The Reproductive Ecology of Abies Balsamea, Acer Saccharum and Betula Alleghaniensis in the Tantare Ecological Reserve, Quebec

1992 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilles Houle
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Reproductive Ecology ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Ecological Reserve

scholarly journals Long-term compositional changes following partial disturbance revealed by the resurvey of logging concession limits in the northern temperate forest of eastern Canada

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 943-949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Danneyrolles ◽  
Dominique Arseneault ◽  
Yves Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Temperate Forest ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Forest Composition ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Compositional Changes

Land use changes that are linked to European settlement of North America have transformed northeastern temperate forest landscapes. Many studies report a regional increase of young early-successional forests due to high disturbance rates since the preindustrial era (fire, land clearing, and clear-cuts). In this study, we document specific compositional changes to present-day mature forest landscapes, which have only been managed with partial cutting (high-grading and diameter-limit cuts) since the preindustrial era in southwestern Quebec. We resurveyed 108 forest observations that were extracted from logbooks of former logging concession limits (surveyed between 1870 and 1890). Results highlight an increase in mid- to late-successional shade-tolerant taxa (Betula alleghaniensis Britton, Thuja occidentalis L., Acer saccharum Marsh.) at the expense of preindustrial dominant conifers (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., Pinus strobus L.). Former logging activities and spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clemens) outbreaks appear to be the main drivers of these changes, which were also strongly structured across the topographic gradient. To some extent, these results highlight the relevance of partial cutting management, as it has allowed long-term maintenance of a mid- to late-successional forest composition, while also pointing the need for P. strobus restoration. We conclude that by allowing site-specific comparisons, the resurvey of historical observations greatly improve the analytical strengths of historical reconstruction.

Tree seedling growth and mortality responses to manipulations of calcium and aluminum in a northern hardwood forest

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 954-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard K Kobe ◽  
Gene E Likens ◽  
Christopher Eagar
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Diameter Growth ◽  
Tree Seedlings ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest ◽  
Tree Seedling ◽  
Soil Calcium ◽  
Dependent Growth

To assess potential forest compositional responses to exchangeable soil calcium (Caexch) and aluminum (Alexch), we characterized light-dependent growth and mortality of tree seedlings under amendments of CaCl2 and AlCl3 at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF), New Hampshire, U.S.A. Seedlings of Acer saccharum Marsh., Fagus grandifolia Ehrh., Betula alleghaniensis Britton, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., and Picea rubens Sarg. were transplanted into field plots, which were randomly assigned to control, CaCl2, or AlCl3 treatments and stratified across <1 to 35% full sun. Acer saccharum and P. rubens exhibited significantly higher mortality in Al-amended than Ca-amended or control plots. Acer saccharum showed significant increases in relative diameter growth in Ca-amended plots versus controls; all other species showed nonsignificantly higher relative diameter growth under Ca amendments. We incorporated significant seedling responses into a model of forest dynamics (SORTIE) to assess potential changes in species composition under Alexch increases and Caexch losses. SORTIE predicts that further increases in Alexch would have negligible effects on canopy composition within 200 years but that the estimated Caexch depleted from HBEF between 1968 and 1995 and its influence on seedling dynamics could lead to substantial decreases in A. saccharum canopy dominance within a single forest generation (<125 years).

Seedling recruitment in a northern temperate forest: the relative importance of supply and establishment limitation

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 978-989 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P Caspersen ◽  
Megan Saprunoff
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Temperate Forest ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Recruitment Failure ◽  
Niche Differences

We quantified supply and establishment limitation as components of seedling recruitment for five species common to the temperate forests of central Ontario. Establishment limitation was the primary cause of recruitment failure for the three most common species: Acer saccharum Marsh., Betula alleghaniensis Britt., and Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière. The main barrier to establishment (including germination and seedling emergence) was a lack of suitable substrates, rather than a lack of light. Supply limitation, on the other hand, was the primary cause of recruitment failure for two less common species, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. and Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. The cause of supply limitation was a lack of parent trees, in the case of A. balsamea, and low fecundity, in the case of F. grandifolia. Our results suggest that niche differences (i.e., germination requirements) are more important than dispersal in structuring temperate forest communities. Our results also suggest that availability of suitable substrates is the primary factor limiting seedling recruitment following logging.

