scholarly journals A note on the ecology and management of old-growth forests in the Montane Cordillera

2003 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Arsenault
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests

The Montane Cordillera ecozone that spans British Columbia's central and southern interior and a portion of southwestern Alberta contains the greatest variety of old-growth coniferous forest types in Canada. The diverse climates of this region, which include some of the driest, warmest, wettest, and coldest found in southern continental Canada, have directly contributed to the richness of old forest types. Associated with this range in climatic conditions are radically different natural disturbance regimes that have profoundly influenced the distribution, abundance, and structural characteristics of old-growth forests. Old forests tend to be more abundant and to contain more old-growth-dependent organisms in wetter climates. The high number of old-growth-dependent epiphytic lichens in old inland rainforests is a clear expression of this phenomenon. Conversely, old forests are much less abundant in dry landscapes. These forests, often dominated by Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa P. Laws. ex C. Laws.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), have been subject to more frequent natural disturbances, and have been more profoundly influenced by human activities. Although fewer species appear to be dependent on old growth in dry forests, a number of them require certain old-growth structural attributes for their survival. A better understanding of the ecological characteristics of the old-growth forests of Canada's Montane Cordillera will assist in developing informed land-use decisions. Key words: old-growth forest, Montane Cordillera, natural disturbance, landscape ecology and management

scholarly journals Broad-Scale Classification and Mapping of Tree Size and Density Attributes in Productive Old-Growth Forests in Southeast Alaska's Tongass National Forest

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Caouette ◽  
Eugene J. DeGayner
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Tree Size ◽  
National Forest ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Density Mapping ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Tongass National Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Mapping Models

Abstract The forest classification and mapping system currently used in managing the Tongass National Forest (NF) is based largely on an economic forest measure, net board foot volume per acre. Although useful for timber economic modeling, this forest measure poorly differentiates old-growth forest types in a way that is meaningful to ecological and social concerns. In 2005, we published an article presenting a proposed tree size and tree density mapping model for the Tongass NF. We claimed the model would provide better information on the structural patterns in old-growth forests than did the current mapping models based on net board foot volume per acre. We also stated that further testing of our proposed model is required before it can be fully integrated into forest management plans and landscape analysis. In this article, we used independent field data to evaluate our proposed tree size and density model and better define its accuracy. Results showed differences among mapping classes similar to differences observed in the development stages of the model. Results also showed mapping accuracy estimates between 60 and 80%. We used the model in a forest management application by comparing the representation of old-growth forest types within a landscape to the representation within a management-defined subset of that landscape.

scholarly journals Unveiling the Diversity of Tree Growth Patterns in Boreal Old-Growth Forests Reveals the Richness of Their Dynamics

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxence Martin ◽  
Cornélia Krause ◽  
Nicole J. Fenton ◽  
Hubert Morin
Keyword(s):  
Radial Growth ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Radial Increment ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Growth Trends ◽  
Silvicultural Treatments ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests

Research Highlights: Radial growth patterns of trees growing in old-growth boreal forests in eastern Canada can be grouped into a small number of simple patterns that are specific to different old-growth forest types or successional stages. Background and Objectives: Identifying the main radial growth trends in old-growth forests could help to develop silvicultural treatments that mimic the complex dynamics of old-growth forests. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the main radial growth patterns and determine how their frequencies change during forest succession in old-growth forests, focusing on boreal landscapes in eastern Canada. Materials and Methods: We used dendrochronological data sampled from 21 old-growth stands in the province of Quebec, Canada. Tree-ring chronologies were simplified into chronologies of equal length to retain only primary growth trends. We used k-means clustering to identify individual growth patterns and the difference in growth-pattern frequency within the studied stands. We then used non-parametric analyses of variance to compare tree or stand characteristics among the clusters. Results: We identified six different growth patterns corresponding to four old-growth forest types, from stands at the canopy breakup stage to true old-growth stands (i.e., when all the pioneer cohort had disappeared). Secondary disturbances of low or moderate severity drove these growth patterns. Overall, the growth patterns were relatively simple and could be generally separated into two main phases (e.g., a phase of limited radial increment size due to juvenile suppression and a phase of increased radial increment size following a growth release). Conclusions: The complexity of old-growth forest dynamics was observed mainly at the stand level, not at the tree level. The growth patterns observed in true old-growth forests were similar to those observed following partial or stem-selection cuts in boreal stands; thus, these silvicultural treatments may be effective in mimicking old-growth dynamics.

