Modeling fire severity in black spruce stands in the Alaskan boreal forest using spectral and non-spectral geospatial data

2010 ◽  
Vol 114 (7) ◽  
pp. 1494-1503 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Barrett ◽  
E.S. Kasischke ◽  
A.D. McGuire ◽  
M.R. Turetsky ◽  
E.S. Kane
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Geospatial Data ◽  
Spruce Stands

scholarly journals Early Regeneration Dynamics of Pure Black Spruce and Aspen Forests after Wildfire in Boreal Alberta, Canada

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie A. Jean ◽  
Bradley D. Pinno ◽  
Scott E. Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Regeneration Dynamics ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Successional Trajectory ◽  
Increasing Risk ◽  
Root Suckering ◽  
Early Regeneration

Research Highlights: Black spruce (Picea mariana Mill.) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) both regenerated vigorously after wildfire. However, pure semi-upland black spruce stands are at increasing risk of changing successional trajectories, due to greater aspen recruitment. Background and Objectives: Black spruce and aspen are found across the boreal forest with black spruce dominating lowlands and aspen being common in uplands. Both species are well adapted to wildfire with black spruce holding an aerial seedbank while aspen reproduce rapidly via root suckering. In the summer of 2016, the Horse River wildfire burned 589,617 hectares of northern Alberta’s boreal forest. Methods: We assessed early regeneration dynamics of both pure aspen and pure black spruce forests. For black spruce, 12 plots were established in both bog and semi-upland habitats to assess seedling regeneration and seedbed availability. For aspen, 12 plots were established in each of the low, moderate, and high burn severities, as well as 5 unburned plots. Results: Post-fire black spruce regeneration densities did not differ between bog and semi-upland habitats, but were positively correlated with forb cover and charred organic matter seedbeds. Aspen regeneration within pure black sprue stands was substantial, particularly in semi-upland habitats, indicating a potential shift in successional trajectory. Fire severity did not significantly affect aspen regeneration in pure aspen stands, but regeneration density in all severity types was >90,000 stems ha−1. Aspen regeneration densities were negatively related to post-fire forb and shrub cover, likely due to competition and cooler soil temperature.

Fire severity as a determinant factor of the decomposition rate of fire-killed black spruce in the northern boreal forest

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 370-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Boulanger ◽  
Luc Sirois ◽  
Christian Hébert
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Decomposition Process ◽  
Vertical Position ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Considerable Impact

Several attributes might influence the decomposition process of fire-killed trees. Here, we tested various tree- and plot-level variables on the decomposition rate of fire-killed black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) in the northern boreal forest. Data were collected from 474 individuals burned 17 years prior to sampling. Mean decomposition rate was relatively slow (k = 0.013) and was lowest for severely burned snags (k = 0.001) and highest for lightly burned logs (k = 0.027–0.036). Vertical position and fire severity were the most important variables influencing the decomposition rates, while plot-level variables were marginally significant. Both predictors strongly influenced the moisture content of fire-killed trees. Logs with greater contact with the ground and lightly burned trees had higher moisture content and faster decomposition rates. Very severely burned trees had lower moisture content because of faster bark shedding. This hampered the decomposition process by slowing the snag falling rate. Higher decomposition rates in lightly burned trees may result from greater colonization by early xylophagous species. By having a considerable impact on the decomposition of woody debris, fire severity may strongly influence many post-fire biological processes related to the woody necromass as well as carbon emission from burned stands.

Vertical distribution of three longhorned beetle species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in burned trees of the boreal forest

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 564-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yannick Cadorette-Breton ◽  
Christian Hébert ◽  
Jacques Ibarzabal ◽  
Richard Berthiaume ◽  
Éric Bauce
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Larval Density ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Longhorned Beetle ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Salvage Logging

This study aimed to characterize the vertical distribution of longhorned beetle larvae in burned trees of the eastern Canadian boreal forest. Black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) trees burned at three severity levels were cut, and 30 cm boles were collected from the ground up to a height of 9.45 m. Boles were debarked and dissected to collect insect larvae. Results show that the three most abundant longhorned beetle species were vertically segregated among burned jack pine and black spruce trees, but the section having the highest timber value was heavily infested by woodborer larvae. Larval density distribution of Monochamus scutellatus scutellatus (Say) and of Acmaeops proteus proteus (Kirby) could be linked with bark thickness, which also depends on fire severity. Lightly burned stands of black spruce were the most heavily infested and should be salvaged only if they are easily accessible and can thus be rapidly harvested and processed at the mill. More severely burned stands should be salvaged later as they will be less affected by woodborers, as should jack pine, which is lightly infested compared with black spruce. The ecological role of stumps should be further investigated because they could still have an ecological value after salvage logging as Arhopalus foveicollis (Haldeman) uses them specifically.

