Retention tree characteristics have major influence on the post-harvest tree mortality and availability of coarse woody debris in clear-cut areas

2016 ◽  
Vol 369 ◽  
pp. 66-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aino Hämäläinen ◽  
Mika Hujo ◽  
Osmo Heikkala ◽  
Kaisa Junninen ◽  
Jari Kouki
Keyword(s):  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Tree Characteristics

Structural differences between forests regenerating following spruce budworm defoliation and clear-cut harvesting: implications for marten

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 1965-1972 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C Payer ◽  
Daniel J Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Understory Vegetation ◽  
Clear Cut

American marten (Martes americana Turton) avoid recent clearcuts when establishing territories but do not avoid similarly aged stands with a history of extensive tree mortality caused by the eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clem.). We quantified differences in overstory vegetation, understory vegetation, and coarse woody debris between stands that were clear-cut or defoliated by spruce budworms 10-20 years prior to our study. Our objectives were to identify habitat features with functional significance for marten that were lacking in managed stands and to propose goals for silvicultural practices that more closely resemble a natural disturbance (insect defoliation), thus improving habitat quality for marten. In contrast to regenerating clearcuts, defoliated stands had greater volumes of snags, downed logs, and root masses and included taller trees. Although live-tree basal area was similar between stand types, our results suggest that vertical structure provided by large snags can offset limited availability of live trees for marten, particularly where coarse woody debris and understory vegetation are plentiful. In stands under even-aged management, habitat quality for marten may be enhanced by retention of >18 m2/ha cull trees and snags. Uneven-aged silvicultural systems, which more closely mimic natural disturbance by defoliating insects, may have particular promise for maintaining marten habitat.

Coarse woody debris in old-growth temperate beech (Nothofagus) forests of New Zealand

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 1989-1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn H. Stewart ◽  
Larry E. Burrows
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Hardwood Forests ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Decay Sequence ◽  
Nothofagus Forests

The volume, biomass, and carbon and nitrogen content of coarse woody debris were measured on three 1-ha reference plots in old-growth Nothofagusfusca (Hook. f.) Oerst.–Nothofagusmenziesii (Hook. f.) Oerst. forest on the South Island of New Zealand. Two decay sequences for logs and one for standing dead trees (snags) were recognised from two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) of up to 30 variables related to physical characteristics and structural integrity. Wood volume (up to 800 m3•ha−1) and biomass were high (up to 300 Mg•ha−1), and the inside-out decay sequence from heartwood to sapwood was unusual compared with that of other temperate hardwood forests. Coarse woody debris represented significant carbon and nitrogen pools, with ca. 150 Mg•ha−1 and 370 kg•ha−1, respectively, in one stand. The coarse woody debris component of these broad-leaved evergreen hardwood forests was much higher than that reported for other temperate hardwood forests and approaches that of many northern hemisphere conifer forests. The large coarse woody debris pools are discussed in relation to live stand biomass, natural disturbances and tree mortality, and decomposition processes.

scholarly journals Bryophyte Conservation in Managed Boreal Landscapes: Fourteen-Year Impacts of Partial Cuts on Epixylic Bryophytes

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Opoku-Nyame ◽  
Alain Leduc ◽  
Nicole J. Fenton
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Over Time

Clear cut harvest simplifies and eliminates old growth forest structure, negatively impacting biodiversity. Partial cut harvest has been hypothesized (1) to have less impact on biodiversity than clear cut harvest, and (2) to encourage old growth forest structures. Long-term studies are required to test this hypothesis as most studies are conducted soon after harvest. Using epixylic bryophytes as indicators, this study addresses this knowledge gap. Fourteen years after harvest, we examined changes in epixylic bryophyte community composition richness and traits, and their microhabitats (coarse woody debris characteristics and microclimate) along an unharvested, partial cuts and clear cuts harvest treatment in 30 permanent plots established in the boreal black spruce (Picea mariana) forests of northwestern Quebec, Canada. Our results were compared to those of an initial post-harvest study (year 5) and to a chronosequence of old growth forests to examine species changes over time and the similarity of bryophyte communities in partial cut and old growth forests. Coarse woody debris (CWD) volume by decay class varied among harvest treatments with partial cuts and clear cuts recording lower volumes of early decay CWD. The epixylic community was richer in partial cuts than in mature unharvested forests and clear cuts. In addition, species richness and overall abundance doubled in partial and clear cuts between years 5 and 14. Species composition also differed among treatments between years 5 and 14. Furthermore, conditions in partial cut stands supported small, drought sensitive, and old growth confined species that are threatened by conditions in clear cut stands. Lastly, over time, species composition in partial cuts became more similar to old growth forests. Partial cuts reduced harvest impacts by continuing to provide favorable microhabitat conditions that support epixylic bryophytes. Also, partial cut harvest has the potential to encourage old growth species assemblages, which has been a major concern for biodiversity conservation in managed forest landscapes. Our findings support the promotion of partial cut harvest as an effective strategy to achieve species and habitat conservation goals.

