scholarly journals Competition, Climate, and Size Effects on Radial Growth in an Old-Growth Hemlock Forest

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth W. Bigelow ◽  
James R. Runkle ◽  
Evan M. Oswald
Keyword(s):  
Radial Growth ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Tree Size ◽  
Eastern Hemlock ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Climate Trends ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Climatic Indices

Research Highlights: We applied neighborhood and dendro-ecological methods in a stand with a 33-year record of forest dynamics, finding that growth will decrease for several species under predicted climate trends. Background and Objectives: Conventional tree-ring analysis removes the influence of competition and size on growth, precluding assessment of the relative influence of these factors. An old-growth eastern hemlock forest in east–central New York was mapped in 1978 and was measured at eight-year intervals since then. Our objective was to use these data to examine the influence of climate, neighborhood, and tree size on radial growth. Materials and Methods: We evaluated an array of climatic indices to find which ones had the strongest influence on radial growth from increment cores of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis L.), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton), and sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.). We used the strongest climatic indices in combination with neighborhood and target-tree size information to create growth models for the three tree species. Results: Size accounted for 2% to 21% of observed growth; the shade-tolerant sugar maple and eastern hemlock grew fastest when large, but the mid-tolerant yellow birch grew fastest when small. Competition accounted for 9% to 21% of growth; conifers had a weaker competitive effect than deciduous trees, and eastern hemlock was less sensitive to competition than sugar maple and yellow birch. Climate accounted for only 2% of growth variation; eastern hemlock showed a positive response to warming climate trends, but yellow birch and sugar maple showed negative responses. Conclusions: Predicted climate trends are likely to result in decreased growth of sugar maple and yellow birch, and the sensitivity of these species to competition suggests the effect will be exacerbated when they grow in crowded conditions.

Interspecific variation in susceptibility to windthrow as a function of tree size and storm severity for northern temperate tree species

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles D Canham ◽  
Michael J Papaik ◽  
Erika F Latty
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Tree Size ◽  
Red Spruce ◽  
Lower Probability ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Old Growth

Studies of wind disturbance regimes have been hampered by the lack of methods to quantify variation in both storm severity and the responses of tree species to winds of varying intensity. In this paper, we report the development of a new, empirical method of simultaneously estimating both local storm severity and the parameters of functions that define species-specific variation in susceptibility to windthrow as a function of storm severity and tree size. We test the method using data collected following a storm that struck the western Adirondack Mountains of New York in 1995. For intermediate-sized stems (e.g., 40 cm DBH), black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) and red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) showed the highest rates of windthrow across virtually all levels of storm severity, while yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) had the lowest rates of windthrow. For much of the range of storm severity, the probability of windthrow for the most susceptible species was at least twice as high as for the least susceptible species. Three of the species, yellow birch, red spruce, and beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.), had significantly lower probability of windthrow at a given storm severity in old-growth stands than in second-growth stands. Our results suggest that the distinctive abundance of these three species in old-growth forests of the Adirondacks is due, at least in part, to their ability to survive the intermediate-scale disturbance events that appear to dominate the natural disturbance regime in this region.

Crown openness as influenced by tree and site characteristics for yellow birch, sugar maple, and eastern hemlock

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 488-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Lou Lefrançois ◽  
Marilou Beaudet ◽  
Christian Messier
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Light Transmission ◽  
Eastern Hemlock ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Regional Variability ◽  
Site Characteristics

Crown openness (CO) of mature trees influences light transmission within the forest canopy. However, in modeling, this variable is often considered constant within species, and its potential regional variability is ignored. The objective of this study was to evaluate if CO values of yellow birch ( Betula alleghaniensis Britt.), sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.), and eastern hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière) vary according to the following factors: (i) species, (ii) regional actual evapotranspiration (AET), (iii) tree size (i.e., diameter at breast height, DBH), and (iv) angle of transmission from zenith. To achieve this, CO was evaluated for 136 yellow birches, 109 sugar maples, and 68 hemlocks from different regions of western Quebec, southern Ontario, and northern Michigan. Results showed that all of the studied factors affected CO. While dominant trees can intercept light laterally as well as vertically, smaller trees are more efficient at intercepting light vertically. Increasing AET is associated with more open crowns. Given its importance in light transmission in the understory, a better understanding of how CO varies between individuals, species, and regions is needed.

