Paludification in black spruce (Picea mariana) forests of eastern Canada: Potential factors and management implications

Fenton, Nicole J.; Lecomte, Nicolas; Légaré, Sonia; Bergeron, Yves

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2005.03.017

Cited by 165 publications

(134 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Mean total annual precipitation was 906 and 890 mm, respectively [44]. The poor drainage conditions induced by the presence of an impermeable clay substrate, flat topography, historical low fire activity, and cold climate facilitated the accumulation of thick layers of organic soil, a process often described as paludification [45,46]. In parts of the region, peat mosses accumulate on initially mesic soils, independently of topography or drainage, and are related to forest succession [34].…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conversely, duff loads increased gradually in coniferous choronosequences, since the lower decomposition rates associated with the paludification process favor organic layer accumulation [34,45,46]. The most interesting fact is that despite a tree and DWD load loss with TSF in coniferous forests, total fuel loads increased with TSF.…”

Section: Fuel Load Dynamics With Tsfmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of Fuel Load Dynamics on Carbon Emission by Wildfires in the Clay Belt Boreal Landscape

Terrier

Paquette

Gauthier

et al. 2016

Forests

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Old-growth forests play a decisive role in preserving biodiversity and ecological functions. In an environment frequently disturbed by fire, the importance of old-growth forests as both a carbon stock as well as a source of emissions when burnt is not fully understood. Here, we report on carbon accumulation with time since the last fire (TSF) in the dominant forest types of the Clay Belt region in eastern North America. To do so, we performed a fuel inventory (tree biomass, herbs and shrubs, dead woody debris, and duff loads) along four chronosequences. Carbon emissions by fire through successional stages were simulated using the Canadian Fire Effects Model. Our results show that fuel accumulates with TSF, especially in coniferous forests. Potential carbon emissions were on average 11.9 t·ha −1 and 29.5 t·ha −1 for old-growth and young forests, respectively. In conclusion, maintaining old-growth forests in the Clay Belt landscape not only ensures a sustainable management of the boreal forest, but it also optimizes the carbon storage.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Fuel Load Dynamics With Tsfmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Fuel Load Dynamics on Carbon Emission by Wildfires in the Clay Belt Boreal Landscape

Terrier

Paquette

Gauthier

et al. 2016

Forests

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“…Paludification refers to the development of a thick layer of organic matter comprised primarily of mosses that accumulates over the mineral soil (Fenton et al 2005). The development of this organic matter layer affects trees by impeding drainage and reducing soil fertility and tree growth (Simard et al 2007).…”

Section: Paludificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vulnerability assessment to climate change of three ecosystem-based forest management projects in Quebec

GoffHéloïse

BergeronYves

2014

The Forestry Chronicle

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The new forest management stewardship of Quebec acknowledges the importance of integrating climate change consequences into forest management. However, forest professionals do not know how they could take climate change into account into their decision-making. This paper proposes the assessment of climate change vulnerability for three ecosystem-based forest management (EBFM) projects in Quebec: the Tembec project in the Abitibi region, the Triad project in the Mauricie region, and the Laurentian Wildlife Reserve project. The objectives were to identify: i) climate change vulnerabilities affecting forest ecosystems and forest management, ii) adaptation options to decrease these vulnerabilities, and iii) current EBFM practices impeding or facilitating the integration of climate change adaptations in forest management. Several features of EBFM, like promoting ecosystem resilience and using an adaptive management framework, may facilitate the integration of adaptation measures into the current forest management approach. We present climate change adaptation as a piece of the puzzle that would facilitate the achievement of EBFM objectives.Keywords: adaptation to climate change, sustainable forest management, resilience, adaptive management, case studies RÉSUMÉ Le nouveau régime forestier du Québec reconnaît l'importante de considérer les conséquences des changements climatiques en aménagement forestier. Cependant, les professionnels forestiers ne savent pas comment ils pourraient tenir compte des changements climatiques dans leurs décisions. Cet article présente l' évaluation de la vulnérabilité aux changements climatiques de trois projets d'aménagement forestier écosystémique (AFE) au Québec: le projet de Tembec dans la région de l' Abitibi, le projet Triade dans la région de la Mauricie, et le projet de la Réserve faunique des Laurentides. Les objectifs étaient d'identifier i) les vulnérabilités aux changements climatiques des écosystèmes forestiers et de l'aménagement forestier, ii) des options d'adaptation visant à réduire ces vulnérabilités, et iii) les pratiques empêchant ou facilitant l'intégration de l'adaptation aux changements climatiques en aménagement forestier. L' AFE présente plusieurs aspects, comme l'amélioration de la résilience des écosystèmes ou l'utilisation d'une gestion adaptative, qui pourraient faciliter l'intégration de mesures d'adaptation dans notre façon actuelle d'aménager les forêts. Nous présentons l'adaptation aux changements climatiques comme une pièce du casse-tête qui pourrait faciliter l'atteinte d' objectifs d' AFE.

