Forest turnover and the dynamics of bole wood litter in subalpine balsam fir forest

1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 262-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald E. Lang
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Natural Disturbances ◽  
Maximum Value ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Bole Biomass ◽  
Live Tree ◽  
Mature Stands

A chronosequence of three stands of balsam fir was sampled in 1974 and 1982; during these 8 years, recruitment was absent so mortality alone accounted for an 18–30% decrease in live tree density. In a mature 78-year-old stand, the mass of bole wood on the forest floor was 1.4 kg•m−2 compared with an estimated aboveground live and dead bole biomass of 17.2 kg•m−2. During 5 years of repetitive sampling, annual bole input to the forest floor was episodic and variable in time and space, ranging from 3 to 365 g•m−2•year−1. A mass balance model was used to characterize the changes in wood litter on the forest floor. If most of the live trees die within a short period of time, bole input would occur in a pulse event and cause a peak in wood litter mass, which would then decline over time (and with stand maturation) as decomposition prevails. The assumption of steady-state conditions for wood litter is not valid; rather the mass of wood litter will wax and wane through time. Over a landscape, spatial patterns in the abundance of wood litter reflect a stand's history; old mature stands would have little wood litter while young regenerating stands would have large amounts. A maximum value for wood litter would be found in a stand located immediately behind a fir wave. Natural disturbances from wind and avalanches lead to contrasting patterns with high and low wood litter values, respectively. About 41% of forest turnover in the balsam fir zone is initiated from natural disturbance and fir waves.

Évolution des stocks de carbone organique dans le solaprès coupe dans la sapinière à bouleau jaune de l'est du Québec

2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 507-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvain St-Laurent ◽  
Rock Ouimet ◽  
Sylvie Tremblay ◽  
Louis Archambault
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Mature Stands ◽  
Whole Tree

Following the Rio and Kyoto protocols, forest sequestration of organic C (Corg) appears to be among the measures to reduce atmospheric C. In this context, we assessed the evolution of soils' reserves of Corg after complete whole-tree forest harvesting in the balsam fir–yellow birch forest of eastern Quebec. The experimental design consisted of eight plots in mature stands, and 10 plots in 7-, 12-, and 22-yr-old clearcuts in the "Seigneurie du Lac Métis", located 80 km south-east of Rimouski, Quebec, Canada. The soil type was an Orthic Humo-ferric Podzol. Major Corg losses occured in the forest floor of the 7-, 12- and 22-yr-old harvested plots compared with mature stands. The FH horizon of harvested plots showed a loss of 44% (−30.5 t ha−1) in dry weight and 13.5% (−62.1 g kg–1) in Corg content between 7 and 22-yr-old harvested plots. More than half the Corg content of the forest floor was lost in that time (−52% or −16.6 t ha−1). The Corg stock of the L horizon were lowered only for the 7-yr-old treatment (2.5 t ha−1) compared with mature stands (4.9 t ha−1). No significant differences in the Corg stocked in the first 30 m of the mineral soil were found between treatments. It appears that the forest floor of balsam fir–yellow birch stands has become a source of Corg for at least 22 yr after forest harvesting. Key words: Forest harvesting, soil, organic carbon, forest floor

scholarly journals The diurnal variation of magnetic disturbance in high latitudes

1935 ◽  
Vol 149 (867) ◽  
pp. 298-311 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Diurnal Variation ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Universal Time ◽  
Sudden Commencement ◽  
General View ◽  
High Latitudes ◽  
Limited Region ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Distinctive Type ◽  
Unlimited Variety

1―The effect of natural disturbance on the earth’s magnetic field at any one place is at least twofold: (i) to introduce a regular variation (S d ) periodic within the day and additional to, as well as different in type from (except in a limited region round the magnetic axis pole), the variation associated with quiet days (S q ); and (ii) to suppose on S d irregular changes which may either be of the distinctive type peculiar to large storms especially in low latitudes and generally preceded by the particular type of perturbation known as a sudden commencement, or the changes in the field may be of the apparently nondescript class which comprises an unlimited variety of short-period irregular oscillations. Of these effects of disturbances S d is definitely a local time phenomenon: the sudden commencement with subsequent depression in the horizontal component of the field as definitely follows universal time. For the irregular and unclassified oscillations in moderate and high latitudes a diurnal variation in their incidence has been shown to exist for a few isolated localities. But in the general view it is not known whether this aspect of disturbance is controlled by local or universal time. Nor is it known whether the form of the diurnal variation in disturbance (which variation we shall denote by D) varies in any systematic way with latitude.

scholarly journals Impacts of Alternative Harvesting and Natural Disturbance Scenarios on Forest Biomass in the Superior National Forest, USA