scholarly journals Wolverine, Gulo gulo luscus, Resting Sites and Caching Behavior in the Boreal Forest

2004 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan D. Wright ◽  
Jessica Ernst
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Gulo Gulo ◽  
Feeding Site ◽  
Resting Sites ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Good Visibility

Wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) caches and resting sites were examined in a study area in the boreal upland forests of northwestern Alberta and northeastern British Columbia (approximately 57°N). Cache sites were in climax, or “overmature” stands of Black Spruce (Picea mariana) or mixed-wood of high complexity, dominated by conifers, and in which the Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides) and Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera) component consisted of mostly dead or dying trees characteristic of such old growth in the boreal uplands. Sites offered relatively good visibility of the surrounding stand. Sites were never located in the dense to extremely dense homogenous spruce stands documented as being favored for travel by Wolverines in the study area. The better used cache complexes were accessed by numerous well-used trails made by the Wolverines themselves. Caches consisted of the bones, hide and hair of Moose (Alces alces) believed to have been killed by Grey Wolves (Canis lupus). Caches were classified as “simple caches” composed of a single feeding site and/or excavation and “cache complexes” involving one or more feeding “stations”, latrines, resting sites, and climbing trees that may have been used as avenues of escape from competitors/predators. Resting sites were located atop the snow in relatively open locations that offered good visibility of the surroundings. Climax stands were implicated as being of importance to Wolverine caching behavior. Conservation implications include the detrimental effect on Wolverine populations likely to result from current timber harvesting practices in the boreal forest.

scholarly journals Radial Growth Response of Black Spruce Stands Ten Years after Experimental Shelterwoods and Seed-Tree Cuttings in Boreal Forest

Forests ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Montoro Girona ◽  
Hubert Morin ◽  
Jean-Martin Lussier ◽  
Denis Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Growth Response ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Spruce Stands

scholarly journals Juvenile growth of black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] BSP) stands established during endemic and epidemic attacks by spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clemens]) in the boreal forest of Quebec, Canada

2009 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelia Krause ◽  
Hubert Morin ◽  
Pierre-Y. Plourde
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Juvenile Growth ◽  
Volume Yield ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Naturally Regenerated Stands

In the boreal forest of Quebec, 80% of harvested black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] BSP) stands regenerate naturally. In the remaining 20%, forest regeneration is ensured by planting seedlings and these plantations are expected to increase future forest yields. However, predictions of future yields using the information from very young plantations in this ecosystem may have low accuracy. To compare juvenile growth in plantations versus naturally regenerated stands, and also to evaluate the impacts of spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) defoliation periods during the juvenile phase, annual height and volume growth were calculated from measurements on nine black spruce stands. The nine sites consisted of two plantations and seven post-fire, naturally regenerated stands. Of the seven naturally regenerated sites, four were epidemic and 3 endemic. The term “epidemic” refers to stands regenerated during known spruce budworm defoliation periods. The term “endemic” refers to stands regenerated during periods without severe defoliation. For height and volume growth, 5 different methods were used and compared. The annual height and volume growth of all black spruce showed a sigmoid trend, characterized by low values in the first years after germination, followed by an exponential acceleration and finally oscillation around a horizontal asymptote. The black spruce stands established during endemic periods were more productive than those established during epidemic periods, but plantations were the most productive. Key words: black spruce, juvenile growth, plantation, post-fire stands, spruce budworm outbreak, volume, yield

Développement d’un outil de classification de la structure des peuplements et comparaison de deux territoires de la pessière à mousses du Québec

2003 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 318-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Boucher ◽  
L De Grandpré ◽  
S Gauthier
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Spruce Forest ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Statistical Tool ◽  
Forest Region ◽  
Spruce Stands