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“…The accumulation of organic matter within black spruce stands on the Clay Belt was determined to be caused primarily by the climate and the presence of black spruce. However, this accumulation is accelerated by an increase in Sphagnum moss cover and ericaceous plants (Fenton et al 2005), but is slowed by the presence of aspen (Légaré et al 2005a). As a consequence of these changes associated with the process of paludification, the quality of substrates available for tree growth decreases because, whereas Sphagnum moss is a good substrate for germination, it is a poor quality substrate for tree nutrition as compared with humus derived from Pleurozium schreberi, a feather moss (Lavoie et al 2007).…”

Section: Major Forest Management Issues Needing To Be Addressed On Thmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using knowledge of natural disturbances to support sustainable forest management in the northern Clay Belt

Bergeron¹,

Drapeau²,

Gauthier³

et al. 2007

The Forestry Chronicle

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Several concepts are at the basis of forest ecosystem management, but a relative consensus exists around the idea of a forest management approach that is based on natural disturbances and forest dynamics. This type of approach aims to reproduce the main attributes of natural landscapes in order to maintain ecosystems within their natural range of variability and avoid creating an environment to which species are not adapted. By comparing attributes associated with natural fire regimes and current forest management, we were able to identify four major differences for the black spruce forest of the Clay Belt. The maintenance of older forests, the spatial extent of cutover areas, the maintenance of residuals within cutovers and disturbance severity on soils are major issues that should be addressed. Silvicultural strategies that mitigate differences between natural and managed forests are briefly discussed.Key words: natural disturbance, landscape patterns, coarse filter, harvest pattern, volume retention, historic variability, even-aged management RÉSUMÉ Plusieurs approches conceptuelles sont à l'origine de l'aménagement écosystémique, mais un certain consensus semble exister actuellement sur le fait qu'il doit viser à reproduire des paysages naturels, i.e., des territoires aménagés qui conservent les principaux attributs des forêts naturelles. En créant des paysages avec des attributs forestiers semblables à ceux des paysages naturels, on vise à maintenir l'écosystème à l'intérieur des limites de variabilité naturelle. Ainsi, les espèces ne risquent pas de se retrouver dans un environnement auquel elles n'ont jamais été confrontées historiquement. En comparant le régime naturel des feux et son impact sur la dynamique forestière avec l'aménagement forestier actuel nous avons pu identifier certains écarts importants. Le maintien de forêts surannées, la dispersion spatiale des aires de coupes, la préservation de forêts résiduelles dans les aires de coupes et la sévérité des perturbations au sol constituent des enjeux importants à prendre en considération dans l'aménagement écosystémique des forêts de la ceinture d'argile. Des straté-gies sylvicoles permettant de décroître l'écart entre l'aménagement et la dynamique naturelle sont brièvement discutées.Mots-clés : perturbation naturelle, patron à l'échelle du paysage, filtre brut, patron de coupe, rétention variable, variabilité historique, aménagement équienne 1 Chaire industrielle CRSNG-UQAT-UQAM en aménagement forestier durable, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4.

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Paludification in black spruce (Picea mariana) forests of eastern Canada: Potential factors and management implications

Cited by 165 publications

References 38 publications

Influence of Fuel Load Dynamics on Carbon Emission by Wildfires in the Clay Belt Boreal Landscape

Influence of Fuel Load Dynamics on Carbon Emission by Wildfires in the Clay Belt Boreal Landscape

Vulnerability assessment to climate change of three ecosystem-based forest management projects in Quebec

Using knowledge of natural disturbances to support sustainable forest management in the northern Clay Belt

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