scholarly journals Tree retention practices in boreal forests: what kind of future landscapes are we creating?

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 526-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Lämås ◽  
Emma Sandström ◽  
Jonas Jonzén ◽  
Håkan Olsson ◽  
Lena Gustafsson
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Tree Retention ◽  
Retention Practices

scholarly journals Potential Recolonization Benefits of Retention Forestry Practices

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Loehle ◽  
Kevin A Solarik ◽  
Daniel U Greene ◽  
Laura Six ◽  
Darren J H Sleep
Keyword(s):  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Life History Trait ◽  
Forest Reserves ◽  
Forestry Practices ◽  
Retention Forestry ◽  
Tree Retention ◽  
Scattered Trees ◽  
Retention Practices ◽  
Slow Growing

Abstract Tree retention after forest harvest is often used to enhance biodiversity in forests that are otherwise managed using even-aged systems. It remains unclear to what extent scattered trees and residual patches (i.e., retained structures) actually facilitate recolonization of species in logged areas. For assessing recolonization benefits, it is necessary to consider both survival in retained structures postharvest and recolonization in cleared areas. We conducted a literature review to assess recolonization responses of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, vascular plants, invertebrates, lichens/bryophytes, and mycorrhizal fungi. The clearest benefits of retention were for poorly dispersing plants. Seed dispersal type may be a key life-history trait relative to effectiveness of recolonization, with animal-dispersed seeds having the greatest dispersal range. We found that lichens/bryophytes are likely not dispersal limited (with possible exceptions) but are slow growing and require the development of moist microsite conditions. Significant literature gaps exist for amphibians, nonvolant invertebrates, and mycorrhizal fungi. Overall, recolonization success postharvest is taxon specific, where the benefits of implementing retention systems will depend on the region and species within that region. Species that require a long growth period (some lichens) or are poor dispersers (some herbaceous species) may benefit more from the creation of forest reserves than from retention practices.

Responses of boreal epiphytic bryophytes to different levels of partial canopy harvestThis paper is one of a selection of papers published as part of the special Schofield Gedenkschrift.

Botany ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard T. Caners ◽  
S. Ellen Macdonald ◽  
René J. Belland
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Forest Growth ◽  
Hylocomium Splendens ◽  
Interspecific Associations ◽  
Tree Retention ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
Different Levels

Epiphytic mosses and liverworts contribute substantially to the bryophyte diversity of circumpolar boreal forests but are susceptible to altered growing conditions after forest harvesting. Management practices that retain some trees after harvest may enhance epiphyte survival; however, the effectiveness of this emerging method needs to be assessed. We examined the survival, composition, and nearest neighbour relationships of epiphytic bryophytes on trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) across a range (10%–100%) of dispersed green-tree retention 5 years after harvest in boreal mixed-wood forest. Growth of the forest floor moss Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp. in B.S.G. was used as an indicator of changes in moisture availability for epiphytes following harvesting. Epiphyte richness and abundance increased with canopy retention and were positively correlated with local abundance of coniferous trees. Positive associations among neighbouring species in intact forest demonstrated that interspecies relationships form naturally. However, there was a shift in species composition after harvesting and fewer interspecific associations with declining retention. These trends were accompanied by reduced Hylocomium splendens growth, which implies that moisture may be an important driver of epiphyte response. Although different levels of canopy retention were similarly capable of maintaining some epiphytes, the loss of species associated with intact forest will require consideration of alternative management practices for their conservation.

Short term response of small mammals and forest birds to silvicultural practices differing in tree retention in irregular boreal forests

Ecoscience ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mélanie-Louise Le Blanc ◽  
Daniel Fortin ◽  
Marcel Darveau ◽  
Jean-Claude Ruel
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Forest Birds ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Silvicultural Practices ◽  
Tree Retention ◽  
Term Response

scholarly journals Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) and Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) breeding records in managed boreal forests

2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-131
Author(s):  
Zoltan Domahidi ◽  
Scott E. Nielsen ◽  
Erin M. Bayne ◽  
John R. Spence
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Breeding Parameters ◽  
Aegolius Funereus ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Tree Retention ◽  
Green Tree Retention ◽  
Aegolius Acadicus ◽  
Boreal Owl

During the 2016 breeding season we monitored 169 nest boxes suitable for Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) and Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) in high-latitude (>55°N) boreal forests of northwestern Alberta affected by partial logging. Despite the large number of boxes deployed, the number of boxes used by Boreal and Northern Saw-whet Owls was small. Boreal Owls used nest boxes (n = 4) in conifer-dominated stands with three being in uncut blocks and the other in a 50% green tree retention cut-block. In contrast, Northern Saw-whet Owls used boxes (n = 4) in a broader range of cover types, breeding in boxes placed in stands with at least 20% post-harvest tree retention. Although both species successfully bred in the same landscape, Boreal Owls produced fewer eggs (mean = 2.5) and raised fewer young (mean = 0.5) than Northern Saw-whet Owls (5 and 2.25, respectively). Furthermore, our observed Boreal Owl egg production was lower than has been found for the same species nesting in nest boxes in different regions or forest types. In contrast, breeding parameters of Northern Saw-whet Owls were similar to that found in nest boxes in the eastern boreal region of Canada and in the southern part of its range.

Natural dynamics-based silviculture for maintaining plant biodiversity in Populus tremuloides-dominated boreal forests of eastern CanadaThis article is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Poplar Research in Canada.

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (12) ◽  
pp. 1158-1170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sybille Haeussler ◽  
Yves Bergeron ◽  
Suzanne Brais ◽  
Brian D. Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Experimental Stand ◽  
Tree Retention ◽  
Tall Shrub ◽  
Natural Dynamics

Southern boreal forests dominated by trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) are notable for the biological richness of their plant communities. We used 12 plant community and plant functional group indicators to test the hypothesis that natural dynamics-based silvicultural systems better maintain biodiversity in aspen plant communities than conventional clear-cutting. Using CA ordination, box-and-whisker diagrams, and ANOVA, we compared the range of variability of our 12 bioindicators among five experimental stand types of the sylviculture et aménagement forestier écosystémiques (SAFE) project: mature (78 years) uncut; mature 1/3 partial-cut; mature 2/3 partial-cut; young (3 years) unburned clear-cut; young burned clear-cut; and three closely matched aspen stand types of northwest Quebec and northeast Ontario: old (105 years) uncut; young unburned clear-cut; young wildfire. Burned clearcuts partially emulated wildfires by reducing tall shrub abundance and regenerating post-fire specialists, but snags were lacking. The dual disturbance also retarded aspen regrowth and caused a 7-fold increase in non-native plants. Partial-cuts retained most attributes of mature uncut stands, but after 3 years showed little evidence of accelerating development of old stand characteristics. We concluded that SAFE natural dynamics-based silviculture better recreated the range of variability of naturally disturbed aspen plant communities than conventional clear-cutting. Improvements, including alternative burn prescriptions and snag or green tree retention in clearcuts, are nontheless warranted.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document