ALBERT

Description: A major ice storm in January 1998 provided an opportunity to study the effects of a rare, intense disturbance on the structure of the northern hardwood forest canopy. Canopy damage was assessed using visual damage classes within watersheds of different ages at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF) and changes in leaf area index in two of these watersheds. Ice thickness was measured, and ice loads of trees were estimated using regression equations. In the 60- to 120-year-old forests (mean basal area 26 m2·ha1), damage was greatest in trees 〉30 cm diameter at breast height and at elevations above 600 m. Of the dominant tree species, beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) was the most damaged, sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) was the most resistant, and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) was intermediate. Trees with advanced beech bark disease experienced heavier ice damage. Little damage occurred in the 14-year-old forest, while the 24- to 28-year-old forest experienced intense damage. In the young stands of this forest, damage was greatest between 600 and 750 m, in trees on steep slopes and near streams, and among pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica L.). Recovery of the canopy was tracked over three growing seasons, and root growth was monitored 1 year after the storm. Because of the high density of advance regeneration from beech bark disease and root sprouting potential in ice-damaged beech, HBEF will likely see an increase in beech abundance in older forests as a result of the storm. There will also be a more rapid change from pioneer species to mature northern hardwoods in the younger forests. These predictions illustrate the ability of rare disturbances to increase heterogeneity of forest structure and composition in this ecosystem, especially through interactions with other disturbances.

Description: The history of canopy disturbances over the lifetime of an old-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) stand in the western Cascade Range of southern Washington was reconstructed using tree-ring records of cross-dated samples from a 3.3-ha mapped plot. The reconstruction detected pulses in which many western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) synchronously experienced abrupt and sustained increases in ringwidth, i.e., "growth-increases", and focused on medium-sized or larger ([Formula: see text]0.8 ha) events. The results show that the stand experienced at least three canopy disturbances that each thinned, but did not clear, the canopy over areas [Formula: see text]0.8 ha, occurring approximately in the late 1500s, the 1760s, and the 1930s. None of these promoted regeneration of the shade-intolerant Douglas-fir, all of which established 15001521. The disturbances may have promoted regeneration of western hemlock, but their strongest effect on tree dynamics was to elicit western hemlock growth-increases. Canopy disturbances are known to create patchiness, or horizontal heterogeneity, an important characteristic of old-growth forests. This reconstructed history provides one model for restoration strategies to create horizontal heterogeneity in young Douglas-fir stands, for example, by suggesting sizes of areas to thin in variable-density thinnings.

Description: Management of boreal mixedwood forests in Canada has traditionally relied almost exclusively on the clear-cut silvicultural system. In recent years, greater utilization of the hardwood component of boreal mixedwoods and increased societal concerns over maintenance of the integrity and sustainability of these ecosystems has provided impetus for forest managers to consider alternative silvicultural practices in boreal mixedwood forests. Little is currently known, however, concerning the response of soils and vegetation to forest harvesting systems in the mixedwood forests of the Liard River valley, Northwest Territories (NWT). Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify the effects of patch clear-cut, strip clear-cut, and clear-cut harvesting systems on soil properties and understory vegetation composition and structure. Treatment sites with 3 or 4 years of recovery since harvesting and adjacent uncut forest sites were sampled using transect methodology. Soil samples were collected and understory vegetation community species composition and percent crown cover were assessed in 1-m2 quadrats. Compared with the range of conditions present in the uncut forest, increases in mineral soil bulk density (2%), exchangeable calcium (7%), LFH horizon thickness (13%), pH (0.2 units), and total organic carbon (5%) and decreases in LFH horizon total nitrogen (6%) and exchangeable potassium (22%) were observed following harvesting. Harvesting resulted in the reduction in crown cover of feathermoss species and increased abundance of shrub and herb species and minimal changes to species composition. Multivariate analysis of the data indicated that the method of harvesting did not result in significant differences in species composition and structure of the understory vegetation community. Overall, winter harvesting of these boreal mixedwood sites did not have a major impact on the majority of soil properties evaluated or on the species composition of the understory vegetation community.

Description: We investigated grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) selection of three road types in the northern United States and southern British Columbia from 1986 to 1991. We hypothesized that grizzly bears select against open (public use allowed), restricted (forestry use only), and closed roads (no public use allowed) in that order. We analyzed use of roads for 11 bears (five females and six males) in an area containing open and closed roads and 11 bears (seven females and four males) in an adjacent area containing restricted roads. We used χ2 and loglinear models to test for selection of habitat type and distance to road categories. Ten of 12 females and 5 of 10 males (15 of 22 bears) selected against (P 〈 0.05) low-elevation interior cedar-hemlock and for (P 〈 0.05) high-elevation Englemann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.) subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.). After accounting for habitat, 4 of 5 females and 3 of 6 males (7 of 11 bears) selected against open roads and 3 of 5 females and 0 of 6 males (3 of 11 bears) selected against closed roads. No females (n = 7) or males (n = 4) (0 of 11 bears) selected against restricted roads. Our results are inconsistent with the hypothesis that bears select against open, restricted, and closed roads in that order. Most females and males selected against open roads, most females selected against closed roads, and no bears selected against restricted roads. The type of human activity along roads plays a role in bear responses to roads, and this aspect should be incorporated into future bear-road studies.

Description: This study evaluated the use of radial growth averaging as a technique of identifying canopy disturbances in a thinned 55-year-old mixed-oak stand in West Virginia. We used analysis of variance to determine the time interval (averaging period) and lag period (time between thinning and growth increase) that best captured the growth increase associated with different levels of crown release of Quercus prinus L. and Quercus rubra L. A lag of 3 years and an interval of 7 years yielded the best fit of percent growth change and percent crown release, respectively, for Q. prinus; for Q. rubra, the radial growth response did not differ significantly when lag and interval were varied from 1 to 3 and 6 to 15 years, respectively. The relationship between percent crown release and percent growth change was linear for both species. This method provides a suitable means of detecting canopy disturbances affecting overstory trees and is potentially applicable to other tree species. When combined with fire histories, these data can provide the basis for reconstructing long-term disturbance regimes. This estimate may also provide a framework for scheduling the rate of stand entry for silvicultural treatments (e.g., thinning) that is consistent with its historic stand development.

Description: Spatial analysis, using separable autoregressive processes of residuals, is increasingly used in agricultural variety yield trial analysis. Interpretation of the sample variogram has become a tool for the detection of global trend and "extraneous" variation aligned with trial rows and columns. We applied this methodology to five selected forest genetic trials using an individual tree additive genetic model. We compared the base design model with post-blocking, a first-order autoregressive model of residuals (AR1), that model with an independent error term (AR1η), a combined base and autoregressive model, an autoregressive model only within replicates and an autoregressive model applied at the plot level. Post-blocking gave substantial improvements in log-likelihood over the base model, but the AR1η model was even better. The independent error term was necessary with the individual tree additive genetic model to avoid substantial positive bias in estimates of additive genetic variance in the AR1 model and blurred patterns of variation. With the combined model, the design effects were eliminated, or their significance was greatly reduced. Applying the AR1η model to individual trees was better than applying it at the plot level or applying it on a replicate-by-replicate basis. The relative improvements achieved in genetic response to selection did not exceed 6%. Examination of the spatial distribution of the residuals and the variogram of the residuals allowed the identification of the spatial patterns present. While additional significant terms could be fitted to model some of the spatial patterns and stationary variograms were attained in some instances, this resulted in only marginal increases in genetic gain. Use of a combined model is recommended to enable improved analysis of experimental data.

Description: Accurate determination of stand establishment ages is important in developing growth and yield models and in studying stand dynamics of fire-origin stands. The study objective was to determine time to reach breast height for black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), and white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) from fire origin stands under different site conditions in northeastern Ontario. Stands were randomly selected from burns with known fire dates. In each stand, three to six dominant and codominant trees of a selected species were cored at breast height (1.3 m above the ground level) to determine time to reach breast height. Trembling aspen and white birch did not differ for time to reach breast height after fire, taking 6 or 7 years, jack pine took marginally longer (8 years), whereas black spruce took the longest (18 years). While time to reach breast height did not vary among site conditions as described by soil texture and moisture regime, it was positively related to time since fire. The results of this study indicate that stand establishment dates and total tree ages can be substantially underestimated if breast height age is used as the stand age, resulting in misinterpretations of growth and yield and forest succession.

Description: Post-fire timber harvesting (salvage logging) is becoming more prevalent as logging companies try to recover some of the economic losses caused by fire. Because salvaging is a relatively new practice and because of the common perception that burned areas are of little value to wildlife, few guidelines exist for salvaging operations. We surveyed birds in unburned and burned stands of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), mixedwood, and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) to characterize the post-fire bird community in commercially important forest types. The effects of salvage logging were examined in mixedwood and jack pine. Using fixed-radius point counts, a total of 1430 individuals representing 51 species were detected during this study. Community analysis revealed that burned forests supported a distinct species assemblage of songbirds relative to unburned forests and that salvage logging significantly altered this community. An examination of guild composition showed that resident species, canopy and cavity nesters, and insectivores were the least likely to be detected in salvaged areas. Species less sensitive to salvage logging tended to be habitat generalists, omnivores, and species that nest on the ground or in shrubs. We suggest alternative management strategies that may help reduce the impact of salvage logging on the boreal forest songbird community.

Description: The vertical distributions of fine roots of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don), and salal (Gaultheria shallon Pursh) were characterized in old-growth cedarhemlock forests on northern Vancouver Island. Total biomasses of cedar, hemlock, and salal roots in the forest floor and upper mineral soil were 817, 620, and 187 g·m2, respectively. Hemlock and salal fine roots were concentrated in the upper forest floor, while cedar fine roots were evenly distributed through the profile. Salal and hemlock fine root densities (g·m3) in the forest floor and mineral soil were positively correlated, as were salal and cedar root biomass distributions (g·m2). Only salal and hemlock root densities were significantly correlated with N concentrations. Hemlock root densities were negatively correlated with total N, and salal root densities were negatively correlated with total N and soluble organic N. Based on fine root densities, hemlock and salal probably compete for resources in the upper forest floor, whereas cedar accesses resources in the lower organic and mineral soil horizons. The differences in the vertical distributions of cedar, hemlock, and salal fine roots may partly explain the co-occurrence and different productivities of the three species in cedar-hemlock forests.

Description: We (i) quantified effects of skidder yarding on soil properties and seedling growth in a portion of western Oregon, (ii) determined if tilling skid trails improved tree growth, and (iii) compared results with those from an earlier investigation in coastal Washington. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings were hand planted at eight recent clearcuts in skid ruts in either nontilled or tilled trails, in adjacent soil berms, and in adjacent logged-only portions. Four and 5 years after skidding, rut depths averaged 15 cm below the original soil surface; mean fine-soil bulk density (030 cm depth) below ruts of nontilled trails exceeded that on logged-only portions by 14%. Height growth on nontilled trails averaged 24% less than on logged-only portions in year 4 after planting and decreased to 6% less in year 7. For years 810, mean height growth was similar for all treatments. Reduced height growth lasted for about 7 years compared with 2 years for coastal Washington. Ten years after planting, trees in skid-trail ruts averaged 10% shorter with 29% less volume than those on logged-only portions. Tillage improved height and volume growth to equal that on logged-only portions. Generalizations about negative effects of skid trails on tree growth have limited geographic scope.

