Riparian forest strips as habitat for snowshoe hare in a boreal balsam fir forest

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 1494-1500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Darveau ◽  
Jean Huot ◽  
Louis Bélanger
Keyword(s):  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Buffer Effect ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Local Perturbations ◽  
Open Question

Riparian forest strips are usually protected from logging for their buffer effect on aquatic habitats. However, their value to terrestrial wildlife species such as snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus Erxleben) is unknown. From 1990 to 1996, we compared habitat characteristics (shrubs and saplings 0.25-2.25 m high), hare browsing, and hare pellet densities in five types of experimental riparian forest strips (20, 40, 60, and >300 m wide intact strips, and 20 m wide thinned strips), in a humid boreal balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) landscape managed primarily for timber harvesting in Quebec. Based on coniferous and deciduous shrub densities, all riparian forest strips and adjacent clearcuts remained low-quality habitats for hare over 6 years following clear-cutting. Only 103 shrubs were browsed in a 1500-m2 area sampled over 3 years, of which only 33 had >20% of browsed stems. Nevertheless, pellet data revealed a low but sustained use of all strips each summer and winter, and there were no changes over 6 years (mean 280 pellets/ha per month; P > 0.05). Whether hare populations are cyclic or not in our region remains an open question. However, they show some fluctuations and timber harvesting coincided with "high" hare populations in our study area. Sampling in "low" years might show that fewer hares occupy the forest strips. Further work is required to determine the influence of regional and local perturbations on the use of riparian forest strips by snowshoe hares.

Attributes of forest strips used by snowshoe hare in winter within clear-cut boreal landscapes

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 2521-2527 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Potvin ◽  
Normand Bertrand ◽  
Jean Ferron
Keyword(s):  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
South Central ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Riparian Strips

The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus Erxleben) is an important prey for many predators in the boreal forest. In this biome, clear-cut landscapes are generally large and consist of aggregated cutting blocks separated by narrow forest strips (typically 60–100 m wide). To identify attributes of forest strips that are important for snowshoe hares, we measured the use of strips using track counts over two winters in six clear-cut landscapes (23–256 km2) in south-central Quebec. Surveys were conducted in 20 riparian strips (RS), 20 upland strips (US), and 15 control sites (CO) at the periphery of clear-cut landscapes. Overall, 392 signs of hare presence were recorded along 50 km of transects. Snowshoe hares were present in one-third of the strips surveyed and were five times less abundant in US and RS than in CO. The species avoided strip edges. Hares were more common in the wider strips (>100 m), in the strips adjacent to residual forest patches (≥25 ha), or in those having a denser shrub canopy, which is often associated with a greater basal area in balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.). To maintain snowshoe hare at moderate densities in large clear-cut landscapes, we suggest leaving uncut forest strips >100 m wide in areas having a good shrub cover with presence of balsam fir.

Response of beaver, moose, and snowshoe hare to clear-cutting in a Quebec boreal forest: a reassessment 10 years after cut

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Potvin ◽  
Laurier Breton ◽  
Réhaume Courtois
Keyword(s):  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Castor Canadensis ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Control Block ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Rate Of Increase

We studied the response of beaver (Castor canadensis Kuhl), moose (Alces alces L.), and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus Erxl.) to clear-cutting in three blocks that had been logged 10 years ago. In a previous study, these species had been surveyed in the same blocks 2 years before and 2 years after logging. We also surveyed an uncut block of the initial experimental design that was logged more recently. Over the 10-year period, the shrub layer and available browse have improved markedly in clear-cut areas. As compared with logged coniferous stands, logged mixed stands had higher lateral cover (62% vs. ≈55%) and taller regeneration (>4 m vs. <3 m). Beaver density did not change over the period because its feeding habitat remained unchanged in the riparian forest strips. Moose densities increased 54%–87% in two harvested blocks as a result of both logging and stricter hunting regulations (selective hunting). Based on the rate of increase observed in a control block, we estimate that a 25% density increase in the mixed forest block can be related to logging, while selective hunting can solely be responsible for the change in the coniferous forest block. Snowshoe hare have started to reoccupy logged coniferous stands, but their relative density still remained less than half that of uncut stands. We conclude that, after 10 years, logged mixed stands already offer good habitat conditions for moose and snowshoe hare. Conversely, in logged black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) stands, habitat conditions still remain poor for snowshoe hare because of a lack of cover.

