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.

Larval diet prior to and following virus ingestion influences the efficacy of two nucleopolyhedroviruses in whitemarked tussock moth (Orgyia leucostigma) caterpillars

2012 ◽  
Vol 144 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garrett Brodersen ◽  
Rob Johns ◽  
Renée Lapointe ◽  
David Thumbi ◽  
Graham Thurston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Diet ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Betula Papyrifera ◽  
White Birch ◽  
Tussock Moth ◽  
Orgyia Leucostigma ◽  
Whitemarked Tussock Moth

AbstractFood quality can influence the performance of immature insects and their interactions with pathogens, such as viruses. In manipulative field studies, virus-free caterpillars of the whitemarked tussock moth (WMTM) (Orgyia leucostigma (Smith)) had higher survival, more female-biased sex ratios, and were larger when feeding on white birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall) versus balsam fir (Abies balsamea (Linnaeus) Miller) or red spruce (Picea rubens Sargent). Subsequent laboratory studies with two nucleopolyhedroviruses, derived from WMTMs and Douglas-fir tussock moths, indicated that caterpillars fed high quality food (i.e., artificial diet) prior to infection had less mortality associated with virus infection than those feeding on lower quality foliage (i.e., birch). In field studies, caterpillars fed birch following infection had significantly lower mortality than those feeding on relatively lower quality foliage (i.e., balsam fir). We postulate that higher nutritional quality in artificial diet relative to birch (previrus-ingestion nutrition) and in birch relative to balsam fir foliage (postvirus-ingestion nutrition) has a positive effect on the ability of tussock moth caterpillars to resist or recover from viral infections, although the specific mechanisms responsible for observed resistance remain unclear.

Long-term impact of fire on high-altitude balsam fir (Abies balsamea) forests in south-central Quebec deduced from soil charcoal

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Luc Couillard ◽  
Serge Payette ◽  
Pierre Grondin
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Forest Landscape ◽  
White Birch ◽  
Soil Charcoal ◽  
Fire Activity

Extensive balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) stands across the southern boreal forest are ecosystems likely more influenced by insect outbreaks and windthrows than by fire. To what degree the dominance of balsam fir stands reflects past and present disturbance dynamics associated with fire is not well documented. To answer this question, we focused on the reconstruction of the long-term fire history of high-altitude balsam fir forests of southern Quebec. The reconstruction was based on botanically identified and radiocarbon-dated soil charcoal particles in 19 sites covering successional stages from white birch (Betula payrifera Marsh.) to mixed white birch – balsam fir stands. Fire activity commenced early after deglaciation, about 9600 calibrated years before present when the first boreal tree species were established. Fire occurred recurrently during the following 5000 years with a forest landscape composed of the principal tree species common to the boreal forest, including jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.). Fire activity ceased more or less abruptly about 4500 years ago due to less fire-conducive, more humid conditions. Then, the forest landscape progressively changed towards a larger representation of white birch – balsam fir forests and the disappearance of jack pine. Whereas several balsam fir stands have not burned over the last 4500 years, scattered fires occurred in particular over the last 250 years when 1815 and 1878 fires, probably man-made, burned 50% of the forest, thus causing a major change in the composition of the forest landscape. It is concluded that the high-altitude forest landscape of southern Quebec changed profoundly over the Holocene in close association with a time-transgressive dry-to-wet climatic gradient.

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.

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.

