Comparing carbon pools and tree growth in balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and black spruce (Picea mariana) forest ecosystems located along a climatic gradient

The predictions of properties for wood disc average are seldom reported, and they are important for sorting out logs based on their quality. The minimum near infrared (NIR) spectra required to predict wood disc average properties would also be of critical importance. In this study, calibration and prediction models for wood disc average properties were developed using NIR spectral data for balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) samples collected from 14 different sites across Newfoundland, Canada. The calibration was done against area-weighted average wood properties determined by SilviScan. NIR spectra were collected in 18 mm increments from the radial–longitudinal face of green and oven-dried samples. Results showed that using NIR spectra from three spots per wood strip was sufficient for the modeling and prediction for density and module of elasticity (MOE). The coefficients of determination ranged from 0.76 (MOE of green wood samples) to 0.88 (density of oven-dried wood samples). However, the microfibril angle (MFA) cannot be well predicted from either green wood or oven-dried wood NIR spectra. Our results further showed that the NIR spectra collected from oven-dried wood samples gave better calibration and prediction than those collected from green wood samples.

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Chemical Differences Between the Wood Extracts of Jack Pine (Pinus Banksiana), Black Spruce (Picea Mariana) and Balsam Fir (Abies Balsamea) from Eastern Canada

Journal of Wood Chemistry and Technology ◽

10.1080/02773819809349590 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 427-438 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

André Pichette ◽

Francois-Xavier Garneau ◽

France-Ida Jean ◽

Bernard Riedl ◽

Michel Girard

Keyword(s):

Picea Mariana ◽

Pinus Banksiana ◽

Black Spruce ◽

Abies Balsamea ◽

Jack Pine ◽

Balsam Fir ◽

Eastern Canada ◽

Wood Extracts

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

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z87-024 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 65 (1) ◽

pp. 169-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

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.

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Soil respiration responses to temperature are controlled more by roots than by decomposition in balsam fir ecosystems

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x03-090 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 33 (9) ◽

pp. 1744-1753 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

M B Lavigne ◽

R Boutin ◽

R J Foster ◽

G Goodine ◽

P Y Bernier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Global Warming ◽

Soil Respiration ◽

Primary Productivity ◽

Root Respiration ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Abies Balsamea ◽

Heterotrophic Respiration ◽

Balsam Fir ◽

Sink Strength ◽

Climatic Gradient

Concern exists that soil respiration (Rs) will increase with global warming, thereby reducing the sink strength of forest ecosystems for carbon (C) or making them sources. We measured Rs at three balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) sites on a climatic gradient from 1997 to 2000 to assess potential responses to global warming. Mean annual Rs varied from 0.67 kg C·m-2·year-1 at the cool site, to 1.19 kg C·m-2·year-1 at the midtransect site, to 1.52 kg C·m-2·year-1 at the warm site. Trenched plots were installed in 1999 to partition Rs into root respiration (Rr) and heterotrophic respiration (Rh). Differences in trenched-plot respiration (Rt) among sites were much less than differences in Rs, because trenching reduced Rs at the warm site more than at the cool site. Annual Rt was 22% less than annual Rs at the cool site, 36% less at the midtransect site, and 50% less at the warm site. After making adjustments for extraordinary decomposition of killed roots in trenched plots, it was estimated that annual Rh varied little among sites (0.40 kg C·m-2·year-1 at the cool site to 0.54 kg C·m-2·year-1 at the warm site), but annual Rr varied substantially among sites (0.24 kg C·m-2·year-1 at the cool site to 0.98 kg C·m-2·year-1 at the warm site). We conclude that Rs varied among sites, because climatically driven differences in primary productivity caused greater Rr and greater detrital production for Rh.

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Variation of Stem Radius in Response to Defoliation in Boreal Conifers

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change ◽

10.3389/ffgc.2021.784442 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

Author(s):

Lorena Balducci ◽

Philippe Rozenberg ◽

Annie Deslauriers

Keyword(s):

Tree Growth ◽

Time Window ◽

Black Spruce ◽

Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽

Abies Balsamea ◽

Spruce Budworm ◽

Balsam Fir ◽

Mild Stress ◽

Radius Variation ◽

Eastern Spruce Budworm

In the long term, defoliation strongly decreases tree growth and survival. Insect outbreaks are a typical cause of severe defoliation. Eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clem.) outbreaks are one of the most significant disturbances of Picea and Abies boreal forests. Nevertheless, in boreal conifers, a 2-year defoliation has been shown to quickly improve tree water status, protect the foliage and decrease growth loss. It suggests that defoliation effects are time-dependent and could switch from favorable in the short term to unfavorable when defoliation duration exceeds 5–10 years. A better understanding of the effect of defoliation on stem radius variation during the needle flushing time-window could help to elucidate the relationships between water use and tree growth during an outbreak in the medium term. This study aims to assess the effects of eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clem.) defoliation and bud phenology on stem radius variation in black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] and balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.] in a natural stand in Quebec, Canada. We monitored host and insect phenology, new shoot defoliation, seasonal stem radius variation and daytime radius phases (contraction and expansion) from 2016 to 2019. We found that defoliation significantly increased stem growth at the beginning of needle flushing. Needles flushing influenced the amplitude and duration of daily stem expansion and contraction, except the amplitude of stem contraction. Over the whole growing season, defoliation increased the duration of stem contraction, which in turn decreased the duration of stem expansion. However, the change (increase/decrease) of the duration of contraction/expansion reflects a reduced ability of the potential recovery from defoliation. Black spruce showed significantly larger 24-h cycles of stem amplitude compared to balsam fir. However, both species showed similar physiological adjustments during mild stress, preventing water loss from stem storage zones to support the remaining needles’ transpiration. Finally, conifers react to defoliation during a 4-year period, modulating stem radius variation phases according to the severity of the defoliation.

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Synonymy and pathogenicity of Dermea piceina

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b69-024 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 213-214 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

E. Smerlis

Keyword(s):

Picea Mariana ◽

Black Spruce ◽

Abies Balsamea ◽

Balsam Fir

Synonymy of Dermea piceina Groves is established and pathogenicity of this species demonstrated on balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP.).

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Chemical examination of the wax from needles of black spruce (Picea mariana) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea)

Canadian Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1139/v70-010 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 67-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

R. M. Beri ◽

H. W. Lemon

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ◽

Liquid Chromatography ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Picea Mariana ◽

Black Spruce ◽

Abies Balsamea ◽

Balsam Fir ◽

Gas Liquid Chromatography ◽

Chemical Examination

A waxlike substance extracted from the needles of black spruce by means of petroleum ether gives, upon saponification, capric, lauric, myristic, pentadecanoic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, arachidic, behenic, lignoceric acids, and one acid not identified. Acids of the C-20 to C-24 series constitute approximately 38% of the total acids. The unsaturated acids present are mostly of the C-18 series. The acids were identified by the gas–liquid chromatography (g.l.c.) of their methyl esters.The constituent acids of the waxlike substance from balsam fir needles are capric, lauric, myristic, pentadecanoic, palmitic, palmitoleic, heptadecanoic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, arachidic, behenic, lignoceric, and about 7 more, not identified. The acids of the C-20 to C-24 series are present to the extent of ca. 20%. About 55% of the acids are of the C-18 series, which is mostly unsaturated. There are present certain unsaturated acids, ca. 5%, of the C-20 to C-22 series.10-Nonacosanol has been isolated from the unsaponifiable matter remaining after saponification of the waxlike substances from black spruce and balsam fir foliage. Its identity has been established by infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry.

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