Description: Although plants are sessile organisms, they can forage for resources and avoid neighbors by growing towards areas with high resource availability and reduced competition. Apparently because of this morphological flexibility, tree canopies are rarely positioned directly above their stem bases and are often displaced. To determine if contrasts in light availability lead to the development of canopy displacement, we investigated the responses of tree canopies to the heterogeneous light environments at the edges of six experimental gaps. Canopies and trunks of gap edge trees were mapped, and their spatial distributions were analyzed. We found that tree canopies were displaced towards gap centers. The magnitude and precision of canopy displacement were greater for subcanopy trees than for canopy trees. The magnitude and precision of canopy displacement were generally greater for earlier successional trees and hardwoods than for later successional trees and conifers. Canopy depth was significantly greater on gap-facing sides of trees than on forest-facing sides of trees. Thus, trees along gap edges foraged for light by occupying both horizontal and vertical gap space. This morphological flexibility has implications for individual plant success, as well as forest structure and dynamics.

Description: The modern techniques of the global positioning system and geographic information system enable many new approaches to forestry planning problems. Using these it is possible to efficiently geoposition, store, and analyze each field measurement in a spatial context. This work is directed towards the application of a dynamic forestry planning system based on a forest map with very high spatial resolution created from geopositioned field plot data, instead of the traditional forest stand map. The new dynamic system is dependent on accurate methods to create a high-resolution map from a set of field measurements. This problem may be solved using the kriging spatial prediction (interpolation) method. The aim of this paper is to present and empirically evaluate a new kriging method side-by-side with global and stratified kriging. The new method uses the output from an edge-detection algorithm, here applied to Landsat TM image data, to increase the prediction accuracy. Prediction evaluation was made in terms of mean forest stem volume per hectare measured on circular field plots of 10 m radius. The new method showed a prediction root mean square error of 41% of the mean volume, compared with corresponding results of global, 58%, and stratified kriging, 45%.

Description: Coarse woody debris (CWD) was studied in old Pinus sylvestris L. dominated forests in three geographic regions in the middle boreal vegetation zone: (i) in Häme in southwestern Finland, characterized by a long history of forest utilization, (ii) in Kuhmo in northeastern Finland, with a more recent history of forest utilization, and (iii) in the Vienansalo wilderness area in northwestern Russia, characterized by large areas of almost natural forest. Within the geographic regions the measured 0.2-ha plots were divided into three stand types according to the degree of human impact: (i) natural stands, (ii) selectively logged stands, and (iii) managed stands. The results showed that compared with natural forests, forest management has strongly reduced both the amount and diversity of CWD. The highest total CWD volumes were found in the natural stands in Häme (mean 67 m3·ha1) and Kuhmo (92 m3·ha1) and in the selective logged stands in Vienansalo (80 m3·ha1), while the lowest CWD volumes were found in the managed stands in Häme (7 m3·ha1) and Kuhmo (22 m3·ha1). The duration of forest utilization also plays a role, as forests with short management histories (Kuhmo region) still carried structural legacies from earlier more natural stages of the forest. In addition to lower total CWD volumes, managed stands also largely lacked certain dead wood characteristics, particularly large dead trees and standing dead trees with structural diversity characteristics (such as stem breakage, leaning stems, and fire scars) when compared with natural and selectively logged stands. The CWD characteristics of stands selectively logged in the past were often comparable with those of natural stands, suggesting that old selectively logged stands can be of high value from the nature conservation point of view.

Description: We used dendrochronological analysis of over 2000 trees in four 50 × 50 m plots to reconstruct the history and dynamics of a 330-year-old, fire-initiated spruce-fir forest. All lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.), half of the canopy Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.), but less than 10% of the canopy subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) dated from the first 50 years of stand development. Tree-ring patterns of individual surviving trees showed no evidence of disturbance during the first 200 years after stand initiation; subsequently, episodes of disturbance are indicated by periods of release in understory fir. Although many fir owe their canopy position to release after disturbance, few canopy fir in the current stand established in response to either the stand-initiating event or subsequent partial disturbances. A seedling bank of long-lived fir appears critical to the dynamics of this forest. In contrast, establishment of almost all canopy spruce can be related to disturbance. This stand, although fire initiated, was structured primarily by a combination of partial disturbances and autogenic processes. We suspect that most old, fire-initiated stands in many forest regions are similarly structured and emphasize that the contribution of partial disturbances and autogenic processes should be fully assessed when examining their dynamics or managing such forests.

Description: Larvae of the poplar and willow borer, Cryptorhynchus lapathi (L.), an exotic Eurasian weevil, bore into the stems of Salix and Populus spp. creating infection courts for pathogens and weakening stems to breakage. We conducted a survey to determine the distribution and prevalence of C. lapathi in British Columbia. The survey spanned five biogeoclimatic zones, 15 subzones, 45 locations, 135 sites, and 3360 trees. We found the still-expanding range of C. lapathi to have at least doubled since 1963. The weevil was present in 38 locations and 14 subzones, with prevalence of weevil-attacked trees significantly lower in cold than in warm subzones. A regression model based on number of months with mean temperature 〉10°C reliably described the proportions of attacked trees in the 15 subzones (r2 = 0.81) and predicts that [Formula: see text] 25% of willows in 58.1% of British Columbia could ultimately be infested. The number of individual weevils per tree and per stem and the intensity of attack were positively and either exponentially (per tree and per stem) or logistically (intensity of attack) related to the prevalence of attacked trees (r2 = 0.41, 0.36, and 0.75, respectively). As the prevalence and intensity of attack by C. lapathi in British Columbia increase, so may the ecological and economic impact of the weevil.

Description: The effects of litter quality and climate on decomposition rates of plant tissues were examined using percent mass remaining (MR) data of 10 foliar litter types and 1 wood type during 6 years exposure at 18 upland forest sites across Canada. Litter-quality variables used included initial nutrient contents (N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg) and carbon fractions (determined by proximate analysis and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy). Climate variables used included mean annual temperature; total, summer, and winter precipitation; and potential evaptranspiration. A single-exponential decay model with intercept was fit using the natural logarithm of 0- to 6-year percent MR data (LNMR) for all 198 type by site combinations. Model fit was good for most sites and types (r2 = 0.640.98), although poorest for cold sites with low-quality materials. Multiple regression of model slope (Kf) and intercept (A) terms demonstrated the importance of temperature, summer precipitation, and the acid-unhydrolyzable residue to N ratio (AUR/N) (r2 = 0.65) for Kf, and winter precipitation and several litter-quality variables including AUR/N for A (r2 = 0.60). Comparison of observed versus predicted LNMR for the best overall combined models were good (r2 = 0.750.80), although showed some bias, likely because of other site- and type-specific factors as predictions using 198 equations accounted for more variance (r2 = 0.95) and showed no bias.

Description: Careful logging regulations in Quebec restrict circulation of harvesting and forwarding or skidding machinery to evenly spaced, parallel trails, which creates a particular pattern of disturbed and relatively undisturbed zones in cutovers. A 7-year monitoring study was established to evaluate the effects of careful logging on vegetation development in the southern boreal forest of Quebec. A total of 255 sample plots (2 m2) were located in seven cutovers in predominantly black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) forests that were whole-tree "careful logged": 120 on fresh to moist silty clays or silty clay loams and 135 on dry to fresh loamy sands. Three microsites were sampled: skid trails and the edge and the centre of protection strips. A gradient of disturbance from the skid trail to centre of the protection strip was evident for finer textured sites. Careful logging resulted in high densities of black spruce and balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) (〉 20 000 stems/ha each) in the protection strip. Survival of other understory species was also favoured in protection strips. Higher disturbance levels in skid trails favoured establishment of larch (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch), raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.), and graminoids. Reduction of ericaceous cover occurred in skid trails on coarse-textured sites but was only temporary. Softwood stocking 7 years after harvest (based on 2-m2 plots), ranged from 69 to 74% on fine- to medium-textured sites and from 31 to 51% on coarse-textured sites. The pattern of vegetation development created by careful logging has important implications for silvicultural decisions and stand modelling.

Description: The effects that competing vegetation and nitrogen limitation have on the current annual increment (CAI), leaf biomass, and growth efficiency (GE) of different aged loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stands planted on a Piedmont and lower Coastal Plain location in Georgia, U.S.A. were determined by measuring stands receiving a factorial combination of complete interspecific competition control and annual nitrogen fertilization. At the Piedmont location, CAI increased with age (5, 10, and 12 years) as well as fertilization (7.39.2 Mg·ha1) and competition control (6.89.6 Mg·ha1). The effects of fertilization on leaf biomass increased with stand age (no difference at age 5 to 1.5 Mg·ha1 difference at age 12), while the effects of competition control on leaf biomass decreased with stand age (difference of 2.5 Mg·ha1 at age 5 to difference of 1.6 Mg·ha1 at age 12). At the Coastal Plain location, fertilization increased CAI from 10.3 to 14.8 Mg·ha1. Leaf biomass increased with competition control (4.95.5 Mg·ha1) and fertilization (4.46.0 Mg·ha1). Leaf biomass increased with stand age for the fertilized stands (5.37.0 Mg·ha1 between age 7 and 13) and decreased with stand age for nonfertilized stands (4.94.0 Mg·ha1 between age 7 and 13). At the Coastal Plain location, fertilization increased the GE of the age-7 stands from 2.34 to 2.86 but decreased the GE of the age-13 stands from 2.32 to 2.14. In general, GE decreased as mean tree size increased indicating that changes in GE related to treatments may be confounded with changes in tree size. Results of this experiment emphasize the importance of nutrition on stand growth as fertilization increased leaf biomass and may increase stem production per unit of foliage at early stages of development.

Description: An increased pressure to use silvicultural techniques not based on clear-cutting followed by planting has led to an interest in systems that take advantage of existing understory seedlings (advance regeneration). Earlier studies have suggested that following harvesting, understory seedlings may experience growth reductions before responding with growth increases. We hypothesize that this "growth shock" following release results because seedlings are ill adjusted to the new growing conditions and that this can be investigated through a comparison of growth in different parts of the tree over a 6-year period. This study compares the growth response of three size classes of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings to a partial overstory removal in relatively dry conifer forests of central British Columbia. Growth was evaluated in four parts of the studied trees: radial increment in roots, in the base of the stem, and in branches, as well as leader height growth extension. Our findings show that following release from the overstory, early growth increases were largest in the roots and stems irrespective of the species or the size class. Differences between the species were observed in greater absolute height growth for pine, whereas Douglas-fir invested in greater stem growth, especially in the larger individuals. Important differences also occurred temporally. Both species (and all size classes) responded with an immediate increase in root growth followed, after a 1-year delay, by an increase in stem growth. Branch radial increment (for pine) and leader height growth (both species), however, experienced 2 to 3 year growth reductions before responding. It is therefore suggested that individuals restore the rootshoot balance by greater initial investments to root growth to offset the increased transpiration losses associated with the greater light and higher temperature conditions and the relative changes in the photosynthetic versus nutrient uptake capacity following the canopy opening. Foresters may therefore be able to manipulate tree growth responses by using an appropriate degree of overstory removal or opening size.

Description: The intentional removal or addition of species or specific human impacts on ecosystems trigger changes that can help us understand species interactions. In many temperate forests, deer populations are increasing and so is the need to understand how they influence ecosystems. We took advantage of the introduction of Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitchensis Merriam) to the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii), British Columbia, Canada, to study how hunting pressure affects the impact of deer on tree regeneration after logging. We show that although the regeneration of western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don) is drastically reduced in presence of deer, regeneration is better and browsing stress lower, in areas where deer are more exposed to hunting. Similar effects of accessibility for hunters are observed on browsing stress of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière). Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) is not significantly affected, and its regeneration is not correlated to hunting. We suggest that the effect of hunting on tree regeneration could be explained by the incidence of hunting on deer behaviour rather than by the actual number of deer killed by hunters. These results suggest that the future occurrence of redcedar stands in second-growth forests on this archipelago may depend on the amount and distribution of deer hunting.