Résistance comparée de l'épinette blanche et du sapin baumier au renversement

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 642-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Meunier ◽  
J -C Ruel ◽  
G Laflamme ◽  
A Achim
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Diameter Ratio ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Species Vulnerability ◽  
Mesic Site ◽  
Linear Regressions ◽  
Tree Characteristics

Information on eastern Canadian tree species vulnerability to windthrow is scarce. Some statements on relative species vulnerability have been made but they rely on empirical observations, which are often difficult to generalize. In this context, a study was conducted to compare the overturning resistance of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) on a mesic site. To establish which tree characteristics would best explain the critical turning moment, simple linear regressions were calculated using tree dendrometric data. The best regressions were obtained with stem weight. With this variable, resistance to overturning did not differ between the two species. Only regressions involving total height showed a significantly greater resistance for white spruce. This difference can be explained by a difference between the species in height–diameter relationships. For a similar height, spruce has a greater diameter, involving a higher stem weight and thus a greater resistance. Decay did not play a major role in our experiment as trees with external defects were excluded. Our results suggest that to minimize losses from windthrow, silvi cultural treatments on mesic sites should try to increase the proportion of trees of either species with the lowest height/diameter ratio.

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.

Dynamique de la sapinière à bouleau jaune de l'est après une épidémie de tordeuse des bourgeons de l'épinette

1999 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Pominville ◽  
Stéphane Déry ◽  
Louis Bélanger
Keyword(s):  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
The Other ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
White Birch ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
The Dead

An outbreak of spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), occurred between 1974 and 1987, in Quebec, in the eastern balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill, - yellow birch, Betula alleghaniensis Britton, ecoclimatic sub-domain. The effect of this disruption has been assessed in mesic balsam fir stands killed during the outbreak, in mesic balsam fir stands partially damaged and in the following stands, also partially damaged: mesic yellow birch – balsam fir stands, mesic white birch, Betulapapyrifera Marsh., - balsam fir stands, mesic balsam fir – yellow birch stands, mesic balsam fir – white birch stands and xeric balsam fir stands. To that effect, surveys were led before, immediately after, and about five years after the outbreak in two blocks that have not been protected with insecticides. These blocks, located in Charlevoix and in Shipshaw management units, are second growth stands originating from clearcuts which occured about 50 years ago. Approximately five years after the outbreak, abundant coniferous regeneration was found everywhere except in the mesic yellow birch –balsam fir stand and in the dead mesic balsam fir stand, where softwood represented less than 50% of the regeneration. On the other hand, young softwood stems were located under the regeneration of white birch and of mountain maple, Acer spicatum Lam, in dead balsam fir stands, in balsam fir – white birch stands, as well as in living balsam fir stands and under mountain maple in yellow birch – balsam fir stands and in balsam fir – yellow birch stands. Our age structures indicate that softwood advance growth was relatively rare in these stands. Thus, during the opening of the canopy by the spruce budworm, intolerant hard-woods and shrubs invaded the still available microsites. In the dead balsam fir stands, stocking of the dominant hardwood regeneration stems is equivalent to that of softwood. Thus, dead balsam fir stands are turning to mixed stands. Xeric stands will remain softwood stands since they show luxuriant softwood regeneration dominating in height. In the other stands, we will have to wait the harvest period before we can adequately assess succession.

Tree-ring evidence for a combined influence of defoliators and extreme climatic events in the dynamics of a high-altitude balsam fir forest, Mount Mégantic, southern Quebec

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 1436-1443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal Lemieux ◽  
Louise Filion
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Growth Anomalies ◽  
Extreme Climatic Events ◽  
Ice Storms ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Tree Development

Most mature balsam fir trees (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) growing at the top of Mount Mégantic (Quebec) exhibit multiple leaders in the upper crown section, an indication of stressful conditions for tree development in this high-altitude stand. We report here on a detailed dendroecological analysis of windthrown trees showing that multiple stem development was linked to spruce budworm activity during the 1970s. In spite of severe defoliation, damaged trees temporarily restored their vegetative structure by forming reiterated axes. About 9% of all leaders sampled died during a 3-year period (1996-1998), which represents 60% of dead leaders sampled, with tree morbidity and mortality also peaking in 1996. Tree-ring dating of growth anomalies indicated the impact of major snow and (or) ice storms during the 1996 and 1998 winters, two events validated by field observations from the Mount Mégantic conservation area authorities. Biotic (defoliators) and extreme climatic events have a combined influence in the dynamics of high-altitude balsam fir forests.

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