scholarly journals Histoire Postglaciaire de la Végétation dans la Région de Mont-Saint-Pierre, Gaspésie, Québec

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude Labelle ◽  
Pierre J. H. Richard
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Pinus Strobus ◽  
Larix Laricina ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Betula Papyrifera ◽  
Fraxinus Nigra

RÉSUMÉLes analyses pollinique et macrofossile de sédiments de deux lacs des environs de Mont-Saint-Pierre (Gaspésie), l'un dans la vallée côtière, l'autre sur le plateau, permettent de reconstituer l'histoire postglaciaire de la végétation dans deux situations physiographiques contrastées. Seul le plateau a été colonisé par une végétation initiale de type toundra (> 10 400 ans BP), pendant que la vallée était encore en partie ennoyée par la mer de Goldthwait. L'afforestation du plateau fut caractérisée d'abord par des populations de Picea sp., accompagné de Populus sp. et Larix laricina, puis par un envahissement progressif par Abies balsamea et Betula papyrifera. La baisse de la représentation pollinique de l'aulne vert (Alnus cf. crispa), maximale durant l'afforestation, paraît être un indicateur assez fidèle de la fermeture de la couverture forestière. Cette phase se termine vers 9000 ans BP sur le plateau. Le rythme de l'afforestation a été différent dans la vallée. Des taxons héliophiles s'y sont maintenus plus longtemps, ce qui peut être relié à l'activité des versants abrupts qui flanquent la vallée. Malgré des variations de l'abondance relative des arbres, la sapinière à bouleau blanc a sans doute occupé le plateau depuis 9000 ans BP environ. Par contre, la végétation de la vallée s'est passablement modifiée jusque vers 5000 à 4500 ans BP, par la migration successive de Betula alleghaniensis, de Pinus strobus, de Fraxinus nigra, dAcer saccharum et d'Ulmus americana. L'implantation progressive de ces arbres relativement thermophiles est à l'origine de la diversité du paysage actuel de la vallée. Ces reconstitutions permettent d'écarter l'hypothèse de Dansereau (1944) selon laquelle les érablières à Acer saccharum de la Gaspésie seraient des groupements hérités de l'optimum climatique de l'Holocène moyen, au cours duquel les érablières auraient été largement répandues sur le territoire. Les données montrent que ces érablières datent de l'Holocène Supérieur, la migration d'Acer saccharum ayant sans doute été freinée par des barrières topo-climatiques entraînant une discontinuité prononcée des habitats pouvant accueillir cette espèce.

Links between biomass and tree demography in a northern hardwood forest: a decade of stability and change in Hubbard Brook Valley, New Hampshire

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (7) ◽  
pp. 1369-1379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie S. van Doorn ◽  
John J. Battles ◽  
Timothy J. Fahey ◽  
Thomas G. Siccama ◽  
Paul A. Schwarz
Keyword(s):  
New Hampshire ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Tree Biomass ◽  
Hubbard Brook ◽  
Tree Demography ◽  
Live Biomass ◽  
Live Tree ◽  
Annual Mortality

We resurveyed a network of sampling plots (n = 371) 10 years after its establishment in Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (New Hampshire, USA) to quantify recent trends in tree biomass and demography. We found no significant change in live-tree biomass during the decade. Total biomass was 246 Mg·ha–1 (95%CI = 235–258) in 1995–1996 and 245 Mg·ha–1 (95%CI = 234–256) in 2005–2006. Annual mortality during the period for trees ≥ 10 cm diameter at breast height (1.37 m) averaged 9.7 trees·ha–1·year–1 (95% CI of annual mortality rate = 1.36%–1.84%·year–1). Tree recruitment into the census pool was 8.4 trees⋅ha–1·year–1 (95% CI = 5.8–10.6). Although overall forest biomass remained constant, there were marked shifts in the relative dominance of the canopy species. For example, the live biomass of Betula alleghaniensis Britton declined by 7%, whereas the live biomass of Picea rubens Sarg. increased by 6% and that of Acer saccharum Marshall increased by 4%. There was no instance of recruitment significantly exceeding mortality for the major species. Relative growth rates ranged from 1.03%·year–1 for Betula papyrifera Marshall to 1.99%·year–1 for Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. Our results confirmed earlier reports that the forest at Hubbard Brook is no longer aggrading. Current live-tree biomass is lower than expected. Although effects of novel disturbances documented on a regional level have not led to directional changes in tree demography at Hubbard Brook, we suggest that these novel stressors are depressing the biomass potential of the forest.