scholarly journals Tolerant hardwood natural regeneration 15 years after various silvicultural treatments on an industrial freehold of northwestern New Brunswick

2013 ◽  
Vol 89 (04) ◽  
pp. 512-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Béland ◽  
Bruno Chicoine
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
American Beech ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Selection Cutting

We examined applicability of various partial cutting systems in order to regenerate tolerant hardwood stands dominated by sugar maple (Acer saccarhum), American beech (Fagus grandifolia) and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) on northern New Brunswick J.D. Irving Ltd. freehold land. Sampling of 1065 one-m2 plots in 31 stands managed by selection cutting, shelterwood method and strip or patch cutting and in six control stands allowed a 15-year retrospective study of natural regeneration in stands of low residual densities and with minimal soil disturbance and no control of competing vegetation. Beech regeneration was most abundant in the patch cuts, yellow birch in shelterwood stands and sugar maple in the selection system areas. Results suggest that initial stand conditions influence the composition of the regeneration more than the prescribed treatment. At the stand scale (a few hectares), sugar maple recruitment was positively influenced by its proportion in the initial stand, and negatively by the cover of herbs and shrubs. Yellow birch regeneration was mainly affected by shrub competition. At the plot (1 m2) scale, mineral soil and decayed wood substrates and ground-level transmitted light were determinant factors for yellow birch regeneration. Beech-dominated stands were likely to regenerate to beech. A dense beech sucker understory was promoted in harvested patches. Areas with dense understory of American beech, shrubs, or herbs require site preparation to reduce interference either before or at the time of partial cutting. Shelterwood seed cutting and selection cutting should leave a residual of 12 m2/ha and 17 m2/ha respectively in seed trees uniformly distributed.

scholarly journals Radial growth of hardwoods following the 1998 ice storm in New Hampshire and Maine

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin T Smith ◽  
Walter C Shortle
Keyword(s):  
Radial Growth ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Growth Index ◽  
Ice Storm ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Annual Increment ◽  
White Ash ◽  
Class A ◽  
Mean Annual Increment

Ice storms and resulting injury to tree crowns occur frequently in North America. Reaction of land managers to injury caused by the regional ice storm of January 1998 had the potential to accelerate the harvesting of northern hardwoods due to concern about the future loss of wood production by injured trees. To assess the effect of this storm on radial stem growth, increment cores were collected from northern hardwood trees categorized by crown injury classes. For a total of 347 surviving canopy dominant and subdominant trees, a radial growth index was calculated (mean annual increment for 1998–2000 divided by the mean annual increment for 1995–1997). Sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.), white ash (Fraxinus americana L.), and red maple (Acer rubrum L.) categorized in injury class A (crown loss of less than one-half) had mean growth index values of approximately 1.0, indicating no loss of mean radial growth after 3 years. For injury class B (crown loss of one-half to three-quarters) and class C (crown loss greater than three-quarters), growth index values significantly decreased for sugar maple, yellow birch, and red maple. For white ash, growth index values of classes B and C were not significantly different from those of class A trees. Growth index values of A. saccharum and A. rubrum in injury class C were the lowest of those measured. These results indicated that the severity of growth loss due to crown injury depends on tree species and crown replacement as well as the extent of crown loss.

Growth and morphological responses of yellow birch, sugar maple, and beech seedlings growing under a natural light gradient

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 1007-1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilou Beaudet ◽  
Christian Messier
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Stem Length ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Morphological Response ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Light Gradient ◽  
Morphological Responses

Height and lateral growth, biomass distribution, leaf morphology, and crown architecture were studied in yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton), sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), and beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) seedlings growing under 1-50% of above-canopy light in a sugar maple stand, in Quebec. All three species showed increasing growth with increasing light, but growth of yellow birch was higher and more responsive than that of sugar maple and beech. All three species showed typical sun-shade morphological responses, such as decreasing specific leaf area and leaf area ratio, and increasing leaf area index, with increasing light availability. Sugar maple was morphologically more plastic than the other species. It showed variations in biomass allocation to leaves and branches, a decrease in branch length to seedling height ratio, and a marked increase in the ratio of leaf area to stem length. Although our results clearly demonstrate the ability of these three species to modify several of their morphological features in response to variations in light, they do not show a clear relationship between species shade tolerance and morphological response to light variations. We suggest that species-specific developmental patterns may act as important constraints to morphological acclimation to light variation.

