Disentangling Effects of Time Since Fire, Overstory Composition and Organic Layer Thickness on Nutrient Availability in Canadian Boreal Forest

Ecosystems ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Cavard ◽  
Yves Bergeron ◽  
David Paré ◽  
Marie-Charlotte Nilsson ◽  
David A. Wardle
2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 546-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Simard ◽  
Pierre Y. Bernier ◽  
Yves Bergeron ◽  
David Paré ◽  
Lakhdar Guérine

In many northern forest ecosystems, soil organic matter accumulation can lead to paludification and forest productivity losses. Paludification rate is primarily influenced by topography and time elapsed since fire, two factors whose influence is often confounded and whose discrimination would help forest management. This study, which was conducted in the black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) boreal forest of northwestern Quebec (Canada), aimed to (1) quantify the effect of slope and time since fire on paludification rates, (2) determine whether soil organic layer depth could be estimated by surface variables that can potentially be remotely sensed, and (3) relate the degree of paludification to tree productivity. In this study, soil organic layer depth was used as an estimator of the degree of paludification. Slope and postfire age strongly affected paludification dynamics. Young stands growing on steep slopes had thinner organic layers and lower organic matter accumulation rates compared with young stands growing on flat sites. Black spruce basal area and Sphagnum cover were strong predictors of organic layer depth, potentially allowing mapping of paludification degree across the landscape. Tree productivity was negatively related to organic layer depth (R2 = 0.57). The equations developed here can be used to quantify forest productivity decline in stands that are undergoing paludification, as well as potential productivity recovery given appropriate site preparation techniques.


2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 647-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Singh ◽  
B. D. Amiro ◽  
S. A. Quideau

Soil respiration and its spatial and temporal variation were studied at three boreal forest sites in central Saskatchewan, Canada, burned in 1998, 1989, and 1977. Soil respiration, soil temperature, and organic layer thickness were measured at 100 points in a grid pattern of 2 m × 2 m at each site in 2004 and 2005. The mean within-site spatial coefficient of variation was 35%, and the measurements were not spatially autocorrelated. We found no significant difference in variance between the two youngest sites (P > 0.05), whereas the older site showed significantly lower variance (P < 0.05). Soil respiration was not correlated with the forest floor organic layer thickness at any of the sites (R2 < 0.1). Removal of the forest floor layer reduced the soil respiration by 17% to 38%, depending on the site. Thus, the respiration from the mineral soil seemed to contribute a major fraction of the total soil respiration (62%–83%). Soil respiration was positively linearly related to the fine root biomass (R2 = 0.63–0.85, P < 0.05) at all sites. We conclude that variation in root biomass has a larger effect than differential forest floor organic layers on variation in soil respiration in young boreal postfire forests.


1968 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. A. Morrall

Oidiodendron periconioides Morrall sp. nov. and O. chlamydosporicum Morrall sp. nov. are described from Canadian boreal forest soils. O. gracile Zhdanova is considered to be a nomen dubium.


1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (19) ◽  
pp. 2344-2347 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Malloch ◽  
C. T. Rogerson

A new genus and species of ascomycetes, Catulus aquilonius, is described, illustrated, and tentatively assigned to the Mycosphaerellaceae. It grows as a parasite on stromata of Seuratia millardetii (Raciborski) Meeker and is characterized by two-celled, setulose ascospores.


2018 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 90-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giona Matasci ◽  
Txomin Hermosilla ◽  
Michael A. Wulder ◽  
Joanne C. White ◽  
Nicholas C. Coops ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 167 ◽  
pp. 371-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan P. Powers ◽  
Nicholas C. Coops ◽  
Trisalyn Nelson ◽  
Michael A. Wulder ◽  
C. Ronnie Drever

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (NA) ◽  
pp. 157-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Kreutzweiser ◽  
Paul W. Hazlett ◽  
John M. Gunn

Logging disturbances in boreal forest watersheds can alter biogeochemical processes in soils by changing forest composition, plant uptake rates, soil conditions, moisture and temperature regimes, soil microbial activity, and water fluxes. In general, these changes have often led to short-term increases in soil nutrient availability followed by increased mobility and losses by leaching to receiving waters. Among the studies we reviewed, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exports usually increased after logging, and nitrogen (N) mineralization and nitrification often increased with resulting increased N availability and exports to receiving waters. Similar processes and responses occurred for phosphorus (P), but to a lesser extent than for N. In most cases, base cations were released and exported to receiving waters after logging. Several studies demonstrated that stem-only or partial-harvest logging reduced the impacts on nutrient release and exports in comparison to whole-tree clear-cutting. Despite these logging-induced increases in soil nutrient availability and movement to receiving waters, most studies reported little or no change in soil chemical properties. However, responses to logging were highly variable and often site specific. The likelihood, extent and magnitude of logging impacts on soil nutrient cycling and exports in boreal forest watersheds will be dependent on soil types, stand and site conditions, hydrological connectivity, post-logging weather patterns, and type and timing of harvest activities. Additionally, logging impacts can interact with, and be confounded by, atmospheric pollutant deposition and climate change. Further watershed-level empirical studies and modeling efforts are required to elucidate these interactions, to improve predictive capabilities, and to advance forest management guidelines for sustaining forest soil productivity and limiting nutrient exports.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc-André Parisien ◽  
Quinn E. Barber ◽  
Kelvin G. Hirsch ◽  
Christopher A. Stockdale ◽  
Sandy Erni ◽  
...  

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