Coexistence of Abies mariesii and Abies veitchii in a subalpine fir-wave forest

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 2142-2152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin Ugawa ◽  
Kojiro Iwamoto ◽  
Kenji Fukuda
Keyword(s):  
Shade Tolerance ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Stand Development ◽  
Central Japan ◽  
Subalpine Fir ◽  
Abies Veitchii ◽  
Abies Mariesii ◽  
Seedling Bank ◽  
Mature Stand ◽  
Sapling Bank

To clarify the mechanisms underlying the coexistence of Abies mariesii Masters and Abies veitchii Lindl. in a fir-wave forest, we surveyed the population dynamics of the two Abies species throughout stand development on Mount Shimagare, central Japan. We established three belt transects and found that, overall, A. veitchii dominated this fir-wave forest. However, A. mariesii dominated the canopy initially, whereas A. veitchii increased as stand development progressed; thus, dominant A. mariesii was eventually replaced by A. veitchii. This replacement was explained by the presence of an A. mariesii sapling bank that formed under the canopy of a mature stand and by the large A. veitchii seedling bank resulting from greater seed production. For ordinary canopy individuals, which are taller than midcanopy individuals, the increase in height suggested that taller individuals grow faster vertically regardless of species; moreover, height growth did not differ significantly between the two Abies species, which facilitated the growth of A. mariesii into the canopy and the production of seeds for the next generation. We concluded that the persistence of A. mariesii in this fir-wave forest is supported by its shade tolerance.

Light-growth response relationships in Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpd)

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 1919-1930 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Klinka ◽  
Q. Wang ◽  
G. J. Kayahara ◽  
R. E. Carter ◽  
B. A. Blackwell
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Specific Leaf Area ◽  
Shade Tolerance ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Subalpine Fir ◽  
Light Gradient ◽  
Advance Regeneration ◽  
Study Sites

Pacific silver fir and subalpine fir, both typically inhabiting high-elevation forests in northwestern North America, were considered shade-tolerant species, the former more tolerant than the latter. To determine their relative shade tolerance, established advance regeneration was sampled along a light gradient ranging from open areas to inside a forest stand, and analysis of irradiance, growth, and leaf measures was obtained. Relationships between the percentage of above-canopy light (in the photosynthetically active wavelengths) associated with each study tree and its 1991 height increment, 1991 lateral increment, caliper at the base of the 1991 leader, and specific leaf area were examined for individual sites, and sites were grouped according to soil moisture. There were strong, consistent, and similar relationships between irradiance, growth performance, and specific leaf area for both species. As irradiance decreased, growth performance decreased and specific leaf area increased. In spite of ecological differences between the study sites for each species, it was concluded that on fresh sites, Pacific silver fir and subalpine fir are very tolerant of shade. Both are equally well adapted to survive under high shade and snowpack by allocating more resources to caliper and lateral growth than to height growth and by increasing specific leaf area. Key words: shade tolerance, advance regeneration, irradiance, growth performance, specific leaf area, Pacific silver fir, subalpine fir.

Changes in quantity, morphology and nitrogen content of fine roots with stand development in a subalpine fir-wave forest

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 336-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin Ugawa ◽  
Satoru Miura ◽  
Shoji Hashimoto ◽  
Kojiro Iwamoto ◽  
Kenji Fukuda
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Fine Roots ◽  
Stand Development ◽  
Subalpine Fir

Height growth–elevation relationships in subalpine forests of interior British Columbia

1996 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Klinka ◽  
H. Y. H. Chen ◽  
Q. Wang ◽  
R. E. Carter
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Picea Engelmannii ◽  
Abies Lasiocarpa ◽  
Subalpine Fir ◽  
Engelmann Spruce ◽  
Study Species

Stem analysis data from even-aged Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.) and subalpine fir [Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.] stands on zonal sites in the Engelmann Spruce—Subalpine Fir biogeoclimatic zone of British Columbia were used to examine the relationships of site index and height growth and elevation, latitude, and longitude. Elevation and latitude were found to be strongly negatively correlated with site index of both study species. Spruce site index (bh age 50) was predicted to decrease 2.9 m and fir site index 2.5 m with every 100 m and 1° increase in elevation and latitude, respectively; however, (i) site index of both species appeared to decline faster with increasing latitude than elevation, and (ii) decrease appeared to be faster for spruce than for fir. Comparison of height growth curves for stands on zonal and azonal sites with similar site index from different elevations and latitudes suggested that there are probably inconsequential differences between the shape of curves for either species. These findings imply that (i) subalpine fir is better adapted to subalpine boreal climates than Engelmann spruce and (ii) development of polymorphic site index curves for estimating site index of both species may be appropriate. Key words: elevation, latitude, longitude, site index, height growth, Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Engelmann Spruce—Subalpine Fir zone

scholarly journals Height Growth Models for High-Elevation Subalpine Fir, Engelmann Spruce, and Lodgepole Pine in British Columbia

2000 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Y. H. Chen ◽  
Karel Klinka
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Site Index ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Logistic Function ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Potential Productivity ◽  
Subalpine Fir ◽  
Engelmann Spruce

Abstract To estimate potential productivity of the high-elevation Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir (ESSF) zone of British Columbia forests, the height growth models developed from low-elevation forests are currently used to estimate site indices of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). Whether these models are adequate to describe height growth of high-elevation forests is of concern. We sampled a total of 319 naturally established, even-aged, and undamaged stands with breast height age ≥50 yr (165 for subalpine fir, 87 for Engelmann spruce, and 67 for lodgepole pine) ranging widely in climate and available soil moisture and nutrients. In each sampled stand, three dominant trees were destructively sampled for stem analysis. Height growth models developed from fitting data to a conditioned logistic function explained > 97% variation in height for all three study species. Examined by residual analysis, no models showed lack of fit. These models provided more accurate estimates of site index than the currently used models developed from low-elevation stands or different species. It is recommended that the models developed in this study be applied to estimate site index of the three species in the ESSF zone in British Columbia. West. J. Appl. For. 15(2):62-69.

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