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Russell ◽  
Stephanie Patton ◽  
David Wilson ◽  
Grant Domke ◽  
Katie Frerker
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Forest Biomass ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Timber Harvest ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Volume Control ◽  
National Forest ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Natural Disturbances ◽  
Project Area

The amount of biomass stored in forest ecosystems is a result of past natural disturbances, forest management activities, and current structure and composition such as age class distributions. Although natural disturbances are projected to increase in their frequency and severity on a global scale in the future, forest management and timber harvesting decisions continue to be made at local scales, e.g., the ownership or stand level. This study simulated potential changes in natural disturbance regimes and their interaction with timber harvest goals across the Superior National Forest (SNF) in northeastern Minnesota, USA. Forest biomass stocks and stock changes were simulated for 120 years under three natural disturbance and four harvest scenarios. A volume control approach was used to estimate biomass availability across the SNF and a smaller project area within the SNF (Jeanette Project Area; JPA). Results indicate that under current harvest rates and assuming disturbances were twice that of normal levels resulted in reductions of 2.62 to 10.38% of forest biomass across the four primary forest types in the SNF and JPA, respectively. Under this scenario, total biomass stocks remained consistent after 50 years at current and 50% disturbance rates, but biomass continued to decrease under a 200%-disturbance scenario through 120 years. In comparison, scenarios that assumed both harvest and disturbance were twice that of normal levels and resulted in reductions ranging from 14.18 to 29.85% of forest biomass. These results suggest that both natural disturbances and timber harvesting should be considered to understand their impacts to future forest structure and composition. The implications from simulations like these can provide managers with strategic approaches to determine the economic and ecological outcomes associated with timber harvesting and disturbances.

Nitrogen storage and availability during stand development in a New Zealand Nothofagus forest

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 344-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
P W Clinton ◽  
R B Allen ◽  
M R Davis
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Stand Development ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Net N Mineralization ◽  
Nitrogen Storage ◽  
Nothofagus Forest ◽  
Mature Stands

Stemwood production, N pools, and N availability were determined in even-aged (10, 25, 120, and >150-year-old) stands of a monospecific mountain beech (Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides (Hook. f.) Poole) forest in New Zealand recovering from catastrophic canopy disturbance brought about by windthrow. Nitrogen was redistributed among stemwood biomass, coarse woody debris (CWD), the forest floor, and mineral soil following disturbance. The quantity of N in stemwood biomass increased from less than 1 kg/ha in seedling stands (10 years old) to ca. 500 kg/ha in pole stands (120 years old), but decreased in mature stands (>150 years old). In contrast, the quantity of N stored in CWD declined rapidly with stand development. Although the mass of N stored in the forest floor was greatest in the pole stands and least in the mature stands, N availability in the forest floor did not vary greatly with stand development. The mass of N in the mineral soil (0–100 mm depth) was also similar for all stands. Foliar N concentrations, net N mineralization, and mineralizable N in the mineral soil (0–100 mm depth) showed similar patterns with stage of stand development, and indicated that N availability was greater in sapling (25 years old) and mature stands than in seedling and pole stands. We conclude that declining productivity in older stands is associated more with reductions in cation availability, especially calcium, than N availability.

Application of a snow cover energy and mass balance model in a balsam fir forest

1990 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1079-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Barry ◽  
Marcel Prévost ◽  
Jean Stein ◽  
Andre P. Plamondon
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Mass Balance Model

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.

Développement de Odontia bicolor chez le sapin baumier infecté artificiellement

1974 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-334
Author(s):  
Denis Lachance
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Water Saturation ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Susceptibility To Infection ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Humus Layer ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Moisture Conditions

In a balsam fir stand, two different humus moisture conditions were artificially produced and maintained for 2 years by covering the forest floor with polythene sheets on two out of four plots. In the two covered sample plots the water saturation of the humus layer was 30% lower and the moisture contents of root-wood was 35% lower than those of uncovered plots. Roots in covered plots, inoculated with Odontiabicolor, showed 51.4% infection as compared to 57.7% for those growing in control plots. Similarly, trunk inoculations yielded infection levels of 35.8% and 44.5%, respectively. Statistical tests show no significant difference in infection percentages between wetter and drier conditions for roots and trunks, and a significantly greater susceptibility to infection of the roots by O. bicolor as compared to the trunks. Growth rates of the fungus toward the trunk (in the roots) or up the trunks of 4.4–5.8 cm per year was 25–44% greater than growth in the opposite direction. Root and trunk sizes had no definite influence on infection percentages and growth rate, but the latter was always faster in trunk wood than in root wood.