Drivers of arboreal lichen community structure and diversity on Abies balsamea and Betula alleghaniensis in the Avalon Forest Ecoregion, Newfoundland

Botany ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-54
Author(s):  
Rachel D. Wigle ◽  
Yolanda F. Wiersma ◽  
André Arsenault ◽  
R. Troy McMullin
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Lichen Species ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Lichen Diversity

There is debate about what drives and maintains the structure of arboreal lichen communities and the relative importance of substrate vs. local environment. Here, we examined which lichen species are unique to two tree species [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. and Betula alleghaniensis Britton] in the boreal forests of the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland, and which environmental variables are most important for lichen colonization and community structure. We collected data on lichen diversity from tree boles along with environmental data (tree size, bark pH, canopy cover) for each tree and each site. Multivariate analyses were used to determine the relationship between community structure and environmental data. The results show that a diverse range of tree characteristics are needed to support a diverse range of lichen species. Certain stands, such as old B. alleghaniensis stands, are more suitable to host a unique community of lichens than others. These results can inform land managers on the Avalon, recommending strategies for protected areas and providing forest harvest guidelines that limit clear-cutting of A. balsamea to maintain a diverse community structure and limit harvest of B. alleghaniensis trees in sites less optimal for lichen growth. These baseline data can also be used to monitor changes caused by moose browse and selective harvesting, two locally important threats to lichen diversity.

Crown openness as influenced by tree and site characteristics for yellow birch, sugar maple, and eastern hemlock

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 488-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Lou Lefrançois ◽  
Marilou Beaudet ◽  
Christian Messier
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Light Transmission ◽  
Eastern Hemlock ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Regional Variability ◽  
Site Characteristics

Crown openness (CO) of mature trees influences light transmission within the forest canopy. However, in modeling, this variable is often considered constant within species, and its potential regional variability is ignored. The objective of this study was to evaluate if CO values of yellow birch ( Betula alleghaniensis Britt.), sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.), and eastern hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière) vary according to the following factors: (i) species, (ii) regional actual evapotranspiration (AET), (iii) tree size (i.e., diameter at breast height, DBH), and (iv) angle of transmission from zenith. To achieve this, CO was evaluated for 136 yellow birches, 109 sugar maples, and 68 hemlocks from different regions of western Quebec, southern Ontario, and northern Michigan. Results showed that all of the studied factors affected CO. While dominant trees can intercept light laterally as well as vertically, smaller trees are more efficient at intercepting light vertically. Increasing AET is associated with more open crowns. Given its importance in light transmission in the understory, a better understanding of how CO varies between individuals, species, and regions is needed.

Decennial growth and mortality following uniform partial cutting in yellow birch – conifer stands

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 224-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Prévost ◽  
Daniel Dumais
Keyword(s):  
Stand Structure ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Tree Survival

Estimating residual tree survival and growth is crucial for evaluating the overall merit of partial harvesting. In this case study, we present the effects of different cutting intensities (0%, 40%, 50%, and 60% of merchantable (diameter at breast height ≥ 9.1 cm) basal area (BA)) on the response of residual trees in two mixed yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) – conifer stands in eastern Quebec, Canada. Primarily aimed at promoting regeneration establishment, the experiment was conducted in two sites 90 km apart (Armagh and Duchesnay), each one containing four replicates of treatments in a randomized block design. Mortality after cutting decreased with increasing BA removal, but losses were two to three times higher at Armagh (62–138 stems/ha) than at Duchesnay (22–88 stems/ha). Loss of conifer stems involved primarily balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) under natural conditions (control), whereas fir and red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) were equally affected in partial cuts. Red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) were lost regardless of treatment. As a whole, growth in merchantable BA increased with cutting intensity. Uniform partial cuts produced good BA growth response from conifers at Armagh (0.27–0.28 m2·ha−1·year−1) and from hardwoods at Duchesnay (0.16–0.25 m2·ha−1·year−1), whereas BA growth was negligible for both species groups in the control. We examine the role of species composition and stand structure before cutting in the response of residual trees.

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