Description: Time series of seed production and tree-ring width of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) in southern Norway were analysed for their relationship to various climatic factors occurring during "key" stages, which a priori might be expected to show a strong climate response. The following factors combined in a multiple linear regression model were found to predict seed production (based on withheld data points) with considerable accuracy, at high levels of statistical significance: JuneJuly mean temperature and August lowest temperature in the previous year, late spring frost and JuneJuly precipitation of the last 2 years, and JanuaryFebruary lowest temperature in the current year. Tree ring width was negatively correlated with the seed production index of the current year and the lowest July temperature in the previous year and positively correlated with June-July precipitation in the current year. It is suggested that habitat constraints for seedling establishment should also be considered in a more general life-history cost theory to explain masting behaviour in forest trees.

Description: In northern forests, cryptogams (spore producing plants) occupy a key position in forest ecosystem diversity and function. Forest harvesting and silvicultural practices have the potential to reduce cryptogam diversity. This project uses four blocks that were mechanically site prepared, planted with a single conifer species, and subsequently subjected to five conifer release treatments: (1) motor-manual cleaning, (2) mechanical brush cutting, (3) aerial application of triclopyr, (4) aerial application of glyphosate, and (5) control (untreated clearcut). Five 10 × 10 m subplots were installed in each of the five treatment plots and the uncut forest on the four blocks. Botanical surveys were conducted before and 15 years after treatments. Species richness and abundance, Shannon's and Heip's indices, and rank abundance diagrams clearly show that richness and abundance were affected by silvicultural treatments. Vegetation management treatments resulted in significant reductions in cryptogam diversity, to the point that only a few colonists and drought-tolerant species remained. Cryptogam diversity was ranked in the following order: forest 〉 clearcut 〉 mechanical clearing 〉 herbicide treatment. Herbicide treatments had the greatest initial effect on species richness, species abundance, and diversity indices. Cryptogam diversity showed signs of recovery 5 years after treatments. Missed strips (untreated areas) within a clearcut provided a refuge for remnant communities of forest cryptogams that could play a key role in the rehabilitation forest diversity.

Description: Post-fire regeneration of Picea glauca (Moench) Voss on boreal mixedwood sites appears to be highly variable over time. Our objectives were to determine whether ground-level ring counts underestimate root collar age of understory P. glauca and whether aging errors increase with stand age. Trees were collected from one to nine stands in each of three fires occurring in mast years between 1961 and 1991. Trees were cut at ground level (humus soil level), and the belowground stumps were excavated, sectioned, and internally cross-dated with skeleton plots after identifying the root-collar location. Ground-level disks were visually cross-dated with a master chronology, which was constructed using the dendrochronology program COFECHA. Ground-level ring counts underestimated age by a mean of 2.4 years (range 06) and 6.4 years (range 013) in 20- and 38-year-old stands, respectively. Age underestimation was significantly greater at the root collar than ground level because of missing rings. Cross-dated age structures showed that apparent regeneration lags in 20- and 38-year-old stands were artifacts of ground-level ring counts and that the first year post-fire was the most important establishment year in all mast year burns. We conclude that aging errors have led to inaccurate depictions of regeneration patterns during early mixedwood stand development. Our results portray a different picture of P. glauca succession and have important implications for forest management.

Description: Tracheid cell number, cell diameter, and cell-wall thickness of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) tree rings at the tree line (northern Quebec, Canada) were measured using image analysis. The densitometric data from the same samples were used to evaluate the features of image analysis. The anatomical data were correlated with summer temperature variables, including: means of pentad temperature (five consecutive days), growing season (May- September), sum of degree-days, and number of frost-free days. Our results suggest that the main cause of the pale appearance of light rings is thinner latewood cell-wall thickness. Some latewood variables are strongly correlated with corresponding indices for ring cell number and diameter, and ring cell wall thickness. Anatomical ring cell number and the sum of cell diameters (ring widths) were correlated to tree-ring width parameters derived from densitometry. Ring cell number and annual sum of cell diameter also showed very similar trends with both chronologies, suggesting that ring-width length may depend on the number of cells within a ring. Ratio diagram of double cell-wall thickness to cell radial diameter showed similar trend to wood density profile. There is a statistically significant correlation between maximum density and the highest annual ratio between cell wall thickness and lumen diameter. Cell-wall thickness was significantly correlated to maximum density, and both were significantly correlated with summer temperature variables. Our results suggest that wood anatomy may be used as a substitute to densitometry for climate reconstruction as densitometric data require expensive equipments. Also the anatomical method allows the recording of intra-annual information for dendroecological purposes.

Description: Seedlings from 18 provenances along a coast-interior transect in the Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière × Picea glauca (Moench) Voss introgression zone in northwestern British Columbia were mechanically wounded at the beginning of their third growing season to simulate natural attack by the white pine weevil, Pissodes strobi (Peck). Constitutive resin canals (CRC) in the cortex and traumatic resin canals (TRC) in the xylem of terminal shoots were characterized microscopically 4 months after wounding. Wounding resulted in a large increase in CRC size and in TRC number and density. Provenances differed significantly in TRC number and in CRC number, size, total area, and the proportion of total bark area occupied by CRC. CRC number and size, TRC number, and provenance weevil resistance (obtained from previously published data) increased with increasing latitude, elevation, and distance from the Pacific Ocean (i.e., towards the P. glauca end of the introgression zone) and decreased with increasing longitude (i.e., towards P. sitchensis). These traits also increased with aridity and continentality and decreased with most temperature, precipitation, and growing season length variables. Statistically significant multiple regression models related variation in some resin canal traits to geographic (r2 = 0.71) and climatic (r2 = 0.62) variables. Provenance mean values for weevil resistance were positively associated with predicted values for TRC number and CRC size. These results indicate that it is possible to predict locations in the introgression zone containing trees that possess desirable resin canal traits using geographic or climatic variables.

Description: Spatial aggregation of forest structure strongly regulates understory light and its spatial variation in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forest ecosystems. Previous studies have demonstrated that light availability strongly influences longleaf pine seedling growth. In this study, the relationship between spatial structure of a longleaf pine forest and spatial pattern of understory light availability were investigated by comparing three retention harvest treatments: single-tree, small-group, large-group, and an uncut control. The harvests retained similar residual basal area but the spatial patterns of the residual trees differed. Hemispherical photographs were taken at 300 stations to calculate gap light index (GLI), an estimate of understory light availability. Stand-level mean, variation, and spatial distribution of GLI were determined for each treatment. By aggregating residual trees, stand mean GLI increased by 20%, as well as its spatial variation. Spatial autocorrelation of GLI increased as the size of the canopy gaps increased and the gaps were better defined; thus, the predictability of GLI was enhanced. The ranges of detrended semivariograms were increased from the control to the large-group harvest indicating the spatial patterns of understory GLI became coarser textured. Our results demonstrated that aggregated canopy structure of longleaf pine forest will facilitate longleaf pine seedling regeneration.

Description: To evaluate the variation in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) productivity at a large geographic scale, we examined the relationships between site index and environmental factors from 142 even-aged, fully stocked stands located on a variety of sites across interior British Columbia. Site index was derived from stem analysis and the environmental measures included climate surrogates (latitude, longitude, and elevation), biogeoclimatic zone, slope aspect, actual soil moisture regime (SMR), and soil nutrient regime (SNR). The spatial gradients (latitude, longitude, and elevation), slopeaspect, SMR, and SNR affected aspen site index, but their relationships greatly varied with biogeoclimatic zone. At the provincial scale, these relationships were weaker than on the zonal scale. Among the models developed for predicting aspen site index, we recommend the zone-specific all-factor model for application, which explained 82% of the variation of site index and provided unbiased and precise predictions.

Description: We studied the post-wildfire establishment of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP), and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in the southern mixedwood boreal forest of Saskatchewan, Canada. The major objective of the study was to determine the influence of post-wildfire seedbed types on the juvenile survivorship of trees. Through a combination of permanent plots and sowing experiments, we demonstrated that mineral soil, thin Polytrichum Hedw. moss, and humus are much more favorable than the organic fermentation (Of) and litter seedbeds. We also show that differences among seedbeds are significantly more important than differences among species. In addition, the first year of a cohort has the highest rate of mortality, about 85% on mineral and humus seedbeds and 98% on Of seedbeds; differences in age-specific survivorship between seedbeds become muted by the end of the second year, and survivorship rates approach 1 by the end of the third summer. Finally, age structures showed that germination rates of black spruce and jack pine were very low the initial summer of the fire; that there was a peak in recruitment in the first post-fire summer; and that by the fourth year the recruitment declined to nearly zero.

Description: A network of 53 ring-width chronologies has been developed from low-elevation stands of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, n = 40) and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. & C. Laws., n = 13) in the southern Canadian Cordillera. Relationships between the chronologies and monthly, seasonal, and annualized climatic parameters (precipitation, temperature, and Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI)) were investigated using correlation analyses. The results indicate that tree growth at the sites is most strongly related to water availability during the growing season months. Although the response of the two species is similar, Douglas-fir show a slightly stronger correlation with seasonalized precipitation for the prior year and early summer whereas ponderosa pine correlate most strongly with current year and late (July) summer precipitation. Maximum correlations for both species occur with annual precipitation totals. The precipitation signal is slightly weaker in the more northerly Douglas-fir chronologies in British Columbia and the higher elevation sites in southwestern Alberta. Correlations with available PDSI records are generally comparable with those from precipitation variables, but the limited number of PDSI records and the availability of more proximal and better correlated precipitation records indicated that annual (summersummer) precipitation totals provide the best possibilities to develop regional, moisture-related proxy climate records from these data. Analysis of earlywood and latewood chronologies for 28 sites (mainly Douglas-fir) indicates that earlywood width is most consistently and strongly correlated with precipitation in the previous summer (July and August), and latewood width is more strongly related to precipitation in the current summer (June and July). The results of these analyses demonstrate considerable potential for reconstructing annual (and (or) summer) precipitation for sites across the region.

Description: The relationship between forest stand composition in southern interior British Columbia and fluorescent pseudomonad bacteria populations was investigated using seedling bioassays. The objectives of this study were to (i) compare the relative population sizes of fluorescent pseudomonads baited from soils in pure paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), pure Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), and mixed stands of the two species and (ii) determine if fluorescent pseudomonads from these soils have inhibitory effects against the root pathogen Armillaria ostoyae (Romagn.) Herink in vitro. Soil from birch stands supported four times more pseudomonads on seedling baits than soil from Douglas-fir stands, with the mixed stands intermediate. Soil from young stands yielded twice as many rhizosphere pseudomonads as soil from mature stands. Pseudomonad population size was positively correlated with percent cover and density of birch, and negatively correlated with basal area of Douglas-fir, percent cover of Douglas-fir, and carbon/nitrogen ratio of the soil. Greater than 50% of the fluorescent isolates reduced radial growth of A. ostoyae by more than 20% and greater than 90% reduced biomass of the fungus in dual culture tests. Cell-free bacterial culture filtrates added to the growth medium also reduced growth of A. ostoyae. This study provides evidence that paper birch provides a more favorable environment for fluorescent pseudomonads than Douglas-fir and suggests a mechanism by which paper birch can positively influence the susceptibility of managed forest stands to Armillaria root disease.

