scholarly journals Prey specialization and morphological conformation of wolves associated with woodland caribou and moose

Rangifer ◽  
2012 ◽  
pp. 309-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M.A. Wiwchar ◽  
Frank F. Mallory
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Analysis ◽  
Evolutionary Change ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Coniferous Forests ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Early Succession ◽  
Prey Specialization

Morphological analysis of wolves associated with woodland caribou in late succession boreal coniferous forests north of the commercial cut line and those associated with moose in early succession boreal deciduous forests south of the commercial cut line were studied in Ontario. Socalled “moose-wolves” could readily be distinguished from “caribouwolves” in both genders using a few morphological measurements. Wolves associated with woodland caribou were significantly smaller in most measurements, and increased in size within seven years post-harvest as moose totally replaced caribou in the ecosystem. Whether this change in wolf morphology is related to micro-evolutionary change, the migration of larger “moose-wolves” into the area, or both, remains unclear.

Variation in foliar nitrogen concentration by forest type and climatic gradients in North America

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1587-1602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiwei Yin
Keyword(s):  
Forest Type ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Net Photosynthesis ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Coniferous Forests ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Foliar Nitrogen ◽  
Foliar N ◽  
July Temperature

Published data were used to explore variation in foliar nitrogen (N) concentration in relation to forest type, foliar life-span, latitude, mean January temperature, mean July temperature, mean annual temperature, annual precipitation, annual actual evapotranspiration, mean monthly solar radiation in foliar lifetime, and annual soil water deficit. The hypothesis was that foliar N concentration integrating carbon and N links should be closely correlated with climatic constraints at a broad regional scale. The data set included 49 deciduous broadleaf forests and 58 evergreen coniferous forests distributed across North America. Foliar N concentrations were correlated primarily with mean July temperature for deciduous forests (negative), but also with mean January temperature, mean annual temperature, latitude, and solar radiation for coniferous forests (negative quadratic). These correlations also existed for individual forest groups defined by N requirement or genera of dominant species. Deciduous forests nearly always had higher foliar N concentrations than coniferous forests for given climates, but differences diminished in warm climates. Mean July temperature and latitude each explained 69% of variance in foliar N concentrations of deciduous and coniferous forests, respectively, and together explained 90% of variance in the total data set. Independent data confirmed these correlations. It is proposed that foliar N concentrations of deciduous forests increase with decreasing mean July temperature because (i) N may be passively concentrated due to low temperatures reducing net photosynthesis and foliar life-spans, but not N availability; and (ii) N may be actively concentrated as a plant adaptation to counteract suboptimum temperature effects on net photosynthesis. In coniferous forests, N may concentrate in foliage with decreasing but sufficiently high light availability and temperature, when foliar life-spans are fairly constant, and where soil is rarely frozen. As light availability and temperature fall below a limit, conifer foliar N concentrations may decrease due to combined effects of prolonged foliar life-spans and restricted N uptake.

scholarly journals Rare Plants and Plant Communities of the Projected “Togul” National Park (Altai Region)

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 00007
Author(s):  
Natalja Elesova ◽  
Marina Silanteva ◽  
Liudmila Sokolova
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Rare Plants ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Coniferous Forests ◽  
Pinus Sibirica ◽  
Picea Obovata ◽  
Rare And Endangered Species ◽  
Altai Region ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Rare And Endangered

The value of the Salair Ridge territory for the creation of the “Togul” National Natural Park is determined primarily by the natural complex of black coniferous forests with the participation of relict plant species of the Miocene-Pliocene coniferous-deciduous forests and a group of early flowering ephemeroid plants, old-aged Pinus sibirica, Picea obovata and linden forests and a variety of tall grasses. Based on the performed geobotanical descriptions, the phytocenotic characteristic of linden forests was compiled. Information is provided on the location of 10 rare and endangered species of plants and fungi found during a survey of the territory of the planned national park.

Dark coniferous forests of West Siberian plain on their southern limit

2016 ◽  
pp. 89-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. N. Lashchinsky ◽  
O. Yu. Pisarenko
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Type ◽  
West Siberia ◽  
Vegetation Period ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Coniferous Forests ◽  
West Siberian Plain ◽  
The West ◽  
Southern Limit ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
And Cluster Analysis

West Siberian subtaiga is a climatically and partly edaphically determined latitudinal subzone with deciduous forests dominated by birch and aspen trees as climax vegetation (Shumilova, 1962). Dark coni­ferous forests have here their southern limit of distribution and they are presented by the relatively small “islands” embedded into the “matrix” of deciduous forests mixed with meadows and arable lands. Main limited factor for the coniferous trees distribution is low humidity during vegetation period. Therefore the dark coniferous forests in subtaiga occupy the habitats with high and constant moisture. They are mainly the big rivers terraces or small river valleys. The total area of this habitat type is quite small. There are no special articles or monographs devoted to this vegetation. At the same time these dark coniferous forests are rich in species and they are a shelter of many rare and protected plants. The main goal of this article is to describe the composition, structure, distribution and syntaxonomical position of West Siberian dark coniferous forests on their southern limit. The article is based on 103 relevés collected through the West Siberia from Kemerovskaya region at the east to Omskaya region at the west from 1998 till 2014. All relevés were stored in a data base and developed by syntaxonomical analysis with IBIS 6.2 (Zverev, 2007), ordination and cluster analysis with PAST 2.14 (Hammer et al., 2001) and using the Ramensky ecological scales (Korolyuk, 2006).