Leaf- and plant-level carbon gain in yellow birch, sugar maple, and beech seedlings from contrasting forest light environments

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilou Beaudet ◽  
Christian Messier ◽  
David W Hilbert ◽  
Ernest Lo ◽  
Zhang M Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Carbon Gain ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Leaf Level ◽  
Plant Level

Leaf-level photosynthetic-light response and plant-level daily carbon gain were estimated for seedlings of moderately shade-tolerant yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) and shade-tolerant sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) growing in gaps and under a closed canopy in a sugar maple stand at Duchesnay, Que. All three species had a higher photosynthetic capacity (Amax) in the gaps than in shade, but yellow birch and beech responded more markedly than sugar maple to the increase in light availability. The high degree of plasticity observed in beech suggests that the prediction that photosynthetic plasticity should decrease with increasing shade tolerance may not hold when comparisons are made among a few late-successional species. Unit-area daily carbon gain (CA) was significantly higher in the gaps than in shade for all three species, but no significant difference was observed between light environments for plant-level carbon gain (CW). In shade, we found no difference of CA and CW among species. In gaps, beech had a significantly higher CA than sugar maple but similar to that of birch, and birch had a significantly higher CW than maple but similar to that of beech. Sugar maple consistently had lower carbon gains than yellow birch and beech but is nevertheless the dominant species at our study site. These results indicate that although plant-level carbon gain is presumably more closely related to growth and survival of a species than leaf-level photosynthesis, it is still many steps removed from the ecological success of a species.

scholarly journals Height Development of Upper-Canopy Trees Within Even-Aged Adirondack Northern Hardwood Stands

2004 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph D. Nyland ◽  
David G. Ray ◽  
Ruth D. Yanai
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Northern Hardwood ◽  
White Ash ◽  
Advance Regeneration ◽  
Canopy Trees

Abstract Knowledge of the relative rates of height growth among species is necessary for predicting developmental patterns in even-aged northern hardwood stands. To quantify these relationships, we used stem analysis to reconstruct early height growth patterns of dominant and codominant sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton), white ash (Fraxinus americana L.), and America beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) trees. We used three stands (aged 19, 24, and 29 years) established by shelterwood method cutting preceded by an understory herbicide treatment. We analyzed 10 trees of each species per stand. Height growth was similar across stands, allowing us to develop a single equation for each species. Our data show that yellow birch had the most rapid height growth up to approximately age 10. Both sugar maple and white ash grew more rapidly than yellow birch beyond that point. Beech consistently grew the slowest. White ash had a linear rate of height growth over the 29-year period, while the other species declined in their growth rates. By age 29, the heights of main canopy trees ranged from 38 ft for beech to 51 ft for white ash. Both yellow birch and sugar maple averaged 46 ft tall at that time. By age 29, the base of the live crown had reached 17, 20, 21, and 26 ft for beech, sugar maple, yellow birch, and white ash, respectively. Live–crown ratios of upper-canopy trees did not differ appreciably among species and remained at approximately 40% for the ages evaluated. These results suggest that eliminating advance regeneration changes the outcome of competition to favor species other than beech. North. J. Appl. For. 21(3):117–122.