Description: The use of calibrated near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for predicting the radial variation of the longitudinal modulus of elasticity (EL) of increment cores is described. Sets of Eucalyptus delegatensis R.T. Baker (alpine ash) and Pinus radiata D. Don (radiata pine) samples were characterized in terms of EL(SS) (estimated stiffness based on a combination of SilviScan-2 diffractometric data and measured density (R. Evans and J. Ilic. 2001. For. Prod. J. 51(3): 5357)). NIR spectra, obtained from the radiallongitudinal face of each sample, were used to develop EL(SS) calibrations for the E. delegatensis and P. radiata sample sets and the two sets combined. The relationships between laboratory-determined EL(SS) and NIR-fitted EL(SS) were good in all cases. EL(SS) was estimated in separate test sets and found to correlate well with measured EL. NIR spectra were obtained in 15-mm sections from the radiallongitudinal face of two intact P. radiata increment cores. EL(SS) of each section was estimated using the P. radiata and the combined P. radiata and E. delegatensis calibrations. NIR estimates of EL(SS) were in good agreement with SilviScan-2 determined stiffness indicating that NIR spectroscopy can be successfully used to estimate radial variation in wood stiffness of increment cores.

Description: Heartwood radius at breast height was studied in 31 sampling sites from natural stands of Canary Islands pine (Pinus canariensis Chr. Sm. ex DC) covering the natural range of the species. After withdrawal of defective and nonheartwood samples, 1640 sound radial cores ranging in age from 30 to 265 years were analysed. Linearized models for the prediction of heartwood radius at breast height were obtained using stepwise regression methods. The best fit was attained including age and early radial growth variables (radius of the 25 or to the 50 inner rings), while stem radius inside bark and whole radial growth rate did not improve the prediction. Sampling sites were classified into five climate types, established according to the main plant communities associated with Pinus canariensis. The use of separate models for each climate type led to a significant reduction of the residual variance compared with multiple climate models. This confirmed that climate is an essential factor in heartwood development in Pinus canariensis even when 5173% of heartwood radius variation is explained by age and early growth. For fixed values of age and early growth, models predicted wider heartwood in drier climate types than in wet and high-altitude (supra-nubius) climate types.

Description: Forest biomass, rates of production, and carbon dynamics are a function of climate, plant species present, and the structure of the soil organic and mineral layers. Inventory data from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Inventory Analysis Unit was used to develop estimates of the land area represented by the major overstory species at various age-classes. The CENTURY model was then used to develop an estimate of carbon dynamics throughout the age sequence of forest development for the major ecosystem types. The estimated boreal forest area in Alaska, based on USFS inventory data is 17 244 098 ha. The total aboveground biomass within the Alaska boreal forest was estimated to be 815 330 000 Mg. The CENTURY model estimated maximum net ecosystem production (NEP) at 137, 88, 152, 99, and 65 g·m2·year1 for quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.), white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) forest stands, respectively. These values were predicted at stand ages of 80, 60, 41, 68, and 100 years, respectively. The minimum values of NEP for aspen, paper birch, balsam poplar, white spruce, and black spruce were 171, 166, 240, 300, and 61 g·m2·year1 at the ages of 1, 1, 1, 1, and 12, respectively. NEP became positive at the ages of 14, 19, 16, 13, and 34 for aspen, birch, balsam poplar, white spruce, and black spruce ecosystems, respectively. A 5°C increase in mean annual temperature resulted in a higher amount of predicted production and decomposition in all ecosystems, resulting in an increase of NEP. We estimate that the current vegetation absorbs approximately 9.65 Tg of carbon per year within the boreal forest of the state. If there is a 5°C increase in the mean annual temperature with no change in precipitation we estimated that NEP for the boreal forest in Alaska would increase to 16.95 Tg of carbon per year.

Description: Quantitative genetic variation in growth, latewood percentage, and wood density was investigated for British Columbia's interior spruce (the common name for white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss; Engelmann spruce, Picea engelmanni Parry ex Engelm.; and their hybrids). The study included 160 half-sib families from the East Kootenay and Prince George regions. At the time of sampling, progeny tests for those two regions were 20 and 22 years old, respectively. Univariate and multivariate restricted maximum likelihood (REML) estimates of genetic parameters were obtained. Estimates of genetic variances and heritabilities differed greatly across planting sites for the examined traits, especially after transplantation between the regions. Significant negative genetic correlation between overall growth and wood density was found for the East Kootenay progenies, while negative but nonsignificant genetic correlation between these traits was found for the Prince George progenies. Generally, there was no significant decrease in heritability for ring width and latewood percentage in successive growth rings. A general age trend for genetic correlation between those traits was not apparent, except that the correlation remained negative during the observed period. Our results show that it is not possible to select certain families as superior based on 1-year results because of the family by growing season interactions. Nevertheless, genetic ageage correlations for cumulative increments were high, having a decreasing trend with increasing difference in age.

Description: Export of microbially produced nitrate from an ecosystem is expected to increase δ15N in the remaining soil organic matter and NH4+. To test the hypothesis that nitrification and nitrate loss induced by clear-cutting cause an increase in soil and foliar δ15N, we measured δ15N in a clear-cut watershed at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. δ15N ranged from 0.02 in the Oie horizon to 7.7 in the Bs2 horizon prior to clear-cutting and increased significantly by 1.3 in the Oie horizon and 0.9 in the Oa horizon 3 years after clear-cutting. Fifteen years after clear-cutting, δ15N in both O horizons decreased to near-initial values. No significant temporal changes in the Bs2 and C horizons δ15N were observed. Foliar δ15N was highest (1.7) the first 2 years after clear-cutting and was significantly higher than in the reference watershed (mean δ15N = 1.2), decreasing to 0.0 35 years after clear-cutting and to 1.3 911 years after clear-cutting. Increased foliar δ15N coincided with increased stream-water nitrate concentration, suggesting that the increased nitrification responsible for elevated stream-water nitrate may also have caused an enrichment of the plant-available ammonium pool. The response observed in this catchment also suggests that sampling of soil or foliar δ15N may provide a practical alternative to long time series of stream chemistry for evaluating nitrogen saturation of forested ecosystems.

Description: It would be valuable economically to know what are the biological triggers for formation of mature wood (currently of high value) and (or) what maintains production of juvenile wood (currently of low value), to develop silvicultural regimes that control the relative production of the two types of wood. Foresters commonly assume the bole of softwoods produces juvenile wood within the crown and mature wood below. We tested that assumption by comparing growth ring areas and widths and wood density components of the outer three growth rings in disks sampled from different vertical positions of 34-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees. The 18 trees were sampled from one site and had a wide range of heights to live crown. Most of the variance (6393%) in wood characteristics (growth ring area: total, earlywood, latewood; growth ring width: total, earlywood, latewood; latewood proportion: by area, width; and ring density: total, earlywood, latewood) was due to within-tree differences (related to age of the disk). Stepwise regression analysis gave us equations to estimate wood characteristics, after which we analyzed the residuals with a linear model that included whether a disk was within or below the crown (defined as the lowest node on the stem with less than three live branches). After adjusting for tree and disk position, only 210% of the residual variation was associated with whether the disk was in or out of the live crown. There were no statistically significant differences at p = 0.05 between a given disk (by node number) in versus out of the crown for any of the factors studied. Moreover, the wood density characteristics were not statistically significant at p = 0.30. This research suggests that there was no effect of the crown position on the transition from juvenile to mature wood as judged by wood density. Therefore, we found no evidence to support the concept that tree spacing and live-branch pruning have a significant effect on the cambial age of transition from juvenile to mature wood in Douglas-fir trees of this age.

Description: The response of net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and evaporation in a boreal aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forest and a black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) forest in Canada was compared using a newly developed realistic model of surface-atmosphere exchanges of carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor, and energy as well as eddy covariance flux measurements made over a 6-year period (1994-1999). The model was developed by incorporating a process-based two-leaf (sunlit and shaded) canopy conductance and photosynthesis submodel in the Canadian Land Surface Scheme (CLASS). A simple submodel of autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration was combined with the photosynthesis model to simulate NEP. The model performed well in simulating half-hourly, daily, and monthly mean CO2 exchange and evaporation values in both deciduous and coniferous forests. Modeled and measured results showed a linear relationship between CO2 uptake and evaporation, and for each kilogram of water transpired, approximately 3 g of carbon (C) were photosynthesized by both ecosystems. The model results confirmed that the aspen forest was a weak to moderate C sink with considerable interannual variability in C uptake. In the growing season, the C uptake capacity of the aspen forest was over twice that of the black spruce forest. Warm springs enhanced NEP in both forests; however, high mid-summer temperatures appear to have significantly reduced NEP at the black spruce forest as a result of increased respiration. The model suggests that the black spruce forest is a weak C sink in cool years and a weak C source in warm years. These results show that the C balance of these two forests is sensitive to seasonal and interannual climatic variability and stresses the importance of continuous long-term flux measurement to confirm modeling results.

Description: Spatially explicit information on the species composition and structure of forest vegetation is needed at broad spatial scales for natural resource policy analysis and ecological research. We present a method for predictive vegetation mapping that applies direct gradient analysis and nearest-neighbor imputation to ascribe detailed ground attributes of vegetation to each pixel in a digital landscape map. The gradient nearest neighbor method integrates vegetation measurements from regional grids of field plots, mapped environmental data, and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery. In the Oregon coastal province, species gradients were most strongly associated with regional climate and geographic location, whereas variation in forest structure was best explained by Landsat TM variables. At the regional level, mapped predictions represented the range of variability in the sample data, and predicted area by vegetation type closely matched sample-based estimates. At the site level, mapped predictions maintained the covariance structure among multiple response variables. Prediction accuracy for tree species occurrence and several measures of vegetation structure and composition was good to moderate. Vegetation maps produced with the gradient nearest neighbor method are appropriately used for regional-level planning, policy analysis, and research, not to guide local management decisions.

Description: Postfire tree recruitment in the boreal forest is restricted to patches from which the duff (organic layer) has been removed by fire. Duff consumption occurs by smoldering combustion, propagation of which is determined by bulk density, moisture content, and depth. This study investigated interactions among these factors, their spatial distribution, and spatial patterns of duff consumption in two wildfires. A hypothesized positive relationship between moisture content and depth was supported by a laboratory study. Duff characteristic data were collected from two burns and comparable unburned areas of mixedwood forest in western Canada to describe and explain patterns of duff consumption within and between top-slope Pinus banksiana Lamb. Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP stands and lower slope pure stands of Picea mariana on glaciofluvial hillslopes. In unburned stands, bulk density did not differ significantly between stands, while depths were significantly greater in Picea stands. With moist duff, consumption was significantly greater in Picea than in PinusPicea stands as depth limited smoldering in the thin duff of PinusPicea stands. With dry duff, smoldering was propagated regardless of depth resulting in no differences between stand types. The spatial correlation between burned patches and fire-killed trees was explained by within-stand spatial variation in duff moisture due to precipitation interception by tree crowns.