Overview of old-growth forests in Canada from a science perspective

2003 ◽  
Vol 11 (S1) ◽  
pp. S1-S7 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Mosseler ◽  
I Thompson ◽  
B A Pendrel
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Growth Index ◽  
Reproductive Fitness ◽  
General Interest ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Forest Regions

In response to a broad public concern about the rapidly diminishing area of old-growth forests and their intrinsic biological value, the Canadian Forest Service organized a national symposium in 2001 to discuss the old-growth issue from a science perspective. The objectives were: (i) to bring together Canadian expertise on old-growth forests, (ii) to define old growth within the main forest regions of Canada, (iii) to understand its biological complexities and ecological roles, and (iv) to discuss management and restoration experiences and options. Some forest regions of Canada still contain significant old-growth forest (e.g., some boreal forest regions), although other regions contain very little primary, relatively undisturbed, older forest (e.g., eastern temperate-zone forest regions). One of the difficulties in managing and conserving old-growth forests is defining them in a scientifically meaningful, yet operational and policy-relevant manner. This difficulty may be overcome by developing an index of "old-growthness" (Spies and Franklin 1988) related to specific forest regions or forest types. Such an old-growth index would allow for the inclusion of specific attributes, composition, functions, and processes seen as relevant to different ecological regions or specific forest types and could serve as a basis for prioritizing local or regional conservation and management activities. Thus, such an index approach has worldwide applicability. Traditionally, old-growth forests have been valued primarily as habitat for forest-dependent, specifically old-growth-dependent, wildlife. Recent results from research on old-growth forests in eastern Canada suggest that as tree populations age they tend to increase in genetic diversity and reproductive fitness, suggesting that old-growth forests may serve as natural reservoirs of genetic diversity and reproductive fitness for the constituent tree species. This has important implications for the dispersal and adaptation of trees across increasingly fragmented forest landscapes subject to the anticipated rapid climatic changes and the introduction of new pest and disease problems. Old-growth conservation goes well beyond the more traditional areas of watershed (including water quality) and habitat protection and includes emerging issues such as the conservation of genetic resources and carbon sequestration. It is very much a cross-sectoral issue with many interdisciplinary linkages. Therefore, conservation and protection of old-growth forests should be of wide general interest to the forest sector. Key words: biodiversity conservation, Canada's forests, genetic diversity, late-successional temperate forests, old-growth index, reproductive fitness.

scholarly journals Determination of Structural Characteristics of Old-Growth Forest in Ukraine Using Spaceborne LiDAR

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1233
Author(s):  
Ben Spracklen ◽  
Dominick V. Spracklen
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Structure ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Random Forest Classification ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Forest Classification ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Old Growth Forests

A forest’s structure changes as it progresses through developmental stages from establishment to old-growth forest. Therefore, the vertical structure of old-growth forests will differ from that of younger, managed forests. Free, publicly available spaceborne Laser Range and Detection (LiDAR) data designed for the determination of forest structure has recently become available through NASA’s General Ecosystem and Development Investigation (GEDI). We use this data to investigate the structure of some of the largest remaining old-growth forests in Europe in the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains. We downloaded 18489 cloud-free shots in the old-growth forest (OGF) and 20398 shots in adjacent non-OGF areas during leaf-on, snow-free conditions. We found significant differences between OGF and non-OGF over a wide range of structural metrics. OGF was significantly more open, with a more complex vertical structure and thicker ground-layer vegetation. We used Random Forest classification on a range of GEDI-derived metrics to classify OGF shapefiles with an accuracy of 73%. Our work demonstrates the use of spaceborne LiDAR for the identification of old-growth forests.

scholarly journals Compared to Wildfire, Management Practices Reduced Old-Growth Forest Diversity and Functionality in Primary Boreal Landscapes of Eastern Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxence Martin ◽  
Pierre Grondin ◽  
Marie-Claude Lambert ◽  
Yves Bergeron ◽  
Hubert Morin
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Industrial Scale ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Ecosystem Based Management ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Boreal Landscapes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Primary Forests

