Long-term growth response of black spruce advance regeneration (layers), natural seedlings and planted seedlings to scarification: 25th year update

Prévost, Marcel; Dumais, Daniel

doi:10.1080/02827581.2018.1430250

Cited by 17 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Several studies point out that mechanical site preparation has a positive effect on the early growth of Scots pine (pine stands one to seven years old) [27,72,73], and a positive long term effect on the growth of Scots pine (pine stands 20-70 years old) [29,74]. Soil scarification is also shown to have a positive effect on the growth of other coniferous trees in other boreal areas of the world (6-25 years old) [31,75,76]. However, a sufficiently high intensity of soil scarification may have undesired effects on growth, as implied by our results.…”

Section: Current Annual Growthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Extra caution should probably be taken in sites with low productivity. However, a recently published study from Canada on both planted and naturally regenerated black spruce (Picea mariana) showed that positive effects from soil scarification on growth in naturally regenerated stands may take as long as 10-20 years to appear [76]. This implies that it is important to keep monitoring the development of the seedlings over time in order to fully understand the effects of increased intensity of soil scarification.…”

Section: Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Increased Soil Scarification Intensity on Natural Regeneration of Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris L. and Birch Betula spp. L.

Saursaunet

Mathisen

Skarpe

2018

Forests

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Achieving an optimal density of trees is essential for the final yield in commercial forestry. Soil scarification is commonly used in Scandinavia in order to produce successful regenerations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), especially in areas with risk of browsing damage by moose (Alces alces L.). The research presented in this paper provides knowledge on how increased intensity of soil scarification affects the regeneration of pine and birch (Betula spp. L.). A total of 67 stands were treated with different intensities of soil scarification. Tree seedling density and current annual growth (CAG) were measured one to five years after scarification. Results showed that the density of pine and birch seedlings increased with soil scarification intensity. CAG of pine decreased with scarification intensity. CAG of downy birch decreased with proportion of exposed mineral soil, but increased with proportion of exposed humus. The effect of soil scarification intensity on CAG of both tree species was relatively weak. Results suggest that although increased scarification intensity had a positive effect on seedling establishment, the effect on early growth may be unfavourable. Further research is needed in order to evaluate the long-term effects of soil scarification intensity on growth.

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Section: Current Annual Growthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Increased Soil Scarification Intensity on Natural Regeneration of Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris L. and Birch Betula spp. L.

Saursaunet

Mathisen

Skarpe

2018

Forests

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“…Where a gap in the canopy opens as a result of a secondary disturbance (e.g., insect outbreak or windthrow), the gap-fillers are generally pre-established regeneration rather than seeds or layers, which become established following the disturbance [ 30 , 31 ]. Once a gap is created, the regeneration trees of both species increase their vertical growth to reach the overstory relatively quickly [ 26 , 32 , 33 ]. However, black spruce and balsam fir differ in their ecological strategies in terms of growth, sensitivity to primary and secondary disturbance, resistance to fire, and seed dispersal; thus, these differences should vary their respective regeneration dynamics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Driving factors of conifer regeneration dynamics in eastern Canadian boreal old-growth forests

2020

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Old-growth forests play a major role in conserving biodiversity, protecting water resources, and sequestrating carbon, as well as serving as indispensable resources for indigenous societies. Novel silvicultural practices must be developed to emulate the natural dynamics and structural attributes of old-growth forests and preserve the ecosystem services provided by these boreal ecosystems. The success of these forest management strategies depends on developing an accurate understanding of natural regeneration dynamics. Our goal was therefore to identify the main patterns and drivers involved in the regeneration dynamics of old-growth forests with a focus on boreal stands dominated by black spruce ( Picea mariana (L.) Mill.) and balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) in eastern Canada. We sampled 71 stands in a 2 200 km 2 study area located within Quebec’s boreal region. For each stand, we noted tree regeneration (seedlings and saplings), structural attributes (diameter distribution, deadwood volume, etc.), and abiotic (slope and soil) factors. The presence of seed-trees located nearby and slopes having moderate to high angles most influenced balsam fir regeneration. In contrast, the indirect indices of recent secondary disturbances (e.g., insect outbreaks or windthrows) and topographic constraints (slope and drainage) most influenced black spruce regeneration. We propose that black spruce regeneration dynamics can be separated into distinct phases: (i) layering within the understory, (ii) seedling growth when gaps open in the canopy, (iii) gradual canopy closure, and (iv) production of new layers once the canopy is closed. These dynamics are not observed in paludified stands or stands where balsam fir is more competitive than black spruce. Overall, this research helps explain the complexity of old-growth forest dynamics, where many ecological factors interact at multiple temporal and spatial scales. This study also improves our understanding of ecological processes within primary old-growth forests and identifies the key factors to consider when ensuring the sustainable management of old-growth boreal stands.