Description: We tested two genes together in hybrid poplars (genus Populus), CP4 and GOX, for imparting tolerance to glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup® herbicide). Using Agrobacterium-based transformation, 80 independent transgenic lines (i.e., products of asexual gene transfer) were produced in a variety of hybrid poplar clones (40 lines in Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray × Populus deltoides Bartr., 35 lines in Populus tremula L. × Populus alba L., and five lines in P. tremula × Populus tremuloides Michx.). We evaluated glyphosate tolerance over 2 years in field studies conducted in eastern and western Oregon. Ten percent of our transgenic lines showed no foliar damage or reduced growth after being sprayed with Roundup® at concentrations above normal commercial rates. Lack of damage was associated with expression of the CP4 gene but not of the GOX gene. It was suspected that GOX caused undesirable side effects, so we produced 12 lines into which only the CP4 gene was inserted. The performance of these newly regenerated lines was compared with an identical number of lines, produced in the same genotype, that had previously been engineered to contain both CP4 and GOX. Growth of the lines transformed with just CP4 was significantly better than those containing both genes and exhibited less damage in response to glyphosate treatment. This is the first report of transgenic poplars exhibiting high levels of glyphosate tolerance when grown under field conditions. With a modest transformation effort, it is possible to produce lines with commercially useful levels of glyphosate tolerance and little apparent collateral genetic damage.

Description: The authors present a finite-difference numerical model of heat flow within a horizontal section of a tree stem. Processes included in the model are solar radiative heating, infrared emission and absorption, convective heat exchange between tree surface and the atmosphere, and conduction inside the tree. Input variables include wood density, wood thermal conductivity, wood specific heat, wind speed, air temperature, and insolation. The model produces time series of temperature for grid points inside the tree stem. Based on comparison with observations from two case studies, the model appears capable of reproducing relative timing and amplitude of temperature patterns at the cardinal aspects. Sensitivity tests show that insolation and convection parameters, as well as the physical properties of the tree, can all have a strong influence on model results.

Description: We studied regional variation in growth-limiting factors and responses to climatic variability in subalpine forests by analyzing growth patterns for 28 tree-ring growth chronologies from subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) stands in the Cascade and Olympic Mountains (Washington and Oregon, U.S.A.). Factor analysis identified four distinct time series of common growth patterns; the dominant growth pattern at any site varied with annual precipitation and temperature (elevation). Throughout much of the region, growth is negatively correlated with winter precipitation and spring snowpack depth, indicating that growth is limited primarily by short growing seasons. On the driest and warmest sites, growth is negatively correlated with previous summer temperature, suggesting that low summer soil moisture limits growth. Growth patterns in two regions were sensitive to climatic variability associated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, apparently responding to low-frequency variation in spring snowpack and summer soil moisture (one negatively, one positively). This regional-scale analysis shows that subalpine fir growth in the Cascades and Olympics is limited by different climatic factors in different subregional climates. Climategrowth relationships are similar to those for a co-occurring species, mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carrière), suggesting broad biogeographic patterns of response to climatic variability and change by subalpine forest ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest.

Description: Commercially available multiple funnel traps have three potential limitations for trapping large wood-boring insects: (i) escape by captured insects from the dry collecting cup, (ii) low catches of insects that fall outside the trap, and (iii) poor visual orientation to the narrow funnel column. To test the importance of these limitations, we compared conventional multiple funnel traps to multiple funnel traps with water-filled collecting cups or large bottom funnels and to crossvane traps with a prominent silhouette. The experiment was conducted in a mill yard in the southern interior of British Columbia between 5 July and 2 October 2000. Differences in catch among different trap types indicated that the first and third of the three potential limitations were important for the capture of most target species. Crossvane traps captured significantly greater numbers of most Cerambycidae and Siricidae, and similar numbers of most Buprestidae, compared with the other traps. Of the two most abundant species, Xylotrechus longitarsus Casey was captured in consistently greater numbers in crossvane than in other traps, but Monochamus scutellatus (Say) showed little discrimination early in the flight season and much higher captures in crossvane traps late in the season. The change in behaviour of M. scutellatus may be related to a transition from maturation feeding to searching for oviposition sites.

Description: Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) is the most important deciduous tree in the Canadian boreal forest, with 〉1000 Tg of carbon stored in the aboveground biomass of this species. Since the early 1990s, aspen dieback has been noted over parts of the southern boreal forest and aspen parkland in western Canada. In this study, tree-ring analysis and forest health assessments were conducted in 18 aspen stands near Grande Prairie, Alta., to examine causes of reduced growth and dieback. Defoliation histories were reconstructed based on light-colored ("white") tree rings and records of past insect outbreaks. The results indicated that several factors contributed to the observed dieback. Defoliation by forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hbn.) and drought in the 1960s and 1980s led to reduced growth and predisposed some stands to secondary damage by wood-boring insects and fungal pathogens. Thawfreeze events during a period (19841993) of unusually light snow cover in late winter may have also contributed to the observed dieback. Under global change, the severity of these stressors may increase, which would pose a serious concern for the future health, productivity, and carbon sequestration of aspen forests in the region.

Description: The Sicamous Creek silviculture systems trial, which is located at a subalpine forest, comprises five replicated treatments. One-third of the timber volume was removed from 30-ha treatment units using cutblocks of 0.1, 1.0, or 10 ha or single-tree selection. Openings were mechanically site prepared by mounding and planted with nursery-grown containerized Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm. seedlings. Seedlings were planted in mineral soil exposed by mounding in all four of the harvested treatments as well as in undisturbed soil in the uncut control treatment. Neither the overall ectomycorrhiza colonization nor the number of ectomycorrhizal morphotypes per seedling varied across the cutblocks or among cutblocks of different sizes. This is in contrast to earlier studies at this site that showed inoculum levels to be significantly higher at 2 m from the forest edge, within the rooting zone of forest trees. We hypothesize that the difference here is due either to (i) competition between native ectomycorrhizal fungi and the ectomycorrhizal fungi present on the spruce at planting or (ii) more homogeneous levels of inoculum in the mineral soil exposed by mounding. Fewer native fungi colonized these seedlings than the nonmycorrhizal seedlings from earlier studies, which had been planted between the mounds.

Description: Three-year old Betula pendula Roth clones were grown at two nutrient levels in a field experiment to investigate the responses and recovery in growth and wood properties to a range of defoliation levels (0100%). No general threshold value of defoliation level for negative effects in growth was found, since the sensitivity of saplings to defoliation varied according to plant traits studied. However, responses were related to defoliation intensity. Saplings compensated for 25% defoliation in terms of height growth and number of current branches and were able to tolerate 50% defoliation without effects on diameter growth 1 year after the defoliation. Nutrient availability was significant only in determining how total biomass responded to defoliation. Fertilized saplings were able to tolerate 25% defoliation without reduction in total biomass, but nonfertilized saplings were not. The interaction between defoliation and fertilization disappeared in the second growing season after the defoliation. Saplings were not able to compensate for 75% defoliation in terms of total biomass or for 100% defoliation in terms of growth and branching even in 2 years' recovery time. In stemwood, complete defoliation reduced growth ring width and vessel diameter simultaneously and also induced a narrow zone of secondary xylem with defects. Our results suggest that defoliation level and recovery time played a crucial role in compensatory growth of birch saplings, while nutrient availability had a minor role.

Description: The influence of opening size on gap cohort biomass was examined in uneven-aged hemlock-hardwood forests in northeastern Wisconsin by sampling 36 canopy gaps ranging from 5 to 800 m2 in area and from 3 to 55 years of age. The standing crop of whole-tree aboveground biomass per hectare was greater in multiple-tree gaps than single-tree gaps of similar age. However, biomass production approached an asymptote at fairly small opening sizes, and 400800 m2 group selection openings did not have significantly more biomass per unit area than small multiple-tree gaps (80100 m2). Similarly, mean tree dimensions, recent height growth increments, and basal area increments for most species of gap trees approached an asymptote at an opening size of approximately 100 m2. As opening size increased, yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) superseded eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière) as the species with greatest relative biomass. The selection system appears to be a viable alternative to the even-aged shelterwood system in hemlock forests where browsing pressure is not excessive, but use of group selection may require additional treatments to ensure that some gaps 〉100 m2 are captured by hemlock.

Description: Numerous researchers have suggested a causal relationship between low leaf biomass in suppressed trees and the lack of radial growth at the base of the trunk. The objective of this study was to verify this relationship with suppressed balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) saplings found growing in an old-growth fir stand. A total of 29 saplings varying in height from 67 to 183 cm were uprooted. All saplings had adventitious roots. All terminal bud scars (TBS) found between the apex of the terminal leader and the trunk base (first adventitious root) as well as those found below ground were localized, and rings were counted between TBS along the aboveground trunk. Various morphological traits and the ratio of photosynthetic tissue dry mass (P, needles) to non-photosynthetic tissue dry mass (nP, aboveground stem) were used as an indicator of tree vigour. Between 3 and 33 rings counted along the aboveground trunk were missing at the trunk base. The number of missing rings at the base of the trunk was correlated with total height (r = 0.41), height growth (r = 0.51), radial growth (r = 0.44), the P/nP ratio (r = 0.73), and the proportion of live crown (r = 0.62). Moreover, from 2 to 35 additional rings, missing at the trunk base, were found in the belowground section of trunk and these missing rings were associated with the adventitious roots phenomenon. In conclusion, suppressed firs had missing rings at the base of the trunk. When all of the missing rings were added to the number of rings counted at the base of the trunk, age estimates provided a different temporal pattern of recruitment compared with that obtained by solely counting rings at the base of the trunk. Stem analysis on the entire trunk is the best aging method for suppressed balsam fir saplings.

Description: To assess potential forest compositional responses to exchangeable soil calcium (Caexch) and aluminum (Alexch), we characterized light-dependent growth and mortality of tree seedlings under amendments of CaCl2 and AlCl3 at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF), New Hampshire, U.S.A. Seedlings of Acer saccharum Marsh., Fagus grandifolia Ehrh., Betula alleghaniensis Britton, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., and Picea rubens Sarg. were transplanted into field plots, which were randomly assigned to control, CaCl2, or AlCl3 treatments and stratified across

Description: The Finnish multisource national forest inventory (MS-NFI) utilizes optical area satellite images and digital maps in addition to field plot data to produce georeferenced information, thematic maps, and small-area statistics. In the early version, forestry land (FRYL) was taken directly from the numerical map data. Such data may be outdated and can contain significant errors, for example, the FRYL area is typically overestimated and the mean volume is underestimated. A statistical calibration method has been introduced to reduce the map errors on multisource forest resource estimates. It is based on large-area estimates of map errors, a confusion matrix among land-use classes of the field sample plots, and corresponding map information. The method has some drawbacks: calculations are more complicated than in the original MS-NFI and some field plots may have negative expansion factors. The paper presents a new stratified MS-NFI method to reduce the effect of inaccurate map data on the forest-resource estimates. In this method, the k-nearest-neighbour (k-NN) estimation is applied by strata. All the field plots within each map stratum, independently of their land-use classification by field crew, are used to estimate the areas of land-use classes and forest variables of that stratum. The method was tested on two large areas containing three Landsat 5 TM scenes and field-inventory data from the ninth NFI. The stratified MS-NFI is essentially a different estimation method compared with the calibrated MS-NFI, which calibrates the MS-NFI estimates more or less systematically in one direction. The stratified MS-NFI was found to be statistically simpler and there were fewer significant errors in the estimates than in the calibrated MS-NFI.

