scholarly journals Direct seeding of black spruce in northwestern Ontario: Temporal changes in seedbed coverage and receptivity

1995 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Fleming ◽  
D. S. Mossa
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Temporal Changes ◽  
Direct Seeding ◽  
Organic Debris ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Thunder Bay ◽  
Moisture Regimes ◽  
Trees And Shrubs

Temporal changes in black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) seedbed coverage and seedbed receptivity were investigated on coarse-textured upland sites near Thunder Bay (48°25′N 89° 15′W), in northwestern Ontario. Sowing was completed in May for three consecutive years following summer scarification at each of 12 sites. Infilling by organic debris reduced the proportion of receptive soil strata three to five years after scarification by 50–95%. Receptive seedbed coverage declined more quickly on fresh Soil Moisture Regimes with a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs than on moist Soil Moisture Regimes dominated by eracaceous shrubs. Pioneer mosses, which are also good seedbeds, invaded moist sites more readily than fresh sites, and mitigated losses in seedbed coverage. Compact Sphagnum seedbeds in lowland depressions maintained good areal coverage much longer than did receptive upland soil strata. Seedling establishment ratios varied greatly among seeding years, seedbeds and sites, but there was an underlying trend of decreasing seedbed receptivity with time since scarification. Seedlings originating from the first seeding year were taller at age 7–10 than those originating from the second or third seeding years. Key words: direct seeding, seedbed coverage, seedbed receptivity, scarification, black spruce, Picea mariana

Habitat-dependent morphological and chemical variation in Picea mariana from northwestern Ontario

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 1573-1579 ◽  
Author(s):  
William H. Parker ◽  
P. Knowles ◽  
F. Bennett ◽  
A. Gray ◽  
T. Krickl
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Alluvial Soil ◽  
Electrophoretic Analysis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Local Site ◽  
Thunder Bay ◽  
Heavy Soil ◽  
Sphagnum Bog

To determine whether local site differences corresponded to any morphological or chemical differentiation in Picea mariana, 10 cone-bearing trees were sampled from each of three semiadjacent stands near the Matawin River, Thunder Bay District, Ont.: (i) an upland forest on well-drained alluvial soil, (ii) an abandoned pasture on heavy soil, and (iii) a wet sphagnum bog. Nine cone characters and eight needle and twig characters were scored and analyzed. Differences among sites were generally small. Principal-components analysis demonstrated two major, independent trends of variation, one attributable mainly to cone characters and the other to needle characters. Bog trees tended to be more variable than the others with respect to cone characters but had similar levels of variation for needle and twig characters. Further comparisons were made based on foliar flavonoids of the 30 trees and isozyme characteristics of an expanded sampling of 60 trees. Flavonoid analysis indicated that a fraction of the bog trees possessed flavonoid diglycosides not present in the other trees. Five polymorphic enzyme systems were detected in electrophoretic analysis. Trees from the three sites had similar isozyme patterns with the exception of three bands that were unique to the bog site trees. Thus, the bog trees were more variable for cone, flavonoid, and isozyme characters but exhibited no greater variability for needle and twig characters. However, none of the data gave an indication of discrete ecotypes of black spruce corresponding to upland and lowland sites.

Phenology of Vaccinium spp. in a black spruce (Picea mariana) plantation in northwestern Ontario: possible implications for the timing of forest herbicide treatments

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 1579-1585 ◽  
Author(s):  
F M Moola ◽  
A U Mallik
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Senescence ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Vaccinium Angustifolium ◽  
Delayed Treatment ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Thunder Bay ◽  
Lowbush Blueberry ◽  
Vaccinium Myrtilloides

This study reports on the phenology of 180 vegetative and 180 reproductive shoots of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) and velvet leaf blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.) in a young black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) plantation near Thunder Bay, northwestern Ontario. Leaves of both species emerged in mid-May and remained uniformly green until mid-August. By late August, the majority of tagged shoots had turned red and were beginning to deteriorate. Approximately 30% of tagged shoots lost their leaves by 25 September in both V. angustifolium and V. myrtilloides. Patterns of leaf development in V. angustifolium and V. myrtilloides suggest that Vaccinium spp. may be less susceptible to foliar-applied herbicides if applications are made during or following the period of leaf senescence (i.e., between late August and late September). However, delayed treatment may be impractical in conifer plantations, since the time of leaf senescence and abscission of blueberry coincides with that of many target species.

Comparison of black spruce (Picea mariana) radial growth reduction in different soil moisture regimes during a spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) outbreak

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 1410-1419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa E. Lacey ◽  
Jeffery P. Dech
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Moisture Regime ◽  
Growth Reduction ◽  
Soil Moisture Regime ◽  
Moisture Regimes

The objective of this study was to determine if the stand‐level soil moisture regime had a significant effect on the reduction in black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) radial growth during the most recent spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clem.) outbreak in the boreal forest region of northeastern Ontario. We collected a stratified random sample of co-dominant black spruce trees from three moisture regimes and compared the reduction of radial growth during a spruce budworm outbreak between dry, moist, and wet stands. We focused on the most recent outbreak from 1975–1987, which we dated by dendrochronological analysis of black spruce increment cores from the Romeo Malette Forest near Timmins, Ontario. Samples collected from dry and moist sites showed significantly greater maximum radial growth reduction than those from wet sites. Mean growth reduction over the entire outbreak was not significantly different among moisture regimes but followed the same trend. We found no evidence of spatial autocorrelation in the growth reduction response, suggesting that the moisture effect was not confounded by location.

