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.

Comparison among three approaches to evaluate winter habitat selection by white-tailed deer on Anticosti Island using occurrences from an aerial survey and forest vegetation maps

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
pp. 1662-1670 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Potvin ◽  
Barry Boots ◽  
Alastair Dempster
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Regeneration Stage ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Anticosti Island

Habitat-selection analysis involves a comparison between the proportions of different cover types that are used by the animal and the proportions that are available. Telemetry locations or animal occurrences (e.g., from aerial surveys) can provide information on habitat utilization. With telemetry data, a classical approach involves computing habitat use at the individual location sites or inside fixed circle buffers applied to the sites. We used this approach (200 m radius circles) on data from a systematic aerial survey on Anticosti Island, where 260 groups of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (374 animals) were counted in a 270-km2 block. We compared the selection indices obtained from site occurrences with those of two approaches that define areas of high intensity (animal concentrations): 50% fixed kernels (0.5–2 km bandwidth) and the local K function (0.5–2 km distance). The results were very consistent among the three sets of approaches, with the same cover types generally identified as those having the highest or lowest indices. White-tailed deer preferred forest stands where balsam fir (Abies balsamea) was present as high regeneration or was dominant in the tree layer (>50% basal area) and stands at the regeneration stage. In the studied landscape, there seems to be a wide range of spatial scales where the selection process can be analysed from aerial survey data.

Preindustrial reconstruction of a perhumid midboreal landscape, Anticosti Island, Quebec

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 928-942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Barrette ◽  
Louis Bélanger ◽  
Louis De Grandpré
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Forest Dynamics ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Dynamics Model ◽  
Disturbance Dynamics ◽  
Cyclic Model ◽  
Anticosti Island

The knowledge of natural disturbance dynamics and preindustrial landscapes is essential to implement sustainable forest management. Recent findings identify the lack of a forest dynamics model, different from the standard cyclic model of Baskerville (1975. For. Chron. 51: 138–140), for balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) ecosystems of maritime eastern Canada. With the use of historical forest maps and dendrochronology, we reconstructed the range of variability of the preindustrial landscape (6798 km2) and inferred on the natural disturbance dynamics of the balsam fir forest of Anticosti Island. The preindustrial landscape was characterized by a forest matrix of overmature softwood stands with inclusions of younger softwood stands ranging from 0.1 to 7837 ha in size. Widespread stand-initiating events were apparently rare in the preindustrial landscape over the last 160 years. Since our results were not well represented by the cyclic model, which predicts the occurrence of a mosaic of stands in different age classes, we proposed an alternative forest dynamics model for eastern balsam fir ecosystems near the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Forest management inspired by this alternative model may be more appropriate to maintain or restore ecological characteristics of balsam fir forests of this region within their range of natural variability.

Fruticose arboreal lichen biomass accumulation in an old-growth balsam fir forest

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (10) ◽  
pp. 1669-1676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Josée Arseneau ◽  
Jean-Pierre Ouellet ◽  
Luc Sirois
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Altitude Effect ◽  
Subalpine Belt ◽  
The Relationship

The standing biomass accumulation of lichens from the genera Alectoria, Bryoria, and Usnea was studied along two environmental gradients, altitude and height along the vertical tree axis, in an old-growth balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) forest. Lichens were sampled from 50 trees in five sampling sites at an altitude of 720-1068 m asl and encompassing three vegetation belts (mountain, subalpine, and alpine). The lichen biomass accumulation rate was studied at branch and tree levels. The Gompertz equation was used to assess the relationship between time since lichen colonization and standing lichen biomass. The relationship between tree lichen biomass and age was not significant. Colonization delay was assumed to correspond to the age of the youngest branch supporting a given lichen taxon, and our results show that it increased from mountain to alpine belts. Variations in lichen accumulation were related to the branch position along the tree height and altitude. Lichen biomass accumulation rates decreased from tree top to base. We speculate that this reduction reflects a response to microclimatic gradients, aging of thalli, fragmentation, competition, succession, and caribou grazing. The accumulation rate was greater in the mountain belt (r = 0.063) than in the alpine belt (r = 0.027). In the subalpine belt, the relationship between lichen biomass and time was not significant (p > 0.05). The decrease in accumulation rate along the altitudinal gradient may be primarily explained by climatic conditions.Key words: arboreal lichens, lichen biomass accumulation, altitude effect, height in tree effect, Alectoria, Bryoria, Usnea.