Coarse woody debris in forest regions of Russia

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 768-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga N Krankina ◽  
Mark E Harmon ◽  
Yuri A Kukuev ◽  
Rudolf F Treyfeld ◽  
Nikolai N Kashpor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Forest Regions ◽  
Forest Use ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Young Forests ◽  
Intensively Managed ◽  
Regions Of Russia

To assess regional stores of coarse woody debris (CWD) in seven major forest regions of Russia, we combined data collected as part of the routine forest inventory with measurements in 1044 sample plots and the results of density sampling of 922 dead trees. The stores of CWD in the western part of Russia (St. Petersburg, Central, Khanty-Mansi, and Novosibirsk regions) were on average lower (14–20 m3/ha or 4.0–5.8 Mg/ha) than in the East Siberian and Far Eastern regions (40–51 m3/ha or 11.0–14.4 Mg/ha). The difference in CWD stores was particularly large between young forests in two western regions (2.4 Mg/ha in St. Petersburg and 3.4 Mg/ha in the Central region) and in the east (20.4–24.4 Mg/ha). This difference is associated with the prevailing disturbance type: clear-cut harvest in western Russia and natural disturbances in the east. Analysis of variance in CWD stores indicates that region, dominant species, forest age group, productivity class, and interactions of these factors explain 87–88% of the total variance and the strongest effects are for age group and region. Lower stores of CWD within the intensively managed forest regions suggest that further expansion of forest use in many regions of Russia may reduce regional stores of CWD and carbon.

scholarly journals Effects of Fire Severity and Woody Debris on Tree Regeneration for Exploratory Well Pads in Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) Forests

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1330
Author(s):  
Angelo T. Filicetti ◽  
Ryan A. LaPointe ◽  
Scott E. Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Tree Regeneration ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Debris Cover ◽  
In Fire

Restoring anthropogenic footprints to pre-disturbance conditions or minimizing their long-term impacts is an important goal in conservation. Many footprints, particularly if left alone, have wide-ranging effects on biodiversity. In Canada, energy exploration footprints result in forest dissection and fragmentation contributing to declines in woodland caribou. Developing cost effective strategies to restore forests and thus conserving the woodland caribou habitat is a conservation priority. In this study, we compared the effects of wildfire and local variation in the amount of residual woody debris on natural regeneration in jack pine on exploratory well pads in Alberta’s boreal forest. Specifically, we investigated how footprint size, fire severity (overstory tree mortality), ground cover of fine and coarse woody debris, and adjacent stand characteristics (i.e., height, age, and cover), affected tree regeneration densities and height using negative binomial count and linear models (Gaussian), respectively. Regeneration density was 30% higher on exploratory well pads than adjacent forests, increased linearly with fire severity on the exploratory well pads (2.2% per 1% increase in fire severity), but non-linearly in adjacent forests (peaking at 51,000 stems/ha at 72% fire severity), and decreased with amount of woody debris on exploratory well pads (2.7% per 1% increase in woody debris cover). The height of regenerating trees on exploratory well pads decreased with fire severity (0.56 cm per 1% increase in fire severity) and was non-linearly related to coarse woody debris (peaking at 286 cm at 9.4% coarse woody debris cover). Heights of 3 and 5 m on exploratory well pads were predicted by 13- and 21-years post-fire, respectively. Our results demonstrate that wildfires can stimulate natural recovery of fire-adapted species, such as jack pine, on disturbances as large as exploratory well pads (500–1330 m2) and that the type and amount of woody debris affects these patterns.

Characteristics of Coarse Woody Debris for Several Coastal Streams of Southeast Alaska, USA

1990 ◽  
Vol 47 (9) ◽  
pp. 1684-1693 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. George Robison ◽  
Robert L. Beschta
Keyword(s):  
Fourth Order ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Fish Habitat ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Order Stream ◽  
Horizontal Orientation ◽  
Coastal Streams ◽  
Stream Hydraulics ◽  
Stream Size

Coarse woody debris (> 0.2 m in diameter and 1.5 m long) was measured along five undisturbed low-gradient stream reaches; volume, decay class, and horizontal orientation in relation to channel flow of first-, second-, third-, and fourth-order coastal streams were determined. Debris was also classified into four influence zones based on stream hydraulics and fish habitat. Average debris length, diameter, and volume per piece increased with stream size. Eighty percent of debris volume of the first-order and the smaller second-order streams was suspended above or lying outside the bankfull channel, while less than 40% was similarly positioned in the fourth-order stream. Approximately one-third of all debris was oriented perpendicular to stream flow, regardless of stream size. First-, second-, and third-order streams had a higher proportion of recent debris in the channel than the fourth-order stream ([Formula: see text]19 vs. 8%), most new debris being attributable to a major 1984 windstorm. Tree blowdown had a major influence on debris distribution along the smaller stream reaches. Debris jams and accumulations in the largest stream were formed from floated debris. These characterizations are useful for evaluating the distribution and amount of woody debris associated with land-management activities.

scholarly journals Communities of epigeic beetles in tree line from montane spruce forest to secondary meadow in the different stage of the forest decline in the area of Modrava (Bohemian forest, Czech Republic)