Direct seeding of black spruce in northwestern Ontario: Seedbed relationships

1994 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Fleming ◽  
D. S. Mossa
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Direct Seeding ◽  
First Year ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Seedling Mortality ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Seedbed Preparation

A series of spot seeding experiments was set out on coarse-textured upland sites in northwestern Ontario to investigate how black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) seedling establishment and growth could be improved by site selection and seedbed preparation. Virtually all germination occurred within the first growing season. Annual seedling mortality rates were greatest during the first year, then declined steadily and stabilized at low levels (<10%) after the third year. The highest fifth-year establishment ratios (seedlings/viable seed sown) were found on seedbeds derived from materials near the mineral soil/humus interface. On wetter sites (i.e., higher Soil Moisture Regimes) the best seedbeds occurred closer to the soil surface. Mean fifth year establishment ratios for the best seedbeds were 0.032 on moderately fresh to fresh sites, 0.146 on very fresh to moderately moist sites, and 0.082 on moist to very moist sites. On adjacent lowland sites, slow-growing, compact Sphagnum mosses had a mean establishment ratio of 0.179. Mean fifth-year seedling heights on upland sites ranged from 12 to 14 cm, and were not strongly correlated with site or seedbed type. Key words: direct seeding, black spruce, seedbed, seedling establishment, site type and germination

scholarly journals Comparative Height Growth of Eastern Larch and Black Spruce in Northwestern Ontario

1978 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 296-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Mead
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Larix Laricina ◽  
Stem Analysis ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Analysis Methods ◽  
Spruce Stands

Height growth of eastern larch (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) was determined using standard stem analysis methods on trees from two sites in northwestern Ontario. The data were obtained from mixed larch-spruce stands which were relatively undisturbed. The larch exhibited substantially better height growth than the spruce through age 65.

Growth and yield comparisons for red pine, white spruce and black spruce plantations in northwestern Ontario

2011 ◽  
Vol 87 (04) ◽  
pp. 494-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krish Homagain ◽  
Chander Shahi ◽  
Willard Carmean ◽  
Mathew Leitch ◽  
Colin Bowling
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Red Pine ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Wood Production ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Thunder Bay ◽  
Intensive Forest Management ◽  
Forest Lands

Intensive forest management for wood production requires that we identify our most productive forest lands as well as the most productive and most commercially valuable tree species that should be managed on these lands. The Thunder Bay Spacing Trial established in 1950 provides growth and yield comparisons on a productive site for red pine, white spruce, and black spruce. Our analysis based on six remeasurements from 1983 to 2007 show that red pine has produced more than twice the volume of white spruce and about three times the volume of black spruce. The greater volume for red pine in comparison to the spruces is attributed to taller trees, larger average diameters and more basal area.

Regression-based focal point seed zones for Picea mariana from northwestern Ontario

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (8) ◽  
pp. 1227-1235 ◽  
Author(s):  
William H. Parker ◽  
Annette van Niejenhuis
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Biological Data ◽  
Adaptive Variation ◽  
Contour Maps ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Seed Zones ◽  
Point Seed

The results of a recent study of adaptive variation of black spruce in northwestern Ontario, together with additional freezing damage data, were used to produce regression-based focal point seed zones for this species. The procedure required two data bases as follows: (i) the biological data derived from two common garden growth trials, one greenhouse trial, and freezing trials of 75 black spruce seed sources and (ii) climatic data for the period 1951 – 1980. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to summarize the main components of growth and freezing variation, and the PCA axis scores for the seed sources were regressed against climatic variables. The regression equations were used to model the patterns of adaptive variation, and these patterns were graphically reproduced as contour maps by a geographic information system (GIS). A series of focal point seed zone maps for black spruce was produced by GIS intersection of the regression-based contour maps. Focal point seed zones were more restricted in the south near Lake Superior, reflecting the more rapidly changing climate in this part of the study area. Since black spruce is closely adapted to local climate, these results will be useful to formulate successful seed transfers in this area. There are additional potential applications for matching seed sources to changing climates and for the identification of genetically unique populations. Keywords: black spruce, Picea mariana, adaptive variation, focal point seed zones.

Viability of Black Spruce Seed in or on a Boreal Forest Seedbed

1976 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 229-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Direct Seeding ◽  
One Year ◽  
Do So

An informal experiment on the viability of black spruce (Picea mariana) [Mill.] B.S.P.) seed in or on a boreal forest seedbed indicates that seeds which do not germinate lose their ability to do so some time between 10 and 16 months after seeding. Foresters are cautioned that black spruce cutovers which have not regenerated one year after harvesting that eliminates seed-bearing trees should be seeded artificially or planted. Areas which have not regenerated one year after direct seeding should be reseeded.

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