scholarly journals Impact of Deforestation on Streamflow in the Amur River Basin

Geosciences ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galina V. Sokolova ◽  
Andrei L. Verkhoturov ◽  
Sergei P. Korolev
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Atmospheric Precipitation ◽  
Dew Point ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Coniferous Forests ◽  
General Tendency ◽  
Amur River ◽  
The Amur River ◽  
Forest Coverage ◽  
Flood Flow

In the basin of the Amur River in the Russian Far East, the influence of watershed areas covered by forests on the river basin has a complex nature, and no strict functional dependency has been established yet between these two factors. A study of the Amur River watershed in the current conditions, between 2000 and 2016 (climate, forest coverage, fires, and felling), has been conducted using the ground and satellite observations. The purpose of the study was to identify their influence on the river behaviour (flow, flooding, and levels of water). The study of hydrological regime of rivers was conducted in conjunction with the analysis of the dynamics of forest and burns areas over the synchronised periods of time. A special attention was given to the changing nature of the species composition of the forests (coniferous and deciduous forests separately) from 2000 to 2016, and climatic parameters over thirty years (atmospheric temperature, dew point, precipitation). New facts have been obtained, which provide an explanation of the reasons for predominant prolonged trends in the dynamics of the summer streamflow. In the view of the general tendency toward increased forest coverage combining all species of forest stand, the trend in the dynamics of the coniferous species areas is negative. Therefore, a conclusion can be made, that one of the major factors in the increase of the river flood flow (alongside the atmospheric precipitation), is deforestation of primary coniferous forests on the watershed areas, in contrast with the deciduous forests, where the trend is positive. Practicability of such conclusions can be justified, as different types of forests have different root systems, which mellow the ground and facilitate partial loss of the atmospheric precipitation and its transformation into the groundwater flow. Besides, coniferous forests attract more frequent and intensive fires, more subjected to felling, have longer regeneration period, and also, use larger volumes of ground waters for growing and functioning. Consequently, with their disappearance, an increase in streamflow should be expected. No changes in surface temperature and humidity of the forest cover in the watersheds during 1980-2016 despite global warming. Therefore, annual variability of forested areas of watersheds is greatly influenced by fires and felling. There are reasons to assume, that because of the tendency for decreasing areas of coniferous forests, the conditions contributing to the increases in rivers’ flood flow and flood risks during monsoon and frontal cyclonic rainfalls will remain.

Scale-dependent microhabitat selection by threatened mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in cedar–hemlock forests during winter

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1082-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Serrouya ◽  
Bruce N. McLellan ◽  
John P. Flaa
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Coniferous Forests ◽  
Microhabitat Selection ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Conservation Measures

Mountain caribou, an endangered ecotype of woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou Gmelin, 1788), live in late-successional coniferous forests where they depend largely on arboreal lichens as winter forage. While radio-telemetry has been used to understand caribou habitat selection patterns at broad scales among and within populations, here we use snow-trailing in old cedar–hemlock forests between 1992 and 2003 to study three finer scales of habitat selection: (1) forest stands used for foraging from available forest stands (among-stand selection), (2) foraging paths within selected stands relative to random paths within those same stands (within-stand selection), and (3) feeding items along foraging paths. Relative to stands that were available on the landscape, caribou selected stands with more windthrown trees and standing snags. Within stands, caribou selected paths that had more live trees, snags with branches and bark, and trees with larger diameters. All of these habitat attributes facilitate access to arboreal lichen. Of the potential forage items encountered along foraging paths, caribou preferred to feed on windthrown trees, lichen litterfall and falsebox ( Paxistima myrsinites (Pursh.) Raf.). Our results go beyond telemetry studies by revealing that not all old forests are of equal value to mountain caribou. Prioritization among old stands will help refine conservation measures, as will silvicultural systems that incorporate key habitat attributes to maintain winter habitat in low-elevation cedar–hemlock ecosystems.

scholarly journals Soils Characteristics of Forest Phytocoenoses Occupied by Self-Regenerating Populations of Quercus Rubra in Silesian Upland / Właściwości Fizykochemiczne Gleb Na Stanowiskach Z Odnowieniem Dębu Czerwonego Na Wyżynie Śląskiej

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 109-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damian Chmura
Keyword(s):  
Quercus Rubra ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Coniferous Forests ◽  
Red Oak ◽  
Northern Red Oak ◽  
Loss On Ignition ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Acid Ph ◽  
Natural Range ◽  
Phytosociological Relevés