Description: Recent studies suggest that black-backed (Picoides arcticus) and three-toed woodpeckers (Picoides tridactylus) might decrease in abundance because of habitat loss from fire suppression and short-rotation logging in landscapes managed for forestry. We examined black-backed and three-toed woodpecker occupancy of stands in a 2-year post-fire forest, mature and old-growth spruce and pine forests, and six post-fire coniferous forests of different ages. Three-toeds were detected in old stands and in the 2-year-old burn, and their probability of occupancy of burned forests decreased between 3 and 8 years post-fire. Within 50 km of the 2-year-old burn, black-backs were only detected in the burn and not in old-growth or mature conifer stands. However, they did occupy old coniferous stands located 75 and 150 km from the recent burn. They had a similar probability of occupying stands in the 3-, 4-, and 8-year-old burns but were not detected in the 16-year-old burn. The persistence of three-toed woodpeckers in boreal Alberta will likely depend on the presence of both old-growth and recently burned coniferous forests or forests with old-growth structural characteristics. Black-backed woodpeckers appear to be more burn dependent than three-toeds, and their long-term persistence may depend on the frequency of recently burned forests within their dispersal range.

Description: Boreal and temperate deciduous forests at northern mid-latitudes play an important role in the global carbon cycle. We analyze 3 years (1996-1998) of eddy-covariance carbon dioxide flux measurements from two contrasting deciduous forest ecosystems in the boreal and temperate regions of central Canada. The two forest stands have similar ages, heights, and leaf area indices but differ in species composition and climate. Mean annual net ecosystem productivity (NEP) was similar for the two ecosystems, varying between 0.7 and 2.7 t C·ha1 (boreal) and 0.6 and 2.4 t C·ha1 (temperate). In the boreal ecosystem, interannual differences in NEP were primarily controlled by early spring temperature. The warm spring of 1998 caused early leaf out and increased photosynthesis but had little effect on respiration. In the temperate ecosystem, the same warm spring not only caused early leaf out but also increased respiration and drought stress. The contrasting impact of the warm spring on annual NEP at the two sites illustrates the complexity of interpreting climatic impacts on the forest carbon balance. It also illustrates two competing influences of climate change on NEP: spring warming, which promotes photosynthesis and increases NEP, and increased soil temperature and drought, which promote respiration and reduce photosynthesis, thus reducing NEP. We discuss the need for a consistent data post-processing methodology in ecosystem intercomparisons. We also compare our results with a recent synthesis of data from European forests.

Description: This paper presents methods to generate fuel type maps from remote sensing data at a spatial and temporal scale adequate for operational fire management applications. Fuel type maps account for structural characteristics of vegetation related to fire behaviour and fire propagation. A fuel type classification system adapted to the ecological characteristics of the European Mediterranean basin was adopted for this study. The Cabañeros National Park (in central Spain) area was selected for testing and validating the methods. Fuel type maps were derived from two Landsat TM satellite images and digital elevation data. Atmospheric and topographic corrections of the satellite images were performed to reduce spectral variability. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to determine the most appropriate bands for fuel type mapping. The final classification was checked by an intense field survey, the final classification accuracy being estimated at 83%. The main problem was discriminating among those fuel types that differ only in vegetation height or composition of the understory layer. The mean mapping accuracy was 15 m (0.6 pixels), and no areal discrepancy or boundary displacement with vegetation maps was apparent.

Description: We used sap flow as a measure of whole-tree function to examine how coniferous and broad-leaved species in mixed temperate forests differ in canopy-level transpiration and photosynthetic rates. We used heat dissipation probes to measure whole-tree sap flow in three species throughout one full year and then combined these measurements with micrometeorological monitoring and leaf-level gas exchange to determine whole-tree carbon gain. Both broad-leaved species (red oak, Quercus rubra L.; red maple, Acer rubrum L.) had two- to four-fold greater annual fluxes of water and carbon on a ground area basis than did the conifer (eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière), with red oak trees additionally showing 6080% higher fluxes than red maple. Despite fixing one-third of its carbon when broad-leaved species were leafless, hemlock was not able to compensate for its low photosynthetic rates during the growing season. Productivity measures derived from annual growth rings and eddy covariance confirmed that whole-tree sap flow provided a valuable estimate of both the magnitude of current forest fluxes and differences in individual species' fluxes. Our results indicate that the predicted loss of hemlock from mixed temperate forests could potentially increase whole-forest water loss and carbon gain by two- to four-fold, provided sufficient nitrogen and water remain available to support such a change.

Description: Fire history and forest dynamics were reconstructed for a 3800-km2 territory located in the south-central boreal forest of Quebec. Fire cycle was characterized using a random sampling strategy combined with archival data on fires that had occurred since 1923 on private land owned by Smurfit-Stone. Bioclimatic subdomain, land use, surficial deposit, and mean distance from a firebreak did not affect the fire cycle. Fire cycles have been longer since the end of the Little Ice Age (~1850). Warming after the Little Ice Age seems to have triggered a change in fire frequency. Forest dynamics were characterized by transition matrices for changes in dominant canopy composition from 344 permanent sampling plots. These permanent plots were sampled approximately every 15 years over the preceding 40 years. We observed two distinct patterns of replacement: (i) deciduous and mixed stands were replaced by balsam fir (Abies balsamifera (L.) Mill.) (and, to a lesser extent, by black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP)) and (ii) jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) was replaced by black spruce. Analyses confirm that species replacement occurs in the eastern boreal forest of Canada when the fire-return interval is long enough and that the substrate plays an important role along with other disturbances, such as insect outbreaks. Our results also suggest that the proportion of old-growth forests (〉100 years old) in the landscape should increase as a result of the lengthening of the fire cycle. More and more stands are likely to experience species replacement. From the standpoint of sustainable forest management, this perspective calls into question the widespread use of clear-cutting in the boreal forest. Regional context must be taken into account in forest management if the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem integrity are serious objectives. Economically and ecologically sound silvicultural scenarios that emulate natural processes are discussed.

Description: Quantification of the effects of stand age on its net primary productivity (NPP) is critical for estimating forest NPP and carbon budget at regional to global scales. This paper reports a practical method for quantifying ageNPP relationships using existing normal yield tables, biomass equations, and measurements of fine-root turnover and litterfall. Applying this method, we developed mean ageNPP relationships for black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) stands in Ontario. We define "mean ageNPP relationship", as the changes in NPP that occur with age under long-term mean environmental conditions. These relationships indicate that NPP at more productive sites culminates to a higher value and at an earlier age and also declines more rapidly thereafter. A further component analysis indicates that the decrease in biomass growth of woody tissues is the main contributor to the decline with age. Finally, error assessment suggests that the uncertainty in NPP estimates can be substantially reduced with a better quantification of fine-root turnover and litterfall, which are the two dominant NPP components, particularly in the later stages of stand development. With new techniques now available, more accurate measurement of these components is possible, and thus strongly recommended.

Description: Pollen and charcoal from East Sooke Fen, Pixie Lake, and Whyac Lake were used to reconstruct the post glacial vegetation, climate, and fire-disturbance history across a precipitation gradient on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. An open Pinus woodland covered the landscape in the early late-glacial interval. Fires were absent under a cool and dry climate. Closed mixed conifer forests of Pinus, Picea, Abies, Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg., and Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carrière replaced the Pinus biogeochron in the late late-glacial interval. Fires became more common even though climate was cool and moist. Open Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco forests expanded westward during the warm dry early Holocene, though closed Picea and Tsuga heterophylla forests grew in the wettest part of the area at Whyac Lake. Modern precipitation gradients likely originated at this time. Fires occurred in forested ecosystems, although East Sooke Fen at the driest end of the gradient experienced less fire. The middle and late Holocene was characterized by increasing precipitation and decreasing temperature, respectively. Quercus garryana Dougl. stands spread westward during the mid-Holocene. Extant closed Tsuga heterophylla and Cupressaceae (Thuja plicata Donn. ex D. Don) forests arose in the wetter part of the gradient, whereas Pseudotsuga forests occupied drier eastern areas. During this interval, fires were rare in wet western regions but apparently more common in dry eastern regions.

Description: Recent studies of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) in western Canada have shown a correlation between past insect defoliation events and the formation of narrow, abnormally pale-coloured ("white") tree rings. The objectives of this study were to test the hypothesis that defoliation causes the formation of white rings and to examine how defoliation affects ring width and density. We experimentally defoliated 7- to 18-year-old aspen in June, July, or August 1997 and subsequently found that white rings were formed the same year in all aspen that were severely defoliated in early June. These white rings were much narrower than in adjacent trees left as controls, and mean xylem density of the white rings (0.27 g·cm3) was significantly reduced relative to normal rings (0.350.40 g·cm3). In the year following defoliation, the tree rings remained narrow, but their appearance and density had returned to normal. Aspen defoliated later in the season formed relatively normal rings in 1997, but ring widths were reduced in 1998. The results confirm that white rings in aspen can be a useful retrospective indicator of the severe, early season defoliation that is typical during major outbreaks of forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hbn.) and other insects.

Description: The objectives of this study were (i) to provide further evidence of a positive correlation of stand density with early growth of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii); (ii) to determine when after planting the positive growth response occurs and how long it lasts; and (iii) to use stable isotopes of carbon to test whether the mechanism(s) responsible for the positive growth response to density are related to variables affecting photosynthesis, such as nutrient or moisture availability. We measured annual height (h) and diameter (d) growth (retrospectively) of 8- and 12-year-old trees in initial planting densities of 300, 1360, and 2960 trees/ha. Both height and diameter growth increased with density through the fifth year after planting and decreased with density by year 7. Diameter squared × height (d2h) was used as a volume index to assess increase in tree volume. Second-year increase in d2h for the high-density treatments was 300% of that in the low-density treatments. The δ13C values of wood cellulose from annual rings of the second and third years after planting were not significantly different among densities, suggesting either (i) no significant differences in the effects of water availability, nutrient availability, or source air on photosynthesis in the three density treatments or (ii) differences that produced no net effect on δ13C.

Description: An integrated model, combining spatial wildlife population and timber harvest and growth models, was developed to explore tradeoffs between the likelihood of persistence of a wildlife species, the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), and timber production on a landscape on the west side of the Oregon Cascade Range. A simplified wildlife model was developed from the fully parameterized spatial wildlife model, using a habitat neighborhood-weighting scheme, for use in the optimization. Simulated annealing, a heuristic optimization technique, was used to solve for harvest schedules that maximized the net present value of timber harvest subject to a target value for likelihood of species persistence over a 100-year planning period. By solving this problem for a range of species persistence targets, a production possibility frontier was developed that showed tradeoffs between timber harvest value and likelihood of species persistence on this landscape. Although the results are specific to the wildlife species and the landscape analyzed, the approach is general and provides a structure for future models that will help land managers and forest planners to understand tradeoffs among competing resource uses.

Description: Repeat ground photographs (taken in 1915 and 1997) from a series of topographical survey stations and repeat aerial photographs (flown in 1949 and 1991) were analysed to assess changes in vegetation composition and distribution in the montane ecoregion of Jasper National Park, in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. A quantitative approach for assessing relative vegetation change in repeat ground photographs was developed and tested. The results indicated a shift towards late-successional vegetation types and an increase in crown closure in coniferous stands. Grasslands, shrub, juvenile forest, and open forests decreased in extent, and closed-canopy forests became more prevalent. The majority of forest stands succeeded to dominance by coniferous species. Changes in vegetation patterns were likely largely attributable to shifts in the fire regime over the last century, although climatic conditions and human activity may also have been contributing factors. Implications of observed changes include decreased habitat diversity, increased possibility of insect outbreaks, and potential for future high-intensity fire events. Results of the study increase knowledge of historical reference conditions and may help to establish restoration goals for the montane ecoregion of the park.