Marten use of clear-cuttings and residual forest stands in western Newfoundland

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce E. Snyder ◽  
John A. Bissonette
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Primary Method ◽  
Forest Operations ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Undisturbed Forest ◽  
Forest Habitats ◽  
Capture Rates

Marten (Martes americana) inhabit primarily old-growth coniferous and mixed wood forest habitats. Widespread forest harvest operations have prompted inquiries into whether residual patches of forest left after harvesting, or regenerating clear-cuttings, provide adequate habitat for marten. In western Newfoundland, the primary method of tree harvest has been clear-cutting of large tracts of balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and black spruce (Picea mariana). The only remaining populations of marten in the province also are found in the western part of the island, with greatest densities near Little Grand Lake. This study was designed to determine if marten used regenerating clear-cuttings and small remnant patches of residual forest left after forest operations. Habitat use by marten was investigated by livetrapping and snow tracking. Residual stands were classified into five size categories, and clear-cuttings into three categories based on height of balsam fir regeneration. From June to December 1983, marten were trapped in 43 residual stands and 35 clear-cuttings. A total of 3587 trap nights yielded 57 captures of 10 male and 8 female marten. Six (10.5%) captures were in clear-cuttings, all <15 years old; 51 (89.5%) marten were captured in residual stands. Capture rates were 0.48 captures/100 trap nights in the clear-cuttings and 2.19 captures/100 trap nights in residual stands. Capture rates were greatest in residual stands 25 to 34.9 ha in size (4.62 captures/100 trap nights). From January to March 1984, marten tracks were followed for 29 km. Although clear-cuttings represented 41 % of the study area, only 26% of marten travel was recorded there, all in clear-cuttings <15 years old. Residual stands >25 ha and undisturbed forest composed 41.3% of the study area; 41.8% of marten travel was recorded there. Smaller residual areas (<25 ha) made up only 4.2% of the total area, but 32.4% of the marten travel was recorded in these areas. These data indicate that marten seldom used clear-cuttings and used residual stands >25 ha and undisturbed forests in proportion to their occurrence, but the use of smaller residual stands <25 ha was greater than expected.

Response of Bicknell’s Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) to boreal silviculture and forest stand edges: a radio-tracking study

2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 474-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Aubry ◽  
André Desrochers ◽  
Gilles Seutin
Keyword(s):  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Precommercial Thinning ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Catharus Bicknelli ◽  
Bicknell's Thrush

Society and regulatory regimes require that biodiversity conservation, and especially the protection of threatened species, be integrated into land-use planning and management. Bicknell’s Thrush ( Catharus bicknelli (Ridgway, 1882)) is an at-risk species breeding in montane balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) P. Mill.) dominated areas of northeastern North America. We monitored 34 individual Bicknell’s Thrushes by radio telemetry in southern Quebec to examine the size, location, and habitat composition of their home ranges in areas where clear-cutting and precommercial thinning occurred. Home ranges of Bicknell’s Thrush comprised more dense balsam fir stands and fewer thinned stands than available. Within home ranges, thrushes were found more frequently in unthinned balsam fir stands than in thinned stands, and they did not avoid edges. In fact, they were found disproportionately near edges of recently thinned stands. We conclude that Bicknell’s Thrushes may coexist with forest management practices that maintain a landscape mosaic dominated by dense balsam fir patches interspersed with thinned stands.

Regeneration development under shelterwoods in a lowland red spruce – balsam fir stand

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pothier ◽  
Marcel Prévost
Keyword(s):  
Light Availability ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Tree Regeneration ◽  
Red Spruce ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Leaf Biomass ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Cutting Intensity ◽  
Final Harvest

