Growth response of spruce saplings in relation to climatic conditions along a gradient of gap size

Drobyshev, Igor; Nihlgård, Bengt

doi:10.1139/x00-008

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The role of small-scale canopy disturbances in forest dynamics has been recognized in many types of forest for at least a century (Pinchot 1905;Cooper 1913in Sprugel 1991Iwaschkewitsh in Jones 1945;Sernander 1936Aubréville 1938). Young developing trees react to the elimination of canopy trees in a number of ways (Drobyshev et al 2000;McCarthy 2001;Narukawa & Yamamoto 2001), but usually it is the increased amount of light penetrating into the understory that is the most important stimulus (Denslow 1987;Canham et al 1990;Leemans 1990;Gilbert et al 2001). Because of the variable capacity of tree species to tolerate shady conditions, changes in canopy structure often lead to changes in the composition and level of competitiveness of trees in the understory (Frelich & Lorimer 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small gap dynamics in the southern boreal forest of eastern Canada: Do canopy gaps influence stand development?

Römer

Kneeshaw

Bergeron

2007

J Vegetation Science

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Question: To what extent do small‐scale disturbances in the forest canopy, created by natural disturbance agents, affect stand development? Doubts exist as to whether small canopy openings have any real effect on the understory tree recruitment, especially in boreal forests. Location: Conifer and mixed stands in the Gaspesian region in eastern Québec. The main natural disturbance agents are recurring outbreaks of Choristoneura fumiferana (eastern spruce budworm) and winds. Methods: Linear transects in 27 sites were used to describe the gap (< 0.1 ha) regime parameters, including gap fraction, gap size and change in disturbance severity through time. Three stand types were distinguished, based on a gradient of abundance of tree host species for the eastern spruce budworm. The impact of gaps was evaluated on the basis of changes in the number, the period of recruitment, and the composition of tree saplings present within gap areas. Changes were measured along the gap size gradient, and according to the pattern of recent budworm epidemics. Results: The gap fraction is highly variable (18%‐64%) and is on average relatively high (42%). Gap sizes have a positively skewed distribution. In most cases the growth rate among gap filling saplings increased sufficiently to date disturbance events. The composition and the structure of understory trees were affected by gap formation. The number of shade‐intolerant tree species did increase during or following periods of particularly severe canopy disturbances. However, the establishment or survival of shade intolerant species was not restricted to larger gaps or more intensely disturbed periods. Conclusions: In sub‐boreal forests of Eastern Canada, small scale disturbances in the tree canopy influence stand regeneration dynamics, but not to the extent that parameters such as sapling composition and recruitment patterns depend on gap regime characteristics.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small gap dynamics in the southern boreal forest of eastern Canada: Do canopy gaps influence stand development?

Römer

Kneeshaw

Bergeron

2007

J Vegetation Science

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“…For instance Dy and Payette (2007) documented that the reduced frequency of freezing temperature events supported a massive black spruce establishment in frost hollows over ten years. On the other hand, Drobyshev and Nihlgård (2000) found that the Norway spruce saplings grew better in larger gaps than in smaller ones and under canopy in Russian southern taiga conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Below-canopy and topsoil temperatures in young Norway spruce and Carpathian birch stands compared to gaps in the mountains

Špulák¹,

Kacálek²

2016

J. For. Sci.

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ABSTRACT:Reduced air pollution load has allowed to use commercially oriented forestry in the Central European mountains since the 1990s. The goal is, however, to restore species-and age-diversified stable stands that are expected to cope with uncertain changes of the harsh mountain climate. The microclimate of current young forest stands can impact on growth and performance of underplanted seedlings. In the present study, aboveground (+10 cm), surface (0 cm) and belowground (-10 cm) temperatures were compared under Norway spruce and Carpathian birch canopies. Measurements were performed in 22-year-old Norway spruce and Carpathian birch stands and replicated three times. These measurements were compared with three adjacent gaps dominated by herbal vegetation. Temperatures were measured automatically during the growing periods 2011 and 2012. The research was conducted on Norway spruce on an acidic Spodosol forest site in the summit part of the Jizerské hory Mts., Czech Republic. Data were analysed using the Horn procedure of pivot measures. The highest variability of aboveground and soil surface temperatures was observed within the gaps during a spring time. The temperatures beneath the leafless birch were close to those within the gaps, whereas in the period of leaved trees the temperature extremes were reduced similarly like under the spruce stand canopy compared to the gaps. The differences between the plots were the smallest at the end of growing seasons.

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“…Spruce seedling establishment and the density of regeneration stocking in natural and harvested gaps have been investigated in quite a lot of studies (e.g. Leemans 1991;Drobyshev and Nihlgård 2000;Hanssen 2003;Valkonen et al 2011;). However, very few studies have addressed the height growth dynamics of advance regeneration in canopy gaps.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to the uneven distribution of light on the gap area, location-wise and species-wise differences in seedling biomass were found after two years. Drobyshev and Nihlgård (2000) showed that in natural gaps in southern boreal spruce stands, the growth of spruce seedlings was related to gap size as well as seedling size and location within the gap. Outside the boreal region, Coates (2000) concluded that several planted coniferous species showed an asymptotically increasing growth trend as the gap size increased from a small gap the size of couple of trees to one of 1000 m 2 in the temperate coniferous forests of British Columbia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-harvest height growth of Norway spruce seedlings in northern Finland peatland forest canopy gaps and comparison to partial and complete canopy removals and plantations

Hökkä¹,

Mäkelä²

2014

Silva Fenn.

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Highlights• Norway spruce seedlings' height growth recovered within four years after the cutting of canopy gaps.• Growth was linearly related to tree height, being highest for tallest seedlings.• Seedlings in the 20 m diameter gap and in the central and northern parts in the 15 m diameter gap showed the best growth.• In gaps early height growth was 60% of that in peatland spruce plantations but 2-3 times higher than in uneven-aged cut forests. AbstractRecent studies have shown the establishment of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) to be successful in small canopy gaps cut in drained spruce mire stands in northern Finland. The aim of this study was to quantify seedling height growth in gaps and compare it to that observed in other canopy cuttings and plantations. We sampled spruce crop seedlings (maximum density ca. 3000 ha -1 ) in the spring of 2013 in a field experiment in which canopy gaps of 10, 15 and 20 m in diameter had been cut in winter 2004. The total seedling height in 2013 and the length of annual shoots over the past five years were recorded in the survey. Seedling height varied from 20 cm to 2.7 m, with an average of 65 cm. The average annual height growth was 7.1 cm. A mixed linear model analysis was carried out to investigate seedling height growth variation. Seedling height was linearly and positively related to growth. Height growth started to increase in the fifth growing season after cutting. Seedling height growth in the 20 m gap was slightly better than in the smaller ones. In the 15 m gap, both the centrally located seedlings and those located at the northern edge grew best. In the 20 m gap, southerly located seedlings grew more slowly than seedlings in all other locations. The average seedling height growth in this study was about 60% of that in peatland plantations, but comparable to that in mineral soil gaps, and 2-3 times higher than in uneven-age cut stands.

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Growth response of spruce saplings in relation to climatic conditions along a gradient of gap size

Cited by 13 publications

References 43 publications

Small gap dynamics in the southern boreal forest of eastern Canada: Do canopy gaps influence stand development?

Small gap dynamics in the southern boreal forest of eastern Canada: Do canopy gaps influence stand development?

Below-canopy and topsoil temperatures in young Norway spruce and Carpathian birch stands compared to gaps in the mountains

Post-harvest height growth of Norway spruce seedlings in northern Finland peatland forest canopy gaps and comparison to partial and complete canopy removals and plantations

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