scholarly journals Seed Rain and Seedling Establishment of Picea glauca and Abies balsamea after Partial Cutting in Plantations and Natural Stands

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
Laurent Gagné ◽  
Luc Sirois ◽  
Luc Lavoie
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Incident Light ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Rotten Wood ◽  
Natural Stands

The conditions for natural regeneration of white spruce (Picea glauca) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) in 12 natural stands and five plantations containing both species were investigated 9 to 30 years after partial cutting. We estimated seed input on the ground, measured light reaching the understory, and recorded the presence and age of seedlings smaller than 150 cm in height on six different substrates: mineral soil, moss, rotten wood, litterfall, herbaceous, and dead wood. Partial cutting generally prompted the establishment and growth of seedlings. The number of fir and spruce seedlings is always greater in natural stands than in plantations, a trend likely associated with the reduced abundance of suitable substrate for establishment in the latter. White spruce is significantly associated to rotten wood while fir settles on all types of substrates that cover at least 10% of the forest floor. There is a strong relationship between light intensity and the median height of spruce seedlings, but this relationship is non-significant for fir. Seedlings of both species can survive at incident light intensities as low as 3%, but an intensity of 15% or more seems to offer the best growth conditions. The results of this study provide guidelines for successful forest regeneration following partial cuts in spruce-fir stands.

scholarly journals Seed Rain and Seedling Establishment of Picea glauca and Abies balsamea after Partial Cutting in Plantations and Natural Stands

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Gagné ◽  
Luc Sirois ◽  
Luc Lavoie
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Incident Light ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Rotten Wood ◽  
Natural Stands

This study documents the conditions associated to white spruce and balsam fir regeneration after partial cutting. Measurements were collected 9 to 30 years after partial cutting in 12 natural fir stands and 5 white spruce plantations. We estimated seed input, measured light reaching the undergrowth, recorded seedlings (<150 cm) and their age on 6 different seedling establishment substrates: mineral soil, moss, rotten wood, litterfall, herbaceous and dead wood. Partial cutting generally favours the establishment and growth of seedlings. The number of fir and spruce seedlings is always greater in natural stands than in plantations, a trend likely associated with the reduced abundance of preferential establishment substrate in the latter. White spruce significantly prefers rotten wood while fir settles on all types of substrates that cover at least 10% of the forest floor. There is a strong relationship between light intensity and the median height of spruce seedlings, but this relationship is non-significant for fir. Seedlings of both species can survive at incident light intensities as low as 3%, but an intensity of 15% or more seems to offer the best growth conditions. The conditions for successful forest regeneration proposed in this study should be applied when the goal is to establish a new stand prior to clear cutting or to convert stand structure.

Predicting natural regeneration of white spruce in boreal mixedwood understories

2001 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 1006-1013 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D. Stewart ◽  
Simon M. Landhäusser ◽  
Kenneth J. Stadt ◽  
Victor J. Lieffers
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Clay Fraction ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Feather Moss ◽  
Moss Cover ◽  
Rotten Wood ◽  
Soil Clay

Successful mixedwood management in the boreal forest of Alberta requires better knowledge of the occurrence and success of natural white spruce regeneration. In this study we developed statistical models to predict the natural establishment and height growth of understory white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in the boreal mixedwood forest in Alberta using data from 148 provincial permanent sample plots, supplemented by measurements of the amount and height growth of regenerating white spruce, and the amount and type of available substrate. A discriminant model correctly classified 73% of the sites as to presence or absence of a white spruce understory based on the amount of spruce basal area, rotten wood, ecological nutrient regime, soil clay fraction and elevation, although it explained only 30% of the variation in the data. On sites with a white spruce understory, a regression model related the abundance of regeneration to rotten wood cover, spruce basal area, pine basal area, soil clay fraction, and grass cover (R2 = 0.36). About half of the seedlings surveyed grew on rotten wood, and only 3% on mineral soil, and seedlings were 10 times more likely to have established on these substrates than on litter. Exposed mineral soil was rare, covering only 0.3% of the observed transect area, rotten wood covered 4.5%, and litter/undisturbed forest floor covered the remainder. The regression models developed for average relative height growth rate included feather moss cover, stand age and birch basal area for seedlings ≤ 1 m (R2 = 0.23), and feather moss cover, elevation, other moss cover and soil clay fraction for seedlings between 1 m and 3 m (R2 = 0.27). Key words: Picea glauca, seedling establishment, seedbeds, site factors, coarse woody debris, predictive models, mixedwood management

Effet d'une coupe d'ensemencement et du milieu de germination sur la régénération des sapinières boréales riches de seconde venue du Québec

2000 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 643-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Raymond ◽  
Jean-Claude Ruel ◽  
Marius Pineau
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Paper Birch ◽  
Cutting System

Stand regeneration failures, sometimes observed in rich second growth balsam fir stands, prompted a study in 1991 to assess the effects of the shelterwood cutting system on regeneration of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.), white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh). The factorial experiment design (split-plot) includes forest cover reduction (0% and 25% of basal area) in main plots and germination substrate (mineral soil, litter removed and control) in subplots. Results of five growing seasons showed that germination substrate was the main factor determining first-year seedling establishment, and that cover reduction became important for seedling survival and long-term establishment of the three species. A 25% canopy reduction combined with mineral seedbed treatment resulted in the best regeneration densities of the three species. Thus far, the results demonstrate the importance of combining humus disturbance to seed cutting in order to achieve regeneration goals set for the future stand. Key words: shelterwood cutting system, balsam fir, white spruce, paper birch, regeneration, seed cutting, germination substrate

scholarly journals Effects of substrate availability and competing vegetation on natural regeneration of white spruce on logged boreal mixedwood sites