The shelterwood system can be used to establish regeneration and to improve the growing conditions of seedlings and, thereby, increase their probability of survival after final harvest. To determine the cutting intensity that best promotes the development of red spruce ( Picea rubens Sarg.) regeneration, an experiment, including four repetitions of five treatments (control; low, moderate, and heavy partial cuttings; and clear-cutting), was established in a lowland stand in Quebec, Canada, dominated by red spruce and balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.). Regeneration development responses to treatments varied according to cutting intensity, species, and position relative to the skidding trails in the residual stands. Ten years after treatment, red spruce seedlings were well established but were smaller than those of balsam fir and deciduous species. Red spruce seedling height was generally greater in partial-cut skidding trails, as was light availability. However, in clearcuts, the size of red spruce seedlings established in skidding trails seemed to be negatively affected by the considerable quantity of woody debris strewn over them. Among the partial-cut treatments, tree regeneration leaf biomass was the highest where 60% of the initial basal area was removed. Thus, this treatment is an attractive alternative to clear-cutting in such lowland stands where watering-up is anticipated after final harvest.

Weather and Outbreaks of the Spruce Budworm in the Province of Quebec from 1939 to 1956

1961 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Pilon ◽  
J. R. Blais
Keyword(s):  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
The Past ◽  
Forest Regions ◽  
Tree Component ◽  
Gaspe Peninsula ◽  
Gaspé Peninsula

Nearly all forest regions in the Province of Quebec where balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) is an important tree component have been subjected to severe defoliation by the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), during the past 20 years. These outbreaks have followed an easterly direction beginning near the Ontario-Quebec border in 1939 and ending in the Gaspé Peninsula in 1958.

scholarly journals Mixed Regional Shifts in Conifer Productivity under 21st-Century Climate Projections in Canada’s Northeastern Boreal Forest

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Tyler Searls ◽  
James Steenberg ◽  
Xinbiao Zhu ◽  
Charles P.-A. Bourque ◽  
Fan-Rui Meng
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Model Validation ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Forest Growth ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Climate Projections

Models of forest growth and yield (G&Y) are a key component in long-term strategic forest management plans. Models leveraging the industry-standard “empirical” approach to G&Y are frequently underpinned by an assumption of historical consistency in climatic growing conditions. This assumption is problematic as forest managers look to obtain reliable growth predictions under the changing climate of the 21st century. Consequently, there is a pressing need for G&Y modelling approaches that can be more robustly applied under the influence of climate change. In this study we utilized an established forest gap model (JABOWA-3) to simulate G&Y between 2020 and 2100 under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Simulations were completed using the province’s permanent sample plot data and surface-fitted climatic datasets. Through model validation, we found simulated basal area (BA) aligned with observed BA for the major conifer species components of NL’s forests, including black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton et al.] and balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill]. Model validation was not as robust for the less abundant species components of NL (e.g., Acer rubrum L. 1753, Populus tremuloides Michx., and Picea glauca (Moench) Voss). Our simulations generally indicate that projected climatic changes may modestly increase black spruce and balsam fir productivity in the more northerly growing environments within NL. In contrast, we found productivity of these same species to only be maintained, and in some instances even decline, toward NL’s southerly extents. These generalizations are moderated by species, RCP, and geographic parameters. Growth modifiers were also prepared to render empirical G&Y projections more robust for use under periods of climate change.

Prescribed Burning for Stand Conversion in Budworm-killed Balsam Fir: An Ontario Case History

1986 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. McRae
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Prescribed Burn ◽  
Stand Conversion

Recent spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem.]) infestations have resulted in widespread areas of balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.) mortality in Ontario, and there is growing interest in reestablishing these areas quickly as productive forests. One technique being used is prescribed fire after a salvage and bulldozer tramping operation. A 445-ha prescribed burn was carried out under moderate fire danger conditions in northern Ontario. The site, which was covered by balsam fir fuel that had been killed by spruce budworm, was tramped to improve fire spread. Weather, fuel consumption, and fire effects are reported. The burn effectively reduced heavy surface fuel loadings and consequently planting on the site was easier. Key words: Prescribed burning, fire, spruce budworm. Choristoneura fumiferana, balsam fir, Abies balsamea, fuel consumption, site preparation, tramping, stand conversion.

scholarly journals Avian Communities of Mature Balsam Fir Forests in Newfoundland: Age-Dependence and Implications for Timber Harvesting

The Condor ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian D. Thompson ◽  
Holly A. Hogan ◽  
William A. Montevecchi
Keyword(s):  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Avian Communities ◽  
Age Dependence
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