarg., and white spruce) while an increase of the basal area of hardwoods resulted in lower defoliation levels; likewise, a higher number of stems per hectare brought higher defoliation levels of fir. Defoliation was also found to vary with stand composition; susceptibility of fir in the three main cover types decreased in the following order: (a) coniferous, (b) mixed, (c) hardwood. Stand age was not a factor influencing the susceptibility of balsam fir for the two age classes studied (30 and 50 years).

Root rot damage in naturally regenerated stands of spruce and balsam fir in Ontario

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Whitney
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Root Decay ◽  
Forest Region

In an 11-year study in northern Ontario, root rot damage was heaviest in balsam fir, intermediate in black spruce, and least in white spruce. As a result of root rot, 16, 11, and 6%, respectively, of dominant or codominant trees of the three species were killed or experienced premature windfall. Butt rot, which resulted from the upward extension of root rot into the boles of living trees, led to a scaled cull of 17, 12, and 10%, respectively, of gross merchantable volume of the remaining living trees in the three species. The total volume of wood lost to rot was, therefore, 33, 23, and 16%, respectively. Of 1108 living dominant and codominant balsam fir, 1243 black spruce, and 501 white spruce in 165 stands, 87, 68, and 63%, respectively, exhibited some degree of advanced root decay. Losses resulting from root rot increased with tree age. Significant amounts of root decay and stain (>30% of root volume) first occurred at 60 years of age in balsam fir and 80 years in black spruce and white spruce. For the three species together, the proportion of trees that were dead and windfallen as a result of root rot increased from an average of 3% at 41–50 years to 13% at 71–80 years and 26% at 101–110 years. The root rot index, based on the number of dead and windfallen trees and estimated loss of merchantable volume, also increased, from an average of 17 at 41–50 years to 40 at 71–80 years and 53 at 101–110 years. Death and windfall of balsam fir and black spruce were more common in northwestern Ontario than in northeastern Ontario. Damage to balsam fir was greater in the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Forest region than in the Boreal Forest region. In all three tree species, the degree of root rot (decay and stain) was highly correlated with the number of dead and windfallen trees, stand age, and root decay at ground level (as a percentage of basal area) for a 10-tree sample.

Whole Stand Yield and Density Equations for Fourteen Forest Types in Minnesota

1993 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
David K. Walters ◽  
Alan R. Ek
Keyword(s):  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Nonlinear Least Squares ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Fit Statistics ◽  
Number Of Stems

Abstract Models that estimate per acre basal area, number of stems, quadratic mean diameter, volumes to specified top diameters, and biomass per acre by stand age and site index were developed and fitted to data for 14 forest types in Minnesota. The resulting equations were developed from linear and nonlinear least squares analyses using USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis data. These equations are intended for projecting future forest characteristics including yield on a statewide basis assuming the continuation of the level of management inherent in the data. Parameter estimates and goodness-of-fit statistics are provided for each model. Also discussed are the implementation procedures, assumptions, consistency of estimates, estimates for mixed species stands, and other considerations in applications. North. J. Appl. For. 10(2): 75-85.

scholarly journals Forest Succession Following a Spruce Budworm Outbreak in Minnesota

1985 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold O. Batzer ◽  
Michael P. Popp
Keyword(s):  
Forest Succession ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Shrub Species ◽  
Before And After

Plots in 24 spruce-fir stands in northeastern Minnesota studied throughout the period 1957 to 1962 at the time of a spruce budworm outbreak were remeasured in 1979. Composition of the overstory changed from an average of 79% of the basal area in host species before to 31% after the budworm outbreak. Twelve percent of the stands showed growth in nonhost species that more than offset the loss in balsam fir and white spruce. The understory was minimally stocked with balsam fir in two-thirds of the stands. Only 4% of the regeneration was spruce. Even so, some well-established white spruce seedlings were found in two-thirds of the stands. Red maple was the most abundant hardwood invader. Raspberry, hazel and mountain maple were the principal shrub species limiting balsam fir reproduction Shrubs were most abundant in stands where balsam fir mortality had exceeded 80%. Half of the stands had seedlings that originated both before and after the outbreak; 45% had seedlings that originated only after the outbreak; and 5% had seedlings that originated only before the outbreak. Stands having moderate mixture of nonhost species in the over-story prior to the budworm outbreak had the most balsam fir regeneration. This resulted from seed produced by surviving balsam fir trees after the outbreak. Key words: Choristoneura fumiferana, Abies balsamea, Balsam fir, spruce-fir shrubs

scholarly journals Effects of Hardwood Content on Balsam Fir Defoliation during the Building Phase of a Spruce Budworm Outbreak

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Zhang ◽  
David MacLean ◽  
Rob Johns ◽  
Eldon Eveleigh
Keyword(s):  
Random Forests ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Generalized Linear Mixed Effects