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.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE SPRUCE BUDWORM (CHORISTONEURA FUMIFERANA, CLEM.) TO THE FLOWERING CONDITION OF BALSAM FIR (ABIES BALSAMEA (L.) MILL.)

1952 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Blais
Keyword(s):  
Direct Effect ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Competition For Food ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Populations of the spruce budworm were studied on flowering and nonflowering balsam fir trees. Generally more eggs were found on the flowering trees. The flowering balsam fir trees were found to harbor higher populations in the early larval stages owing to the presence on these trees of staminate flowers and flower cups. The behavior of the larvae in relation to staminate flowers and flower cups was studied in both the field and the laboratory. Larvae that fed partially on pollen developed more rapidly than larvae that fed exclusively on foliage. Pollen as a food did not appear to have any direct effect on survival or fecundity. Other experiments showed that mortality was higher, development retarded, and fecundity reduced in insects forced to feed on old foliage in contrast with those fed on the current year's growth. Defoliation was more severe on flowering trees in the earlier stages of the infestation. However, as populations increased, wandering increased owing to competition for food. This resulted in an overflow of larvae from flowering to nonflowering trees.

Estimating coarse root biomass of balsam fir

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 991-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.B. Lavigne ◽  
M.J. Krasowski
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Belowground Biomass ◽  
Root Diameter ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Coarse Root ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Diameter Classes

Root systems of 31 balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) trees were excavated at five sites in central New Brunswick. Sites ranged from 10 to >80 years in stand age; most had been thinned at least once, and densities ranged from 750 to 44 000 trees·ha–1. The relationship between diameter at breast height and coarse root biomass in the present investigation was similar to one reported for balsam fir in northern New Brunswick but differed from two other published biomass equations. Coarse root biomass per hectare ranged from 3 to 30 Mg·ha–1 among studied sites. Coarse root biomass in the smaller root diameter classes was similar at all sites, but biomass in diameter classes >50 mm increased with stand age. Precommercial thinning added 3 Mg coarse root biomass·ha–1 to the detrital pool. The ratio of coarse root biomass to stem biomass averaged 0.36 (±0.02 SE). These results show that there is more belowground biomass in balsam fir ecosystems than would be expected from the generic ratio of belowground to aboveground biomass often applied to coniferous ecosystems, pointing to a need for using ratios that are more specific.

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.

Evaluating the effect of precommercial thinning on the resistance of balsam fir to windthrow through experimentation, modelling, and development of simple indices

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1844-1853 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Achim ◽  
J -C Ruel ◽  
B A Gardiner
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Gradual Increase ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Green River ◽  
Precommercial Thinning ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
The Relationship

A tree-pulling experiment was carried out in stands of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) to evaluate the effects of early thinning on windthrow resistance. Forty trees from four stands were pulled over. Two stands had received a precommercial thinning 9 and 14 years previously, respectively, and the two others were unthinned controls. There were no significant inter-stand differences in the relationship between the critical turning moments required to overturn or snap the trees and their stem mass. The results were input into a model calculating critical wind speeds using the approach developed for the ForestGALES model. Simulations were run for four different stand densities. The mensurational characteristics for each run were taken from the results of a spacing trial established in balsam fir stands at Green River, New Brunswick. For stem breakage, the model predicted a gradual increase in critical wind speeds with wider spacing. The increase was smaller for tree overturning. The pattern of differences remained very similar after a simulated commercial thinning removing 30% of the basal area. Reductions in critical wind speeds were on the order of 4 m·s–1 in all cases. Simple indices were developed that could estimate the relative results given by the model.

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