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola A. Kokkonen ◽  
S. Ellen Macdonald ◽  
Ian Curran ◽  
Simon M. Landhäusser ◽  
Victor J. Lieffers
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Solid Wood ◽  
Seedling Mortality ◽  
Competing Vegetation ◽  
Survival And Growth

Given a seed source, the quality of available substrates is a key factor in determining the success of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) natural regeneration. We examined the influence of substrate and competing vegetation on survival and growth of natural regeneration of white spruce up to 4 years following harvesting in deciduous-dominated upland boreal mixedwood sites. Feather moss, thick soil surface organic layers, litter, and solid wood were poor substrates for establishment. Early successional mosses establishing on mineral soil, thin organics, and rotten wood were generally favourable microsites but were not highly available on postharvest sites. Mineral soil substrates were not as suitable as expected, likely because on a postlogged site, they are associated with unfavourable environmental characteristics (e.g., low nutrient availability, exposure). There was some evidence that survival and growth of seedlings were improved by surrounding vegetation in the first years, but heavy competing vegetation had a negative impact on older seedlings. Burial by aspen litter greatly increased seedling mortality, especially when combined with a brief period of submergence due to heavy spring snowmelt. The results provide insight into conditions under which natural regeneration could be an option for establishing white spruce following harvesting of deciduous-dominated boreal mixedwood forests.

Patterns of initial versus delayed regeneration of white spruce in boreal mixedwood succession

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1597-1609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vernon S Peters ◽  
S Ellen Macdonald ◽  
Mark RT Dale
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Mixedwood Forests ◽  
Regeneration Period ◽  
Postfire Regeneration ◽  
Distance To Seed Source ◽  
Mixedwood Stands

The timing of white spruce regeneration in aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) – white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) boreal mixedwood stands is an important factor in stand development. We examined boreal mixedwood stands representing a 59-year period of time since fire and determined (1) whether and when a delayed regeneration period of white spruce occurred, (2) whether the relative abundance of initial (<20 years) versus delayed (≥20 years postfire) regeneration is related to seed availability at the time of the fire, and (3) what are the important regeneration substrates for initial versus delayed regeneration. Initial regeneration occurred primarily on mineral soil or humus, while delayed regeneration established primarily on logs and peaked 38–44 years after fire. Of the 20 stands investigated, seven were dominated by initial regeneration, six were dominated by delayed regeneration, and seven were even mixtures of both. The dominance of a site by initial or delayed regeneration could not be simply explained by burn timing relative to mast years or distance to seed source; our results suggested that fire severity and the competitive influence of initial regeneration on delayed regeneration were important at fine scales. Based on our results we describe several possible postfire successional pathways for boreal mixedwood forests.

Résistance comparée de l'épinette blanche et du sapin baumier au renversement

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 642-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Meunier ◽  
J -C Ruel ◽  
G Laflamme ◽  
A Achim
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Diameter Ratio ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Species Vulnerability ◽  
Mesic Site ◽  
Linear Regressions ◽  
Tree Characteristics

Information on eastern Canadian tree species vulnerability to windthrow is scarce. Some statements on relative species vulnerability have been made but they rely on empirical observations, which are often difficult to generalize. In this context, a study was conducted to compare the overturning resistance of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) on a mesic site. To establish which tree characteristics would best explain the critical turning moment, simple linear regressions were calculated using tree dendrometric data. The best regressions were obtained with stem weight. With this variable, resistance to overturning did not differ between the two species. Only regressions involving total height showed a significantly greater resistance for white spruce. This difference can be explained by a difference between the species in height–diameter relationships. For a similar height, spruce has a greater diameter, involving a higher stem weight and thus a greater resistance. Decay did not play a major role in our experiment as trees with external defects were excluded. Our results suggest that to minimize losses from windthrow, silvi cultural treatments on mesic sites should try to increase the proportion of trees of either species with the lowest height/diameter ratio.

Variations in the foliar amino acid composition of flowering and non-flowering balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in relation to outbreaks of the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem))

1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 1005-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Kimmins
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Apparent Correlation

The amino acids of new and old foliage of flowering and non-flowering balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) were investigated using two-dimensional descending paper chromatography. The data were analyzed for variation associated with age of foliage, age of tree, and flowering condition. The concentration of foliar amino acids was greater in balsam fir than in white spruce, and greater in new foliage than old foliage.The difference in concentration between foliage of flowering and non-flowering trees was smaller. However, the new foliage of flowering fir had higher levels of most of the amino acids examined than any other foliage category. This appears to reflect the known suitability of these foliage categories for spruce budworm larvae. While the data presented do not quantify the ecological significance of this apparent correlation, they do support the theory that variations in the nutritional quality of host plants play a very important role in the dynamics of herbivore populations.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF DEFOLIATION BY SPRUCE BUDWORM (CHORISTONEURA FUMIFERANA CLEM.) ON RADIAL GROWTH AT BREAST HEIGHT OF BALSAM FIR (ABIES BALSAMEA (L.) MILL.) AND WHITE SPRUCE (PICEA GLAUCA (MOENCH) VOSS.)

1958 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Blais
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
First Year ◽  
Growth Ratio ◽  
Breast Height

The relationship between spruce budworm defoliation and radial growth at breast height for balsam fir and white spruce trees of merchantable size was studied in various stands in northwestern Ontario. Defoliation was recorded yearly for these stands from the beginning of the infestation, and radial growth measurements were obtained from increment cores. The first year of radial growth suppression was calculated by comparing the growth of the affected species with that of jack pine and red pine trees by means of a growth-ratio technique. Apparent suppression in balsam fir and white spruce varied between stands, and, generally, occurred at the earliest in the second year and at the latest in the fourth year of severe defoliation. A wide ring at the base of the tree coinciding with the first year of suppression as reported by Craighead was non-existent.

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