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“…Overstory trees eventually died, creating gaps and decreasing the stand basal area. Black spruce regeneration individuals, including layers, are efficient gap-fillers (26,30,33), and these layers are no longer subject to apical control upon the death of the mother tree. Hence, most seedlings benefited from these openings to produce to a high sapling density, i.e., cluster BS6 shifted to cluster BS5.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When a gap in the canopy opens as a result of a secondary disturbance, the gap-fillers will therefore generally be pre-established regeneration rather than seeds or layers that would have established following the disturbance (30, 31). Once a gap is created, the regeneration trees of both species increase their vertical growth to reach the overstory relatively quickly (26,32,33). However, black spruce and balsam fir differ in their ecological strategies in terms of growth, sensitivity to disturbance, resistance to fire, and seed dispersal; as such, these differences should vary their specific regeneration dynamics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Driving factors of conifer regeneration dynamics in eastern Canadian boreal old-growth forests

Martin

Girona

Morin

2020

Preprint

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28des bourgeons de l'épinette sur la variabilité des paysages en zone boréale," as well as a new 29 professor start-up fund at University of Québec in Abitibi Temiscamingue (UQAT) and a 30 silvicultural research grant from MRC-Abitibi that were both obtained by MMG.Abstract 35 Old-growth forests play a major role in conserving biodiversity, protecting water resources, 36 sequestrating carbon, and these forests are indispensable resources for indigenous societies. To 37 preserve the ecosystem services provided by these boreal ecosystems, it becomes necessary to 38 develop novel silvicultural practices capable of emulating the natural dynamics and structural 39 attributes of old-growth forests. The success of these forest management strategies depends on 40 developing an accurate understanding of natural regeneration dynamics. Our goal was therefore 41 to identify the main patterns and the drivers involved in the regeneration dynamics of old-growth 42 forests, placing our focus on boreal stands dominated by black spruce (Picea mariana (L.) Mill.) 43 and balsam fir (Balsam fir (L.) Mill.) in eastern Canada. We sampled 71 stands in a 2200 km 2 44 study area located within Quebec's boreal region. For each stand, we noted tree regeneration 45 (seedlings and saplings), structural attributes (diameter distribution, deadwood volume, etc.), and 46 abiotic (topography and soil) factors. We observed that secondary disturbance regimes and 47 topographic constraints were the main drivers of balsam fir and black spruce regeneration. 48 Furthermore, the regeneration dynamics of black spruce appeared more complex than those of 49 balsam fir. We observed distinct phases of seedling production first developing within the 50 understory, then seedling growth when gaps opened in the canopy, followed by progressive 51 canopy closure. Seedling density, rather than the sapling density, had a major role in explaining 52 the ability of black spruce to fill the canopy following a secondary disturbance. The density of 53 balsam fir seedlings and saplings was also linked to the abundance of balsam fir trees at the stand 54 level. This research helps explain the complexity of old-growth forest dynamics where many 55 ecological factors interact at multiple temporal and spatial scales. This study also improves our 4 56 understanding of ecological processes within native old-growth forests and identifies the key 57 factors to consider when ensuring the sustainable management of old-growth boreal stands. 58 59 Introduction 63The global extent of native old-growth forest has declined markedly over the past few centuries 64 through a cumulative and increasing impact from anthropic activities within these forest 65 landscapes (1-3). The boreal forest, most of which is situated in Canada and Russia, is currently 66 the largest reserve of natural forest on our planet (3). Boreal old-growth forest has also 67 experienced rapid loss over the last centuries (1,4,5). The remaining old-growth forests are 68 critically important to biodiver...

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Long-term growth response of black spruce advance regeneration (layers), natural seedlings and planted seedlings to scarification: 25th year update

Cited by 17 publications

References 45 publications

Effects of Increased Soil Scarification Intensity on Natural Regeneration of Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris L. and Birch Betula spp. L.

Effects of Increased Soil Scarification Intensity on Natural Regeneration of Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris L. and Birch Betula spp. L.

Driving factors of conifer regeneration dynamics in eastern Canadian boreal old-growth forests

Driving factors of conifer regeneration dynamics in eastern Canadian boreal old-growth forests

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