Forest stand structure is an important element for biodiversity and, from a sustainable forest management perspective, uneven-sized stands should be managed in order to maintain the structural diversity over the landscape. The first objective of this study is to develop a statistical tool to characterize stand structure that can be used in forest management planning. The second objective is to classify the stand structure of two regions to illustrate a possible use for the tool. The statistical tool for characterizing stand structure has been developed from forest inventory data gathered by the ministère des Ressources naturelles du Québec, using discriminant analysis. The analysis makes it possible to classify the stands into three types of structure, even-sized, uneven-sized and inverse J-shaped, with an error rate estimated at only 7%. Proportions of different structure types in Quebec’s eastern black spruce forest region have been compared with those found in the western black spruce forest region. Nearly 90% of the western black spruce forest region is composed of pure black spruce stands, contrary to the eastern black spruce region, where there are more pure fir and mixed spruce-fir stands. Most of the western black spruce forest stands are even-sized (62%), while almost 70% of the eastern black spruce forest stands are uneven-sized or inverse J-shaped. Pure black spruce stands are more even-sized than pure fir stands, but regional differences are also found within pure black spruce stands. Our results show that it is possible to develop a robust tool that makes it possible to classify thousands of stands rapidly. Such tools are required if we want to consider stand structure for appropriate management prescriptions in the boreal forest. Key words: Even- and uneven-sized structure, fire regime, Picea mariana, Abies balsamea, boreal forest, structural diversity

Seasonal and topographic effects on estimating fire severity from Landsat TM/ETM+ data

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 527 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Verbyla ◽  
Eric S. Kasischke ◽  
Elizabeth E. Hoy
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Spectral Reflectance ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Remotely Sensed ◽  
Thematic Mapper ◽  
Solar Elevation ◽  
High Severity ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Normalized Burn Ratio

The maximum solar elevation is typically less than 50 degrees in the Alaskan boreal region and solar elevation varies substantially during the growing season. Because of the relatively low solar elevation at boreal latitudes, the effect of topography on spectral reflectance can influence fire severity indices derived from remotely sensed data. We used Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) data to test the effect of changing solar elevation and topography on the Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) and the differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR). When a time series of unburned pixels from black spruce forests was examined, we found that NBR values consistently decreased from June through September. At the stand level, dNBR-derived values from similar unburned and burned black spruce stands were substantially higher from September imagery relative to July or August imagery. Within the Boundary burn, we found mean post-fire NBR to consistently vary owing to topographic control of potential solar radiation. To minimise spectral response due to topographic control of vegetation and fire severity, we computed a dNBR using images from August and September immediately after a June–July wildfire. There was a negative bias in remotely sensed fire severity estimates as potential solar radiation decreased owing to topography. Thus fire severity would be underestimated for stands in valley bottoms dominated by topographic shading or on steep north-facing slopes oriented away from incoming solar radiation. This is especially important because highly flammable black spruce stands typically occur on such sites. We demonstrate the effect of changing pre- and post-fire image dates on fire severity estimates by using a fixed NBR threshold defining ‘high severity’. The actual fire severity was constant, but owing to changes in phenology and solar elevation, ‘high severity’ pixels within a burn ranged from 56 to 76%. Because spectral reflectance values vary substantially as solar elevation and plant phenology change, the use of reflectance-based indices to assess trends in burn severity across regions or years may be especially difficult in high-latitude areas such as the Alaskan boreal forest.

scholarly journals Success Factors for Experimental Partial Harvesting in Unmanaged Boreal Forest: 10-Year Stand Yield Results

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1199
Author(s):  
Louiza Moussaoui ◽  
Alain Leduc ◽  
Miguel Montoro Girona ◽  
Annie Claude Bélisle ◽  
Benoit Lafleur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Organic Layer ◽  
Stand Development ◽  
Partial Harvesting ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Stand Yield

Over the past two decades, partial harvesting has been increasingly used in boreal forests as an alternative to clearcutting to promote irregular stand structures and maintain a balance between biodiversity preservation and continued timber production. However, relatively little is still known about the silvicultural potential of partial harvesting in Canada’s boreal forest, especially in areas prone to organic matter accumulation (paludification), and most prior research has focused on biodiversity responses. In this study, we assess the effects of partial harvesting on stand development (recruitment, growth, and mortality) ten years after harvesting in previously unmanaged black spruce stands and quantify its effectiveness in reducing the impacts on ecosystem structures. Our analyses revealed that pre-harvest stand structure and site characteristics, especially initial basal area, sapling density, tree diameter, and organic layer thickness (OLT) were major factors involved in stand development ten years following these partial harvesting treatments. Depending on pre-harvest structure and site characteristics, partial harvesting can result in either an increase in post-harvest tree recruitment and growth or a loss of stand volume because of standing tree mortality. To increase the chances of partial harvesting success in ensuring an increase in decennial stand yield after harvest in black spruce forest stands, sites prone to paludification (i.e., where OLT >17 cm) should be left unharvested. This study illustrates the importance of taking into account pre-existing structure and site characteristics in the selection of management strategies to maximize the potential of partial harvesting to achieve sustainable forest management in black spruce stands.

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