Large primary forest residuals can still be found in boreal landscapes. Their areas are however shrinking rapidly due to anthropogenic activities, in particular industrial-scale forestry. The impacts of logging activities on primary boreal forests may also strongly differ from those of wildfires, the dominant stand-replacing natural disturbance in these forests. Since industrial-scale forestry is driven by economic motives, there is a risk that stands of higher economic value will be primarily harvested, thus threatening habitats, and functions related to these forests. Hence, the objective of this study was to identify the main attributes differentiating burned and logged stands prior to disturbance in boreal forests. The study territory lies in the coniferous and closed-canopy boreal forest in Québec, Canada, where industrial-scale logging and wildfire are the two main stand-replacing disturbances. Based on Québec government inventories of primary forests, we identified 427 transects containing about 5.5 circular field plots/transect that were burned or logged shortly after being surveyed, between 1985 and 2016. Comparative analysis of the main structural and environmental attributes of these transects highlighted the strong divergence in the impact of fire and harvesting on primary boreal forests. Overall, logging activities mainly harvested forests with the highest economic value, while most burned stands were low to moderately productive or recently disturbed. These results raise concerns about the resistance and resilience of remnant primary forests within managed areas, particularly in a context of disturbance amplification due to climate change. Moreover, the majority of the stands studied were old-growth forests, characterized by a high ecological value but also highly threatened by anthropogenic disturbances. A loss in the diversity and functionality of primary forests, and particularly the old-growth forests, therefore adds to the current issues related to these ecosystems. Since 2013, the study area is under ecosystem-based management, which implies that there have been marked changes in forestry practices. Complementary research will be necessary to assess the capacity of ecosystem-based management to address the challenges identified in our study.

scholarly journals Boreal old-growth forest structural diversity challenges aerial photographic survey accuracy

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxence Martin ◽  
Nicole J. Fenton ◽  
Hubert Morin
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Forest Succession ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Forest Inventories ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Aerial Surveys ◽  
Old Growth Forests

The erosion of old-growth forests in boreal managed landscapes is a major issue currently faced by forest managers; however, resolving this problem requires accurate surveys. The intention of our study was to determine if historic operational aerial forest surveys accurately identified boreal old-growth forests in Quebec, Canada. We first compared stand successional stages (even-aged vs. old-growth) in two aerial surveys performed in 1968 (preindustrial aerial survey) and 2007 (modern aerial survey) on the same 2200 km2 territory. Second, we evaluated the accuracy of the modern aerial survey by comparing its results with those of 74 field plots sampled in the study territory between 2014 and 2016. The two aerial surveys differed significantly; 80.8% of the undisturbed stands that were identified as “old-growth” in the preindustrial survey were classified as “even-aged” in the modern survey, and 60% of the stands identified as “old-growth” by field sampling were also erroneously identified as “even-aged” by the modern aerial survey. The scarcity of obvious old-growth attributes in boreal old-growth forests, as well as poorly adapted modern aerial survey criteria (i.e., criteria requiring high vertical stratification and significant changes in tree species composition along forest succession), were the main factors explaining these errors. It is therefore likely that most of Quebec’s boreal old-growth forests are currently not recognized as such in forest inventories, challenging the efficacy of sustainable forest management policies.

Ecosystem management applications of resource objective wildfires in forests of the Grand Canyon National Park, USA

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 190
Author(s):  
Michael T. Stoddard ◽  
Peter Z. Fulé ◽  
David W. Huffman ◽  
Andrew J. Sánchez Meador ◽  
John Paul Roccaforte
Keyword(s):  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Grand Canyon ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Mixed Conifer ◽  
Species Dominance ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
Large Trees

Forest managers of the western United States are increasingly interested in utilising naturally ignited wildfires to achieve management objectives. Wildfires can accomplish a range of objectives, from maintenance of intact ecological conditions, to ecosystem restoration, to playing vital natural disturbance roles; however, few studies have carefully evaluated long-term effectiveness and outcomes of wildfire applications across multiple forest types. We remeasured monitoring plots more than 10 years after ‘resource objective’ (RO) fires were allowed to burn in three main south-western forest types. Results showed minimal effects and effective maintenance of open conditions in an intact pine-oak site. Higher-severity fire and delayed mortality of larger and older trees contributed to reductions in basal area and canopy cover at the mixed-conifer and spruce-fir sites. Species dominance shifted towards ponderosa pine in both the mixed-conifer and spruce-fir sites. Although fires resulted in 46–68% mortality of smaller trees initially, substantial ingrowth brought tree density to near pre-fire levels in all forest types after 12 years. Overall, the 2003 RO fires were broadly successful at maintaining or creating open and heterogeneous conditions and resulted in fire- and drought-tolerant species composition. These conditions are likely to be resilient to changing climate, at least in the short term. Substantial mortality of large trees and continuing loss of basal area, however, are a concern, given further climate warming.