Description: Artificial regeneration to Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) has faced substantial economical losses in Finnish Lapland on sites underlain by glacial tills and formerly covered by stands dominated by Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). We studied the survival of pine seedlings and saplings with respect to soil dielectric permittivity (ε), as dependent on soil water content (θv), of ploughed tills. The ε values (θv) were determined beneath 10 500 pines varying in age between 2 and 41 years and growing on 21 sites, 500 per site. Based on the logistic regression models, the survival rate of 2- to 7-year-old seedlings was independent of the soil ε (i.e., θv). In contrast, a significant correlation between the survival rate of 12- to 16-year-old saplings and soil ε was observed. In this age-class, a survival rate of 50% with ε50 = 15.1, with ε50 = 17.0 for planted saplings and ε50 = 12.7 for sowed saplings, were obtained. Of the 2000 pine trees aged between 20 and 41 years, 96.5% were observed to be growing on dry tills with ε 〈 15 with mean ε = 9.9. The results of this study suggest that artificial regeneration of Scots pine in Lapland is risky on moist and wet tills (ε 〉 15, θv 〉 0.27 cm3·cm3).

Description: Soil organic carbon (C) is an important component of forest carbon pools and should be taken into account in sustainable forest management. However, there is a need to derive indicators for this attribute, as organic C content (Mg·ha1) in forest soils is generally not available in Quebec survey data. Thus, we developed models to predict organic C accumulation in the forest floor and in mineral soils of upland forest soils (i.e., with forest floor thickness [Formula: see text]30 cm) using soil survey data as input variables. The best-fit model for predicting forest floor organic C content consisted of the explanatory variables forest floor thickness, latitude, and longitude. The model R2 was 0.76, and its CV was 28%. The second best-fit model, excluding geographical coordinates, included forest floor thickness and mean growing season precipitation as explanatory variables (R2 = 0.71, CV = 29.5%). The model for predicting mineral soil organic C content was composed of two submodels: (i) organic C concentration of a mineral horizon as a function of its colour and (ii) bulk density of that horizon as a function of its estimated C concentration (obtained from the former model). The R2 of the model for predicting organic C content in mineral soils was 0.57, and its CV was 29%. The models were used to predict organic C contents in 5547 pedons, dispersed throughout the commercial forest of Quebec and for which basic soil profile description data were available. It was then possible to evaluate and compare mean soil C accumulation in different forest stand types and to construct two maps of soil organic C accumulation in upland forest soils of southern Quebec. The results pointed out that forest floor thickness combined with mineral soil horizon colour, texture class, and pH would be useful sustainable forest management indicators of organic C accumulation in upland forest soils.

Description: A new paleoecological indicator was used for retracing the long-term history of spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clem.) outbreaks from forest humus. Macrofossil analyses were performed on 28 forest soil profiles (1020 cm) collected in four balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) stands located north of Lake Saint-Jean, Quebec. Direct evidence of the presence of spruce budworm was found. Few pupa fragments were present in the profiles, but the most abundant and well-preserved macrofossils collected were spruce budworm feces. The feces found were associated in part with the three outbreaks that occurred during the last century around 1914, 1952, and 1979. Good correspondence was obtained between the macrofossil results and the known dynamics of two stands, Lib20 and Lib23. However, the method failed to detect specific outbreaks in the other two stands, Lib21 and Lib24. A complementary macrofossil study was conducted on deeper humus profiles (4770 cm) collected on two islands of Mingan Archipelago. The outbreak history of the last century was retraced, and it was established that spruce budworm was present in the Mingan Archipelago since at least 1520 years BP. The greatest numbers of spruce budworm feces were found in the first 20 cm of the humus profiles corresponding approximately to the 20th century period. Afterward, an important reduction in numbers of feces was observed. This may be attributable to lower levels of spruce budworm populations before the 20th century or the intensification of decomposition with increasing humus depth.

Description: The objective of this study was to assess the influence of substrate heterogeneity on epiphytic bryophyte communities in northern hardwood forests of varying disturbance histories. Specifically, we compared bryophyte abundance (m2·ha1) and community composition among partially cut; maturing, 90- to 100-year-old, even-aged; and old-growth northern hardwood stands in Adirondack Park, New York, U.S.A. Total bryophyte cover from 0 to 1.5 m above ground level on trees [Formula: see text]10 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) did not differ among the three stand types. However, bryophyte community composition differed among host tree species and among stand types. Communities in partially cut and maturing stands were dominated by xerophytic bryophytes (Platygyrium repens, Frullania eboracensis, Hypnum pallescens, Brachythecium reflexum, Ulota crispa), while old-growth stands contained a greater representation of calcicoles and mesophytic species (Brachythecium oxycladon, Anomodon rugelii, Porella platyphylloidea, Anomodon attenuatus, Leucodon brachypus, Neckera pennata). This mesophyte-calcicole assemblage occurred in all stand types but was limited by the abundance of large-diameter (〉50 cm DBH), thick-barked, hardwood host trees (Acer saccharum Marsh., Tilia americana L., Fraxinus americana L.). This study suggested that epiphytic bryophyte diversity can be sustained and enhanced in managed northern hardwood forests by maintaining host tree species diversity and retaining large or old, thick-barked residual hardwood stems when applying even-aged and uneven-aged silviculture systems.

Description: We examined the dynamics of down coarse woody debris (CWD) under an expanding-gap harvesting system in the Acadian forest of Maine. Gap harvesting treatments included 20% basal area removal, 10% basal area removal, and a control. We compared volume, biomass, diameter-class, and decay-class distributions of CWD in permanent plots before and 3 years after harvest. We also determined wood density and moisture content by species and decay class. Mean pre-harvest CWD volume was 108.9 m3/ha, and biomass was 23.22 Mg/ha. Both harvesting treatments increased the volume and biomass of non-decayed, small-diameter CWD (i.e., logging slash), with the 20% treatment showing a greater increase than the 10% treatment and both treatments showing greater increases than the control. Post-harvest reduction of advanced-decay CWD due to mechanical crushing was not evident. A mean of 18.48 m3 water/ha (1.85 L/m2) demonstrates substantial water storage in CWD, even during an exceptionally dry sampling period. The U-shaped temporal trend in CWD volume or biomass seen in even-aged stands may not apply to these uneven-aged stands; here, the trend is likely more complex because of the superimposition of small-scale natural disturbances and repeated silvicultural entries.

Description: A litter sandwich approach was used to examine the loss of mass, acidity, and nutrients through 10 years of decomposition in a stand of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Each year, a new layer of 3-mm mesh fiberglass was placed on the annual accumulation of litterfall. Ten years of decomposition led to a loss of about 80% of the litter organic matter (giving a decomposition constant of 0.1655), which predicted a steady-state mass of the forest floor within 10% of the observed value. The pH (in 0.1 M KCl) showed little variation over time, ranging just from 3.2 to 3.5. The decline in titratable acidity appeared related primarily to the loss of organic matter rather than to any change in the acid characteristics of the material. Nitrogen loss was slow; the 10-year-old cohort of material contained 70% as much nitrogen as the original material. The loss of other nutrients was rapid, exceeding 80% loss by 6 years for phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The litter-sandwich method for examining decomposition is an easy, long-term approach that appeared to provide reasonable representation of the dynamics of unconfined forest floor materials. Future work should test this method for examining the decomposition effects of litter quality, nutrient supply, and environmental conditions.

Description: No national long-term monitoring system exists to estimate temporal changes in the area of forests within Canada. Changes in wooded area, defined as land at least 35% covered by trees or shrubs with a minimum height of 2 m, were estimated for two study areas in central Saskatchewan, Canada. Sequential editions of 1 : 50 000 topographic maps were digitized and analyzed with a geographic information system to quantify changes in wooded area over approximately three decades for the Waskesiu Hills landscape (53°45' N, 106°15' W) and the Red Deer River landscape (52°45' N, 103°00' W). Both study areas were located within the Boreal Plain Ecozone, which was predominantly boreal forest prior to the past century of agricultural land clearing. In the 4570km2 Waskesiu Hills landscape, wooded area decreased by 164 km2 between 1963 and 1990. In the 4692km2 Red Deer River landscape, wooded area decreased by 371 km2 in between 1957 and 1990. Estimated mean annual rates of change in wooded area were 0.19%·year1 and 0.43%·year1 for the former and latter landscapes, respectively. Losses of wooded area were not proportional across three land-use classes. Rates of change for wooded area were small in parks (0.10%·year1 and1.02%·year1) and commercial forests (0.10%·year1 and 0.22%·year1), and larger in predominantly agricultural zones (1.27%·year1 and 1.21%·year1 for the Waskesiu Hills landscape and Red Deer River landscape, respectively). These measured declines in wooded area do not account for losses due to roads, transmission lines, buildings, and other features not represented on topographic maps in an area-proportional manner, but this error is estimated to be very small. The total length of roads increased by 95 km (0.27%·year1 between 1963 and 1990) in the Waskesiu Hills landscape and by 507 km (0.74%·year1 between 1957 and 1990) in the Red Deer River landscape. Expanding infrastructure networks were contrasted by negative rates of change for human population (0.89%·year1 between 1961 and 1991 for the Waskesiu Hills region and 1.19%·year1 between 1956 and 1991 for the Red Deer River region). Within the two study areas, wooded lands that are unprotected by legislation remain vulnerable to future deforestation. Continued clearing of extant forests could jeopardize potential carbon gains from afforestation and reforestation initiatives presently being considered for marginal agricultural lands in western Canada.

Description: The effect of fertilization on wood density, fibre length, fibre diameter, lumen diameter, proportion of cell wall area, and cell wall thickness of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) were studied in a nutrient optimization experiment in northern Sweden. On the fertilized plots, all essential macronutrients and micronutrients were supplied in irrigation water every second day during the growing season. After 12 years' treatment, data were collected from 24 trees (40 years old) on the fertilized and control plots. Fertilization increased radial growth more than threefold, especially earlywood width, and decreased wood density by over 20% at 1.3 and 4 m height. The decrease in wood density was closely related to the proportion of latewood. The absolute wood density also decreased across the whole annual ring but proportionately more in latewood than in earlywood. A close relationship was found between the wood density and fibre properties, especially with the proportion of cell wall in a cross section of each annual ring, as well as with fibre and lumen width. The absolute cell wall thickness was clearly less related to wood density. However, rather large variations were found between individual trees in the relationship between wood density and fibre properties.

Description: Determining kraft pulp yield in the traditional way is slow and expensive, limiting the numbers of samples that may be processed. An alternative is to use a secondary standard, such as cellulose content of the wood, which is strongly correlated with kraft pulp yield. The feasibility and efficiency of predicting cellulose content using near infrared reflectance (NIR) analysis was examined for Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Calibrations for NIR prediction of cellulose content indicated that NIR analysis could be used as a reliable predictor. Standard errors of calibration were 1% or lower, and there was excellent agreement between laboratory and predicted cellulose values. Cellulose content was under moderate genetic control (h2 ranging from 0.32 to 0.57), and genetic correlations with tree diameter and basic density were variable (ranging from 0.11 to 0.51 and 0.33 to 0.67, respectively). The advantages, disadvantages, and potential applications of NIR analysis for predicting cellulose content are examined.