Abstract Northern Red Oak is a tree species native to North America. In Polish flora it has status of invasive plants. In the years 2008-2011 autoecological studies were conducted aiming at examination on what type of soils the species tends to regenerate ie appearance of seedlings in the vicinity of maternal trees. In total 250 phytosociological relevés and 100 soil samples (400 soil subsamples) were collected. It was observed that majority stands (almost 80%) of Northern Red Oak occupy sites very strongly acid and strongly acid. In reference to pH in KCl results are a little different, however, sites with soil very strongly acid (pH = 4.1-5.0) and stronly acid (pH < 4.1) also predominate. The investigated soils were typified by very low values of magnesium (< 10 mg/1000 g), phosphorus (< 3 mg/100 g) and potassium (< 7 mg/100 g). Total nitrogen in studied sites dominated in two the lowest classes (> 0.25%). The sites of Q. rubra are rich in organic carbon. Almost 50% of all sites covers two highest classes of concentration of this element ie 4.0-8.0% and > 8.0%. Soils where seedlings of Northern Red Oak were encountered, were characterized by humus medium for mezotrophic and eutrophic broad-leaved forests and mixed coniferous forests - more than 60% had ratio of carbon and nitrogen CN > 25. In several sites this ratio reached 50. The lower values in case of content of calcium and loss on ignition dominate. The studies showed that soils on which species grows and also spontaneously regenerates are typical for coniferous and mixed coniferous forests, however, in natural range Q. rubra is component of deciduous forests. It could be associated with the fact of more frequent introduction of Northern Red Oak into poorer sites than the consequence of its habitat requirements.

scholarly journals Terrestrial lichen response to partial cutting in lodgepole pine forests on caribou winter range in west-central British Columbia

Rangifer ◽  
2011 ◽  
pp. 119-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela J. Waterhouse ◽  
Harold M. Armleder ◽  
Amanda F. L. Nemec
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Group Selection ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
West Central ◽  
The Impact

In west-central British Columbia, terrestrial lichens located in older, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) forests are important winter forage for woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Clearcut harvesting effectively removes winter forage habitat for decades, so management approaches based on partial cutting were designed to maintain continuous lichen-bearing habitat for caribou. This study tested a group selection system, based on removal of 33% of the forest every 80 years in small openings (15 m diameter), and two irregular shelterwood treatments (whole-tree and stem-only harvesting methods) where 50% of the stand area is cut every 70 years in 20 to 30 m diameter openings. The abundance of common terrestrial lichens among the partial cutting and no-harvest treatments was compared across five replicate blocks, pre-harvest (1995) and post-harvest (1998, 2000 and 2004). The initial loss of preferred forage lichens (Cladonia, Cladina, Cetraria and Stereocaulon) was similar among harvesting treatments, but there was greater reduction in these lichens in the openings than in the residual forest. After eight years, forage lichens in the group selection treatment recovered to pre-harvest amounts, while lichen in the shelterwood treatments steadily increased from 49 to 57% in 1998 to about 70% of pre-harvest amounts in 2004. Although not part of the randomized block design, there was substantially less lichen in three adjacent clearcut blocks than in the partial cuts. Regression analysis pre- and post-harvest indicated that increased cover of trees, shrubs, herbs, woody debris and logging slash corresponded with decreased forage lichen abundance. In the short-term, forestry activities that minimize inputs of woody debris, control herb and shrub development, and moderate the changes in light and temperatures associated with canopy removal will lessen the impact on lichen. Implementation of stand level prescriptions is only one aspect of caribou habitat management. A comprehensive approach should consider all factors and their interactions to maintain a viable population of woodland caribou in west-central British Columbia.

scholarly journals Estimation of arboreal lichen biomass available to woodland caribou in Hudson Bay lowland black spruce sites

Rangifer ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah K. Proceviat ◽  
Frank F. Mallory ◽  
W. James Rettie
Keyword(s):  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Hudson Bay ◽  
Forest Age ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Positive Linear Relationship ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Class 1 ◽  
Hudson Bay Lowland

An arboreal lichen index to be utilized in assessing woodland caribou habitat throughout northeastern Ontario was developed. The "index" was comprised of 5 classes, which differentiated arboreal lichen biomass on black spruce trees, ranging from maximal quantities of arboreal lichen (class 5) to minimal amounts of arboreal lichen (class 1). This arboreal lichen index was subsequently used to estimate the biomass of arboreal lichen available to woodland caribou on lowland black spruce sites ranging in age from 1 year to 150 years post-harvest. A total of 39 sites were assessed and significant differences in arboreal lichen biomass were found, with a positive linear relationship between arboreal lichen biomass and forest age. It is proposed that the index be utilized by government and industry as a means of assessing the suitability of lowland black spruce habitat for woodland caribou in this region.

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