Snag dynamics in post-harvest landscapes of western Newfoundland balsam fir-dominated boreal forests

Smith, Caryn Y.; Moroni, M. T.; Warkentin, Ian G.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2009.03.027

Cited by 14 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Our prediction that hollow-bearing trees were not retained on harvested sites at prescribed numbers over multiple rotations is consistent with observations and predictions relating to structures provided by old trees in harvested forests around the world (Linder and Ostlund, 1998;Ball et al, 1999;Ross, 1999;Wilhere, 2003;Keeton, 2006;Smith et al, 2009;Sweeney et al, 2010). In this study we quantified, for the first time, the efficacy of the four most common strategies that are employed or recommended to perpetuate structures typically provided by old trees (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Declines of hollow-bearing trees, large dead trees or large woody debris over multiple rotations have been observed or predicted in Australian eucalypt forests (Ball et al, 1999;Ross, 1999); North American boreal forest (Wilhere, 2003;Smith et al, 2009); North American mixed hardwood forests (Keeton, 2006); Swedish boreal forests (Linder and Ostlund, 1998); and Irish forests (Sweeney et al, 2010). This jeopardizes the biota dependent on these structures and undermines the ecological sustainability of wood products derived from these forests.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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What strategies are effective for perpetuating structures provided by old trees in harvested forests? A case study on trees with hollows in south-eastern Australia

Gibbons

McElhinny

Lindenmayer

2010

Forest Ecology and Management

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What strategies are effective for perpetuating structures provided by old trees in harvested forests? A case study on trees with hollows in south-eastern Australia

Gibbons

McElhinny

Lindenmayer

2010

Forest Ecology and Management

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“…Such an understanding includes having knowledge about potential impacts of timber harvesting on pre-existing, naturally occurring snags, as well as understanding the dynamics of snags created via girdling. This information not only makes it possible to assess the feasibility of meeting snag retention goals (Doyon et al 2005, Garber et al 2005, Russell et al 2006, Smith et al 2009, but also helps identify key silvicultural and operational factors that can be modified to increase snag retention where desirable (Vanderwel et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Snag dynamics in northern hardwood forests under different management scenarios

Fassnacht

Steele

2016

Forest Ecology and Management

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Snag retention is increasingly being incorporated into forest management guidelines. Questions remain, however, in northern hardwood systems regarding factors affecting retention in activelymanaged stands, the effectiveness of snag creation, and the net effects of snag creation and timber harvesting on snag numbers and sizes. To address some of these questions, we examined the dynamics of natural and created snags within mature, even-aged northern hardwood forests under seven different management scenarios: three Harvest Only treatments, three Harvest Plus (created) Snags treatments, and one untreated Control. We found tree diameter, tree species, and stand treatment status (i.e., managed or Control) to be related to the retention of natural snags, created snags, or both. Snags were less likely to remain standing if they had smaller diameters, were species with relatively rapid decay rates, or were found in stands that had been logged. We found girdling trees to be an effective method of dead wood creation, although trees took longer to die than we expected. At least 84% of girdled trees had died in most stands within 4.5 years of girdling, and 30-77% of girdled trees were still standing 5.5 years after treatment. Comparison of net effects of snag creation and timber harvesting among treatments showed that managed stands, on average, experienced net snag losses compared to untreated Controls. These losses were statistically significant for all snag sizes, but not for large snags alone (i.e., dbh ≥25.4 cm). Active management prescriptions that included snag creation demonstrated the potential to mitigate snag losses, with the extent of mitigation varying with the type of management. Surprisingly, mitigation was primarily driven by significantly greater natural snag recruitment in Plus Snags treatments, potentially due to competition from girdled trees that had not yet died. Our results may help inform the development of snag management guidelines in even-aged, 3 second-growth northern hardwood systems for forest managers who are interested in enhancing the structural complexity of these forests.

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“…Many kinds of human disturbances cause this problem, including recurrent logging, altered fire regimes, grazing by domestic livestock, and the impacts of exotic plants. The loss is global, occurring in North America [21] – [23] , South America [24] , [25] , Europe [26] , [27] , Asia [28] , and Australia [29] , [30] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interacting Factors Driving a Major Loss of Large Trees with Cavities in a Forest Ecosystem

et al. 2012

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Large trees with cavities provide critical ecological functions in forests worldwide, including vital nesting and denning resources for many species. However, many ecosystems are experiencing increasingly rapid loss of large trees or a failure to recruit new large trees or both. We quantify this problem in a globally iconic ecosystem in southeastern Australia – forests dominated by the world's tallest angiosperms, Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans). Tree, stand and landscape-level factors influencing the death and collapse of large living cavity trees and the decay and collapse of dead trees with cavities are documented using a suite of long-term datasets gathered between 1983 and 2011. The historical rate of tree mortality on unburned sites between 1997 and 2011 was >14% with a mortality spike in the driest period (2006–2009). Following a major wildfire in 2009, 79% of large living trees with cavities died and 57–100% of large dead trees were destroyed on burned sites. Repeated measurements between 1997 and 2011 revealed no recruitment of any new large trees with cavities on any of our unburned or burned sites. Transition probability matrices of large trees with cavities through increasingly decayed condition states projects a severe shortage of large trees with cavities by 2039 that will continue until at least 2067. This large cavity tree crisis in Mountain Ash forests is a product of: (1) the prolonged time required (>120 years) for initiation of cavities; and (2) repeated past wildfires and widespread logging operations. These latter factors have resulted in all landscapes being dominated by stands ≤72 years and just 1.16% of forest being unburned and unlogged. We discuss how the features that make Mountain Ash forests vulnerable to a decline in large tree abundance are shared with many forest types worldwide.

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Snag dynamics in post-harvest landscapes of western Newfoundland balsam fir-dominated boreal forests

Cited by 14 publications

References 27 publications

What strategies are effective for perpetuating structures provided by old trees in harvested forests? A case study on trees with hollows in south-eastern Australia

What strategies are effective for perpetuating structures provided by old trees in harvested forests? A case study on trees with hollows in south-eastern Australia

Snag dynamics in northern hardwood forests under different management scenarios

Interacting Factors Driving a Major Loss of Large Trees with Cavities in a Forest Ecosystem

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