Defoliation by spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clem.) on balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) is more severe in fir than in mixed fir-hardwood stands. Previous studies assumed that defoliation in fir-hardwood stands was reduced in proportion to percent hardwood regardless of outbreak severity. We tested the influence of stand composition on defoliation during the first 5 years of a spruce budworm outbreak near Amqui, Quebec, by sampling 27 fir-hardwood plots selected to represent three percent hardwood basal area classes (0%–25%, 40%–65%, and 75%–95%). Balsam fir defoliation was significantly lower (p < 0.001) as hardwood content increased, but the relationship varied with overall defoliation severity each year. Annual plot defoliation in fir-hardwood plots, estimated using: (1) defoliation in pure fir plots and the assumption that defoliation in fir-hardwood plots was reduced in proportion to percent hardwood; (2) a generalized linear mixed-effects model with defoliation in pure fir plots, percent hardwood, and interaction as fixed-effects; and (3) Random Forests prediction incorporating 11 predictor variables, resulted in r = 0.77, 0.87, and 0.92 versus measured defoliation, respectively. Average defoliation severity in softwood plots and percent hardwood content were the most important variables in Random Forests analysis. Data on average defoliation level in softwood stands, as an indicator of overall outbreak severity, improves prediction of balsam fir defoliation in mixed stands.

LONG TERM STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AERIAL APPLICATION OF BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS – ACEPHATE COMBINATIONS AGAINST THE SPRUCE BUDWORM, CHORISTONEURA FUMIFERANA (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

1977 ◽  
Vol 109 (9) ◽  
pp. 1239-1248 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. N. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Larval Mortality ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Long Term Study

AbstractBacillus thuringiensis (Dipel® 36B) mixed with a sublethal concentration of acephate (Orthene®) (O, S-dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate), an organophosphorous insecticide, was applied at 2.35–14 l./ha to white spruce (Picea glauca) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) trees infested with spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.). The treatment rate was 20 Billion International Units of B. thuringiensis (B.t.) activity with or without 42 g of active ingredient of acephate/ha.The ground deposit of the standard Dipel wettable powder formulation was 12% of emitted volume compared with 21–32% for the Dipel 36B flowable. The viability of B.t. spores was drastically reduced after 1 day of weathering but a high level of biological activity by the spore–crystal complex persisted for up to 20 days post-spray due probably to crystal activity.The addition of about 10% of the recommended operational rate of acephate to the B.t. suspension increased larval mortality by 34% when applied at 4.7 l./ha. Reductions in budworm populations were 97–99% in B.t. + acephate plots and 86–90% in B.t. alone plots.Plots with moderate budworm densities of up to 27 larvae/100 buds on white spruce and 36/100 on balsam fir were satisfactorily protected from excessive defoliation in the year of spray by B.t. with or without acephate. Plots with higher population densities were not satisfactorily protected based on the branch sample examination but aerial color photographs indicated good protection to the top third of the trees. Population declines were greater and defoliation and oviposition were lower in the treated plots than in the untreated checks 1 year later without further treatment. Two years later the larval population densities in all plots were low but the density was twice as high in the untreated check as in the treated plots, indicating long term suppression by the treatments. Defoliation was negligible in all plots.The treatments had no deleterious effect on spruce budworm parasitism. The data indicate that the integrated approach using Bacillus thuringiensis – chemical pesticide combinations is a viable alternative to the use of chemical pesticides alone in spruce budworm control. Large scale testing is now warranted.

scholarly journals Stand-Level Components of a Growth and Yield Model for Nothofagus Mixed Forests from Southern Chile

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 810
Author(s):  
Sebastian Palmas ◽  
Paulo C. Moreno ◽  
Wendel P. Cropper ◽  
Alicia Ortega ◽  
Salvador A. Gezan
Keyword(s):  
Forest Type ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Forest Growth ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Yield Model ◽  
Mixed Forests

Reliable information on stand dynamics and development is needed to improve management decisions on mixed forests, and essential tools for this purpose are forest growth and yield (G&Y) models. In this study, stand-level G&Y models were built for cohorts within the natural mixed second-growth Nothofagus-dominated forests in Chile. All currently available (but limited) data, consisting of a series of stratified temporary and permanent plots established in the complete range of this forest type, were used to fit and validate these models. Linear and nonlinear models were considered, where dominant stand age, number of trees, and the proportion of basal area of Nothofagus species resulted in significant predictors to project future values of stand basal area for the different cohorts (with R2 > 0.51 for the validation datasets). Mortality was successfully modeled (R2 = 0.79), based on a small set of permanent plots, using the concept of self-thinning with a proposed model defined by the idea that, as stands get closer to a maximum density, they experience higher levels of mortality. The evaluation of these models indicated that they adequately represent the current understanding of dynamics of basal area and mortality of Nothofagus and companion species in these forests. These are the first models fitted over a large geographical area that consider the dynamics of these mixed forests. It is suggested that the proposed models should constitute the main components of future implementations of G&Y model systems.