Calcium and magnesium in wood of northern hardwood forest species: relations to site characteristics

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 339-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Arthur ◽  
T G Siccama ◽  
R D Yanai
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Hardwood Forest ◽  
Northern Hardwood Forest ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
White Birch ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Northern Hardwood

Improving estimates of the nutrient content of boles in forest ecosystems requires more information on how the chemistry of wood varies with characteristics of the tree and site. We examined Ca and Mg concentrations in wood at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. Species examined were the dominant tree species of the northern hardwood forest and the spruce-fir forest. The concentrations of Ca and Mg, respectively, in lightwood of these species, mass weighted by elevation, were 661 and 145 µg/g for sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), 664 and 140 µg/g for American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.), 515 and 93 µg/g for yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.), 525 and 70 µg/g for red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.), 555 and 118 µg/g for balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.), and 393 and 101 µg/g for white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.). There were significant patterns in Ca and Mg concentrations with wood age. The size of the tree was not an important source of variation. Beech showed significantly greater concentrations of both Ca (30%) and Mg (33%) in trees growing in moist sites relative to drier sites; sugar maple and yellow birch were less sensitive to mesotopography. In addition to species differences in lightwood chemistry, Ca and Mg concentrations in wood decreased with increasing elevation, coinciding with a pattern of decreasing Ca and Mg in the forest floor. Differences in Ca and Mg concentration in lightwood accounted for by elevation ranged from 12 to 23% for Ca and 16 to 30% for Mg for the three northern hardwood species. At the ecosystem scale, the magnitude of the elevational effect on lightwood chemistry, weighted by species, amounts to 18% of lightwood Ca in the watershed and 24% of lightwood Mg but only 2% of aboveground biomass Ca and 7% of aboveground Mg.

Effect of branch position and light availability on shoot growth of understory sugar maple and yellow birch saplings

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 1077-1085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Goulet ◽  
Christian Messier ◽  
Eero Nikinmaa
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Shoot Growth ◽  
Position Effect ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Vigour Index

Phenotypic plasticity enables tree saplings to change their morphology according to their environment to grow toward a better light micro-habitat. Therefore, processes of crown development could be expected to vary as a function of light. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the effects of position and light availability on shoot growth within the crowns of understory saplings of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton.); (ii) develop a new vigour index for shoots; and (iii) evaluate the possible factors relating to branch mortality in the crown of sugar maple saplings. The results revealed that there is a clear branch position effect on shoot growth in the crown for yellow birch saplings and that it is partly related to the presence of two types of shoots. Dead branches were located at the bottom of the crown of sugar maple saplings; they were smaller in size, had wider angles and had lower indexes of vigour than live branches found nearby. Preliminary results obtained on the vigour index indicate that it is a potentially useful tool for predicting the growth and vigour status of a branch.Key words: shoot growth, branch position, light availability, branch mortality, sugar maple, yellow birch.

Early seedling response to group selection harvesting in a northern hardwood forest

2010 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla J. Falk ◽  
Ken A. Elliott ◽  
Dawn M. Burke ◽  
Erica Nol
Keyword(s):  
Group Selection ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Percent Cover ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Single Tree ◽  
Single Tree Selection ◽  
Selection Harvesting

We evaluated the immediate effects of group selection harvesting on the establishment of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) and black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) seedlings in maple-dominated hardwood stands of Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario. Group selection gaps were compared to single-tree selection cutting and uncut reference stands pre-harvest and one growing season post-harvest using a before-after-control-impact (BACI) design. The percent cover of yellow birch seedlings increased significantly more in gaps than in single-tree selection and reference plots. Black cherry seedling cover increased significantly more in gaps than in reference plots, but increased at a similar rate in gaps and single-tree selection plots. Increased soil exposure and closer seed trees resulted in increased yellow birch recruitment when harvesting occurred in the late-summer-fall. These factors had little influence on yellow birch recruitment when harvesting occurred in the winter. The proportion of black cherry in the stand overstory had the greatest influence on black cherry recruitment; however, the uneven distribution of black cherry between stands may have precluded our ability to reliably test the influence of other factors. Concomitant increases in potential competitors such as wild red raspberry (Rubus strigosus Michx.) and sedges (Carex spp.) and the continued dominance of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh) in gap openings may limit yellow birch and black cherry regeneration in successive growing seasons. While continued monitoring is required, our short-term results demonstrate that fall harvesting with group selection is effective at stimulating natural regeneration of yellow birch and black cherry. Key words: yellow birch, black cherry, seedling recruitment, group selection, single-tree selection, mid-tolerant, shadeintolerant

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