Forest floor dynamics in a chronosequence of hardwood stands in central Nova Scotia

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Wallace ◽  
B. Freedman
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
Ammonium N ◽  
Field Samples ◽  
Mature Stands

A postclear-cutting chronosequence of hardwood stands in Nova Scotia was examined for patterns of forest floor weight, concentration of selected nutrients, rate of potential insitu litter decomposition (litterbags), and potential lab ammonification and nitrification. Some evidence was found that the forest floor experiences weight loss following clear-cutting. However, the large weight losses and clear pattern of recovery described by others for New Hampshire hardwood chronosequences were not observed. The lack of close agreement may have been a result of intra- and inter-stand variation in forest floor weight in our study. This spatial variation was greater than any effect as a result of clear-cutting. There was no significant relationship between insitu weight loss of leaves or twigs with stand age. No clear-cutting effect was observed in the laboratory for potential ammonification, which occurred readily in all stands (three clear-cuttings, three mature stands). Limed materials produced significantly more mineralized N (nitrate N + ammonium N) than did unlimed materials. Concentrations of ammonium N in F and H horizon field material were significantly higher on clear-cuttings than in mature stands. However, since this measurement reflects net rather than total production, it is not evidence that higher rates of ammonification occurred on clear-cuttings. Potential nitrification was not an important process in F and H horizon materials at their natural pH. Nitrification occurred readily in limed materials, but there were no significant differences among different aged stands. Concentrations of nitrate N in field F and H horizon material were low for all stands, with a mean of 9 ± 7 ppm (n = 350). However, in 7% of field samples, nitrate N ≥ 15 ppm was found; in 2%, ≥30 ppm was found.

Fire Ecology

Ecology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Parminter
Keyword(s):  
Fire Ecology ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Natural Disturbances ◽  
Wilderness Areas

Abiotic natural disturbance agents include wildfire, wind, landslides, snow avalanches, volcanoes, flooding, and other weather-related phenomena. Fire is of particular interest because of its antiquity, its natural role in many terrestrial ecosystems, its long-term use by humans to modify vegetation, and its potentially serious threat to life and property. Fire ecology is the art and science of understanding natural and human fire history and fire effects on the environment, species, ecosystems, and landscapes. This knowledge aids the development of fire and ecosystem management plans and activities. Fire history is determined by a number of techniques that use available physical or cultural evidence to examine particular temporal and spatial scales. Fire effects on the environment and organisms are determined by observation and experimentation, but the findings are variable and often contradictory. Fire regimes are used to characterize the role of fire in specific ecosystems and can help guide ecosystem restoration activities. Attitudes toward fire have evolved over time, as good and bad experiences combined with improved scientific understanding to influence our perspectives. Natural disturbances came to be viewed as integral parts of ecosystems rather than external perturbations. We now strive to allow fire to maintain its natural role in wilderness areas and parks and also to emulate natural disturbances, such as fire, when designing forest harvesting operations. This article focuses on how and what we know about fire’s history, its effects on different components of the environment, its role in specific vegetation types, and its relationship with human culture.

Évaluation de la coupe avec protection de la régénération et des sols comme méthode de régénération de peuplements mélangés du domaine bioclimatique de la sapinière à bouleau jaune de l'est du Québec, Canada

2000 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 653-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Laflèche ◽  
Jean-Claude Ruel ◽  
Louis Archambault
Keyword(s):  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Commercial Species ◽  
Paper Birch ◽  
Growth Projection ◽  
The Impact

The effect of careful logging to preserve advance growth was studied in mixedwood stands of the balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) - yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) eco-climatic domain in eastern Quebec, Canada. The study is based on 19 sites harvested five years earlier. In each cutover, 50 sample plots have been established to quantify the abundance of regeneration five years after logging. This cutting method proved to be ineffective in limiting the invasion of competiting species such as mountain maple (Acer spicatum Lam.) and pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica (L.), which fully occupied the sites with 25 092 and 5619 stems ha−1 respectively. Balsam fir was abundant after five years in the study area with 13 500 stems ha−1 but two thirds of the seedlings were smaller than 30 cm. Soil disturbance was minimal, probably limiting the establishment of yellow birch, which reached a density of 1416 stems ha−1 five years after logging. Height growth projection of regeneration over five years showed that competiting species should still dominate the sites. Commercial species should improve their position but would still account for only 40% of dominant stems. It is therefore unlikely that this regeneration method will be successful in bringing back the initial stand composition in a short period of time. The next stands will probably contain a high proportion of intolerant species with a dominance of paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) over yellow birch. In the near future, cleaning operations should be conducted to reduce the impact of competing vegetation and make sure that balsam fir will remain in the main canopy.

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