scholarly journals Deriving Stand Structural Complexity from Airborne Laser Scanning Data—What Does It Tell Us about a Forest?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1854
Author(s):  
Dominik Seidel ◽  
Peter Annighöfer ◽  
Martin Ehbrecht ◽  
Paul Magdon ◽  
Stephan Wöllauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Structure ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Airborne Laser Scanning ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Box Dimension ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
3D Point Clouds ◽  
Airborne Laser

The three-dimensional forest structure is an important driver of several ecosystem functions and services. Recent advancements in laser scanning technologies have set the path to measuring structural complexity directly from 3D point clouds. Here, we show that the box-dimension (Db) from fractal analysis, a measure of structural complexity, can be obtained from airborne laser scanning data. Based on 66 plots across different forest types in Germany, each 1 ha in size, we tested the performance of the Db by evaluating it against conventional ground-based measures of forest structure and commonly used stand characteristics. We found that the Db was related (0.34 < R < 0.51) to stand age, management intensity, microclimatic stability, and several measures characterizing the overall stand structural complexity. For the basal area, we could not find a significant relationship, indicating that structural complexity is not tied to the basal area of a forest. We also showed that Db derived from airborne data holds the potential to distinguish forest types, management types, and the developmental phases of forests. We conclude that the box-dimension is a promising measure to describe the structural complexity of forests in an ecologically meaningful way.

The Sensitivity of Young White Spruce to Spruce Budworm Defoliation

1991 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 168-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Piene
Keyword(s):  
Volume Growth ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
First Year ◽  
Average Volume ◽  
Shoot Production ◽  
Prolific Shoot

Abstract Relationships between defoliation and volume growth were determined for 68 young white spruce trees in a 20-year-old plantation defoliated over a 2-year period by the spruce budworm. In the first year of defoliation, intensities ranging from 7 to 89% of the current foliage did not influence volume growth significantly. Two consecutive years of defoliation, averaging over the 2-year period from 0-33, 34-66, and 67-100% of the current foliage, reduced average volume growth by about 6, 11, and 27%, respectively. White spruce is much less sensitive to defoliation than balsam fir. This is partly due to white spruce's ability to compensate for even moderate defoliation intensities by a prolific shoot production. North. J. Appl. For. 8(4):168-171.

scholarly journals Species Mixing Regulation with Respect to Forest Ecosystem Service Provision

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Schwaiger ◽  
Werner Poschenrieder ◽  
Peter Biber ◽  
Hans Pretzsch
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Groundwater Recharge ◽  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Mixed Stands

The control and maintenance of species composition of mixed stands is a highly relevant objective of forest management in order to provide multifunctionality and climatic resilience. In contrast to this requirement there is, however, an evident lack of quantitative methods for mixture regulation. In this context, we propose an approach for the regulation of mixture proportions that has been implemented in a forest management model. The approach considers species-specific growth characteristics and takes into account the mixing effect on stand density. We present five exemplary simulations that apply the regulation. Each simulation maintains one of five desired species compositions. In these simulations, we consider the species European beech and Norway spruce under good site conditions, thus representing the most prominent mixed stands in Central Europe. Based on this model experiment, we analyze the potential benefit of controlled mixing regulation for achieving desired levels and combinations of ecosystem service provision, in particular productivity, diversity, and groundwater recharge. We found that a constant 50% basal area share of beech (equivalent growing space share of 80% to 70% depending on stand age) provided the most balanced supply of ecosystem services. Prominently, groundwater recharge considerably decreased when beech basal area shares were held below 50%. We discuss the ecological and practical implications of the regulation approach and different mixing shares.

scholarly journals SPRUCE BUDWORM DAMAGE TO BALSAM FIR IN IMMATURE STANDS, QUEBEC

1964 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 372-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Hatcher
Keyword(s):  
Minor Component ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Hardwood Forest ◽  
Cover Type ◽  
Area Reduction ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Very High ◽  
Diameter Classes

A study was made of the effect of the 1945-1957 spruce budworm infestation on 1,800 acres of spruce-fir and spruce-fir-hardwood forest logged for pulpwood about 15 years prior to the infestation.The number of fir trees was reduced 64 per cent between 1951 and 1961 in the main cover type representing 69 per cent of the forest; fir was reduced from a major stand component of 45 per cent by volume to a minor component of 11 per cent. The basal area reduction of fir varied directly with the fir basal area at the time of the outbreak. Losses were very high in stands containing over 20 sq. ft. of fir per acre.These young stands did not exhibit the degree of resistance to damage often observed in young stands elsewhere. But in spite of heavy losses through all diameter classes, the amount of spruce and fir regeneration that survived to 1961 is believed adequate to produce a pulpwood crop within 60 years.

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