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 340-349
Author(s):  
Jaroslav Boháč ◽  
Karel Matějka
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Bark Beetle ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Statistical Testing ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Epigeic Beetles

Abstract Communities of epigeic beetles were studied using pitfall trapping on 10 plots with the different stage of decline and clear-cut plots without coarse woody debris. Species richness (number of all species, S), total species diversity as the Shannon-Wiener’s index (H) and equitability (e) were calculated in the DBreleve. The Ward’s method of hierarchical agglomerative classification with Euclidean distance was used for the differentiation of the communities on the plots. Species data for this analyse were represented by logarithm-transformed activities [log(x+1)]. The single-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical testing of differences in structural parameters (e.g. species richness and diversity) amongst distinguished groups of the plots. The species diversity and activity differs on glades without trees and coarse woody debris. The highest number of species was found in clear-cut areas. The lowest number of species was found on the plots with the living forest particularly invaded by bark beetle. This fact is caused by the fact that the clear-cut plots are invaded by ubiquitous and anthropotolerant species with good migration possibilities. These species are adapted to habitats without trees and are able to leave even in the habitats with very sparse or without vegetation. Species living in the forest even under the bark beetle attack are often stenotopic and adapted to the forest microclimate (higher humidity and low average temperature). These species are very sensitive to great difference in the daily changes of microclimate. The study of beetle communities support the hypothesis that the keeping of dead tree stands on plots after bark beetle outbreak is better for biodiversity conservation than the cutting down of trees and the abolishment of stems.

Partial cutting as an analogue to stem exclusion and dieback in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) dominated boreal mixedwoods: implications for deadwood dynamicsThis article is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Forum IUFRO 1.05 Uneven-Aged Silvicultural Research Group Conference on Natural Disturbance-Based Silviculture: Managing for Complexity.

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (9) ◽  
pp. 1525-1533 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. Harvey ◽  
S. Brais
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
White Birch ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Downed Wood

In the winter of 1998–1999, two partial harvesting treatments that removed 33% (1/3) and 61% (2/3) of stand basal area were applied to even-aged trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) stands and compared with unharvested control stands. Stands in the 1/3 treatment were low thinned, while stands in the 2/3 removal were crown thinned. Coarse woody debris dynamics were assessed during the following 6 years by means of permanent sampling plots and downed wood inventories. Between 1999 and 2004, tree mortality was, respectively, 18%, 17%, and 32% in control stands and 1/3 and 2/3 harvesting treatments. Although total snag density was similar between controls and partial cutting treatments, total snag basal area was significantly higher in controls in 2004. Between 1999 and 2004, net change in aspen snag density was positive for controls and negative for both partial cutting treatments. Partial cutting also exacerbated mortality of small-diameter white birch ( Betula papyrifera Marsh.). Downed wood volume increased by 35 m3·ha–1 in controls and by 25 m3·ha–1 in the 2/3 harvesting treatment, while it decreased by 7 m3·ha–1 in the 1/3 harvesting treatment. Coarse woody debris goals can be established in silviculture prescriptions; type, timing, and intensity of partial cutting are crucial to the outcome.

scholarly journals AN ASSESSMENT OF RETENTION TREES IN HYLOCOMIOSA FOREST TYPE IN SOUTHERN LATVIA

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inga STRAUPE ◽  
Līga LIEPA
Keyword(s):  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Young Stand ◽  
The Status ◽  
Young Forests ◽  
Old Trees ◽  
Retention Trees

In Latvia the forest legislation requires that at least five living trees must be retained per hectare after clear-cutting. It is known that retention trees significantly increase the biodiversity in production forest landscape. After clear-cutting retention trees function as habitats for various lichens, mosses, insects, fungi and birds. Over time retention trees are incorporated into the young forests stand and provide presence of old trees, which is necessary for many endangered and rare species. After the death, these trees turn into coarse woody debris which is an essential habitat and feeding source for many taxa. However, the conservation and mortality of the retention trees has not been studied extensively because this approach has been established recently. The aim of this study was to evaluate development of the retention trees in Hylocomiosa type of forests in Southern Latvia. In total 12 young forest stands were surveyed in 2009 and 2015. The total area – 13.7 ha, on average forest stand size varies from 0.5 to 3.0 ha. All the studied sites were harvested in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. All measurements of tree species, height, and diameter and defoliation class assessed and the status of tree (growing tree, coarse woody debris – snags, stems and downed logs) was indicated. Results show that after the studied period of seven years 24 retention trees died. Average level of the tree mortality is 15 %. The mortality level of Scots pine retention trees is 5.8 %, for aspen – 50 % and that for birch – 92.3 %. An average it is 8.5 green retention trees per 1 ha of young stand (22.9 m3 ha-1). On average 2.3 pieces coarse woody debris are per 1 ha of young stand (3.52 m3 ha-1), mostly - aspen wood (2.4 m3 ha-1). Woody debris of the young stands is divided to the first 4 decay levels according to classification (Stokland et al., 2001). 50 % of the listed woody debris is related to the 3rd decay level which means that woody debris is moderately decomposed.

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