Fine root growth and mortality in different-aged ponderosa pine stands

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1797-1806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris P. Andersen ◽  
Donald L. Phillips ◽  
Paul T. Rygiewicz ◽  
Marjorie J. Storm
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Standing Crop ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Pine Stands

Root minirhizotron tubes were installed at two sites around three different age classes of ponderosa pine ( Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) to follow patterns of fine root (≤2 mm diameter) dynamics during a 4 year study. Both sites were old-growth forests until 1978, when one site was clear-cut and allowed to regenerate naturally. The other site had both intermediate-aged trees (50–60 years) and old-growth trees (>250 years old). Estimates of fine root standing crop were greatest around young trees and least around intermediate-aged trees. Root production was highly synchronized in all age classes, showing a single peak in late May – early June each year. Root production and mortality were proportional to standing root crop (biomass), suggesting that allocation to new root growth was proportional to root density regardless of tree age. The turnover index (mortality/maximum standing crop) varied from 0.62 to 0.89·year–1, indicating root life spans in excess of 1 year. It appears that young ponderosa pine stands have greater rates of fine root production than older stands but lose more fine roots each year through mortality. The results indicate that soil carbon may accumulate faster in younger than in older stands.

Woody debris and tree regeneration dynamics following severe wildfires in Arizona ponderosa pine forests

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 593-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Roccaforte ◽  
Peter Z. Fulé ◽  
W. Walker Chancellor ◽  
Daniel C. Laughlin
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Tree Regeneration ◽  
Forest Recovery ◽  
Regeneration Dynamics ◽  
Ponderosa Pine Forests

Severe forest fires worldwide leave behind large quantities of dead woody debris and regenerating trees that can affect future ecosystem trajectories. We studied a chronosequence of severe fires in Arizona, USA, spanning 1 to 18 years after burning to investigate postfire woody debris and regeneration dynamics. Snag densities varied over time, with predominantly recent snags in recent fires and broken or fallen snags in older fires. Coarse woody debris peaked at > 60 Mg/ha in the time period 6–12 years after fire, a value higher than previously reported in postfire fuel assessments in this region. However, debris loadings on fires older than 12 years were within the range of recommended management values (11.2–44.8 Mg/ha). Overstory and regeneration were most commonly dominated by sprouting deciduous species. Ponderosa pine ( Pinus ponderosa C. Lawson var. scopulorum Engelm.) overstory and regeneration were completely lacking in 50% and 57% of the sites, respectively, indicating that many sites were likely to experience extended periods as shrublands or grasslands rather than returning rapidly to pine forest. More time is needed to see whether these patterns will remain stable, but there are substantial obstacles to pine forest recovery: competition with sprouting species and (or) grasses, lack of seed sources, and the forecast of warmer, drier climatic conditions for coming decades.

scholarly journals Bryophyte Conservation in Managed Boreal Landscapes: Fourteen-Year Impacts of Partial Cuts on Epixylic Bryophytes

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Opoku-Nyame ◽  
Alain Leduc ◽  
Nicole J. Fenton
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Over Time

Clear cut harvest simplifies and eliminates old growth forest structure, negatively impacting biodiversity. Partial cut harvest has been hypothesized (1) to have less impact on biodiversity than clear cut harvest, and (2) to encourage old growth forest structures. Long-term studies are required to test this hypothesis as most studies are conducted soon after harvest. Using epixylic bryophytes as indicators, this study addresses this knowledge gap. Fourteen years after harvest, we examined changes in epixylic bryophyte community composition richness and traits, and their microhabitats (coarse woody debris characteristics and microclimate) along an unharvested, partial cuts and clear cuts harvest treatment in 30 permanent plots established in the boreal black spruce (Picea mariana) forests of northwestern Quebec, Canada. Our results were compared to those of an initial post-harvest study (year 5) and to a chronosequence of old growth forests to examine species changes over time and the similarity of bryophyte communities in partial cut and old growth forests. Coarse woody debris (CWD) volume by decay class varied among harvest treatments with partial cuts and clear cuts recording lower volumes of early decay CWD. The epixylic community was richer in partial cuts than in mature unharvested forests and clear cuts. In addition, species richness and overall abundance doubled in partial and clear cuts between years 5 and 14. Species composition also differed among treatments between years 5 and 14. Furthermore, conditions in partial cut stands supported small, drought sensitive, and old growth confined species that are threatened by conditions in clear cut stands. Lastly, over time, species composition in partial cuts became more similar to old growth forests. Partial cuts reduced harvest impacts by continuing to provide favorable microhabitat conditions that support epixylic bryophytes. Also, partial cut harvest has the potential to encourage old growth species assemblages, which has been a major concern for biodiversity conservation in managed forest landscapes. Our findings support the promotion of partial cut harvest as an effective strategy to achieve species and habitat conservation goals.

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