Description: The effects of gap formation on solar radiation, soil and air temperature, and soil moisture were studied in mature coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A. Measurements were taken over a 6-year period in closed-canopy areas and recently created gaps in four stands of mature (90140 years) and old-growth (〉400 years) Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) forest in the western Cascade Range of central Oregon and southern Washington. Gap sizes ranged from 40 to 2000 m2. Summer solar radiation levels and soil temperatures differed significantly among gap sizes and positions within gaps and were driven primarily by patterns of direct radiation. Nevertheless, effects on air temperature were slight. Soil moisture was more abundant in gaps than in controls, was most abundant in intermediate gap sizes, and tended to decline during the growing season in single-tree gaps and on the north edges of large gaps. However, there was substantial variation in moisture availability within individual gaps, primarily related to the variety of organic substrates present. Moisture in gaps declined over multiple years, likely caused by encroachment of vegetation within and around gaps. Low light levels probably limit filling of natural gaps in these forests, but the variety of microenvironments in large gaps may facilitate diverse plant communities.

Description: The effects of gradients in light levels and tree height on growth and crown attributes of six conifer species were studied in eastern and western Canada. Three conifers were studied in British Columbia (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt., Picea glauca (Moench) Voss × Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm., and Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.), and three in Quebec (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., Picea glauca, and Pinus banksiana Lamb.). For several growth and morphological parameters, conifers reacted strongly to both an increase in light and tree height. Significant or nearly significant interactions between light classes and height were found for height and diameter growth of most species as well as for many crown attributes for both Abies and Picea. These interactions usually indicated that growth or morphological changes occurred with increasing height from a certain light level. Within a single genus, both eastern and western tree species showed the same overall acclimation to light and height. As generally reported, Pinus species showed less variation in growth and morphological responses to light than Abies and Picea species.

Description: Allometric equations were developed relating aboveground biomass, coarse root biomass, and sapwood area to stem diameter at 17 study sites located in the boreal forests near Thompson, Man. The six species studied were trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), tamarack (Larix laricina (Du Roi) Koch.), and willow (Salix spp.). Stands ranged in age from 4 to 130 years and were categorized as well or poorly drained. Stem diameter ranged from 0.1 to 23.7 cm. Stem diameter was measured at both the soil surface (D0) and breast height (DBH). The relationship between biomass and diameter, fitted on a loglog scale, changed significantly at ~3 cm DBH, suggesting that allometry differed between saplings and older trees. To eliminate this nonlinearity, a model of form log10 Y = a + b(log10 D) + c(AGE) + d(log10 D × AGE) was used, where D is stem diameter, AGE is stand age, and the cross product is the interaction between diameter and age. Most aboveground biomass equations (N = 326) exhibited excellent fits (R2 〉 0.95). Coarse root biomass equations (N = 205) exhibited good fits (R2 〉 0.90). Both D0 and DBH were excellent (R2 〉 0.95) sapwood area predictors (N = 413). Faster growing species had significantly higher ratios of sapwood area to stem area than did slower growing species. Nonlinear aspects of some of the pooled biomass equations serve as a caution against extrapolating allometric equations beyond the original sample diameter range.

Description: To estimate the age of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) logs by means of decay classes, and to assess how long it takes for downed logs to decompose, we dated logs dendrochronologically by applying 5- and 8-grade decay classification systems. Study sites were chosen in old-growth and previously selectively cut forest stands in boreal south-central Scandinavia; 113 logs were dated to the number of years since death, 120 were dated to the number of years since fall, and 61 logs were dated to both. The number of years from death to fall showed a negative exponential distribution, with a mean of 22 years and a range of 091 years. Decay classes of logs (8-grade scale) reflected time since fall (R2 = 0.58) better than time since death (R2 = 0.27) in a linear regression model. This result is due to the lower decomposition rate of standing snags. Therefore, the decomposition time of logs should be divided into two periods: time from death to fall, which varies considerably, and time after fall, which appears to follow a linear relationship with decay class. The model predicted that it takes 100 years after fall for downed logs to decompose completely (reaching decay class 8) in old-growth stands. Logs in selectively cut stands appeared to decompose faster (64 years), which is explained by a sample shortage of old logs resulting from previous cuttings. We conclude that the decomposition time of downed logs may be severely underestimated when data is retrospectively compiled from previously logged forest stands.

Description: We examined fine root turnover using both the minirhizotron and radiocarbon methods within the organic horizon of a northern hardwood forest to better understand discrepancies in turnover estimates obtained using these methods. The recently developed radiocarbon method estimates the mean age of organic matter by comparing its radiocarbon content to recorded atmospheric radiocarbon levels, which peaked in the 1960s as a result of thermonuclear weapons testing. The radiocarbon content of fine roots harvested from minirhizotron tubes did not differ from that of roots collected from the soil, suggesting these two methods sampled the same population of fine roots. However, long-term observation of fine root survivorship using minirhizotrons showed that root age distribution is positively skewed, causing systematic overestimation of fine root turnover by the minirhizotron method and underestimation by the radiocarbon method. We developed a parametric regression model of fine root survivorship. Our estimate of fine root turnover (about 30% per year) using this variation of the minirhizotron method was supported by radiocarbon data considered in conjunction with fine root age distribution.

Description: Fire-growth modeling on complex landscapes can be approached as a search for the minimum time for fire to travel among nodes in a two-dimensional network. The paths producing minimum travel time between nodes are then interpolated to reveal the fire perimeter positions at an instant in time. These fire perimeters and their fire behavior characteristics (e.g., spread rate, fireline intensity) are essentially identical to the products of perimeter expansion techniques. Travel time methods offer potential advantages for some kinds of modeling applications, because they are more readily parallelized for computation than methods for expanding fire fronts and require no correction for crossed fronts or merging separate fires.

Description: Gaps are recognized as important features of temperate forest dynamics and have been extensively studied in the last decades. Their definition has progressively evolved from the simplistic physical projection of the canopy opening to a more resource-based and functional approach (extended and species extended gaps). However, to truly define gap extent, the peripheral impact of gaps on the trees has to be considered. This study was undertaken to characterize the impact extent of gaps on their periphery using the SORTIE forest succession model. The sapling growth responses to gaps of different sizes (5002000 m2) was used as an indicator of the impact extent. Ten replicates of a simulation (for each gap size) were performed (305 years, 25-ha lattice). Gaps were introduced after 300 years. Growth ratios (pregap/postgap growth) for each sapling were computed and compared with a release threshold to determine sapling release episodes. These release episodes were analyzed to assess the extent of gap impact. Results indicate that gap effect extends significantly into the adjacent forest. Release episode orientations are concentrated in the northern hemisphere of gaps, and release episodes mostly appear in the first 20 m from gaps. Based on different degrees of release occurrence, new gap areas were defined and compared with areas from existing gap definitions. The differences are substantial and reveal that gap spatial extent observed through release patterns surpasses gap areas defined by traditional definitions.

Description: This project investigated the interaction between tomentosus root disease of spruce, caused by Inonotus tomentosus (Fr.:Fr.) S. Teng, and spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby)). Both organisms are important agents of mortality and volume loss in boreal and sub-boreal spruce forests of British Columbia. They also occur in similar stand types with respect to species composition and tree age. One study involved an intensive survey of 23 spruce stands, where trees were sampled for both beetle and root disease. Tree condition (dead standing, live, windthrown) was also recorded. Few stands showed a significant relationship between incidence of spruce beetle and incidence of root disease, regardless of tree condition. Observations indicated that beetles actually tended to avoid severely infected trees. A second study involved pheromone baiting of paired healthy and infected trees, and measurements of phloem thickness. Two sites were used, one with very high (epidemic) populations of beetles, and the second with low (endemic) levels. Spruce beetle attacks were more successful on infected trees compared with healthy trees only at the site with endemic levels of beetle. Collectively, the results indicate that tomentosus root disease helps to maintain endemic levels of spruce beetle, and disease incidence may be useful as a tool to identify areas that may have endemic populations of spruce beetle.

Description: We evaluated the soil chemistry, plant species composition, and forest growth rate on a site where a site amelioration project had been realized 30 years earlier. The initial goal of the project was the improvement of a site that had been degraded by litter raking. We wanted to know which amelioration method produced a sustainable result and how different treatments might be rated by today's standards. Treatments included fertilization, underplanting with N-fixing plants, and a combination of both. The amelioration was combined with stand conversion by means of natural regeneration and spruce underplanting. In all treatments, a spruce-dominated stand replaced the secondary pine stand. The biomass of the formerly recalcitrant forest floor (143 Mg·ha1) was reduced by 30 to 50% in treated plots, thereby reducing the total soil pool of C, N, and exchangeable cations. The mineral soil of treated plots was enriched with N, Ca, and Mg. An increase in pH was restricted to the forest floor. The C pool of treated soils was much smaller than that of the control plots. However, the loss from the soil was at least partly offset by increased growth rates of the aboveground tree biomass. In treated plots, the stem volume was more than twice that of control plots (38.3 m3). Soil chemical data and the composition of the ground vegetation suggest that even the control plots have changed compared with pre-treatment conditions. Comparison of different blocks of the experiment suggests that the exclusion of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) by fencing was the most significant treatment required for successful stand conversion. Prior to fencing, deer browsing inhibited the establishment of a new stand.

Description: In a mixed forest stand on an ochreous brown earth in the Belgian Ardennes, pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) have outwardly decreasing cation concentration profiles in wood. To test if these profiles can be ascribed to endogenous factors or to decreased availability of cations in the soil, radial profiles of water-soluble, exchangeable, and total cations and of cation exchange capacity (CEC) of wood were determined. In both species, [Formula: see text]75% of K is in the water-soluble form so is of little use for dendrochemical monitoring. About 80% of Mg is adsorbed on wood exchange sites. For Ca, 30 (beech) to 60% (oak) of total content cannot be extracted by SrCl2 and is, thus, relatively immobile in wood. Wood CEC decreases from pith to bark in European beech and from pith to outer heartwood in pedunculate oak. Decreasing profiles of exchangeable Ca and Mg in pedunculate oak and exchangeable Ca in European beech are strongly constrained by CEC and, thus, are not related to environmental change. Base cation saturation rate shows no consistent radial change in either species. European beech maintained much higher base cation saturation rate than pedunculate oak, although both species had similar CEC. In conclusion, the results do not provide convincing evidence for a significant change in nutritional status of pedunculate oak and European beech in the Belgian Ardennes due to atmospheric pollution.

Description: This study was conducted to provide a better understanding of the relationship between foliar nutrient status, maple dieback and soil quality. Fieldwork was conducted in four maple stands, two of which were located in the Appalachians at Tingwick and two in the Laurentians at Duchesnay. All stands were characterised by a mound and depression microrelief. In one of the Tingwick maple stands (T1) the predominant soil type was found on mounds, and was well to moderately well-drained (Leeds and Woodbridge series). At the other site (T2), the predominant soil type was in depressions, and imperfectly to poorly drained (Sainte-Marie and Brompton series). At the first Duchesnay site (D1) the predominant soil type was found on mounds and was well to rapidly drained (Ste Agathe series). At the second Duchesnay site (D2), the predominant soil type was also found on mounds, but was well to moderately well-drained (Sergent series). On all sites, the soils were acidic and nutrient poor. The lowest pH values and nutrient concentrations (in the H-Ah horizons) were found in maple stands with well-drained soils (T1 and D1) (P 〈 0.05). On these sites, maple dieback was less than 10%. It was on the poorly to imperfectly drained soils at Tingwick (T2), as well as on the moderately drained soils at Duchesnay (D2), that we observed the lowest biological activity. Although these soils were the most nutrient rich, we observed foliar nutrient deficiencies, and maple dieback in excess of 25%. Our results suggest that maple dieback is the result of a poor physiological adaptation of sugar maple to poor drainage conditions in the areas studied. Key Words: Dieback, Acer saccharum, forest soils, biological activity index

Description: Use of controlled-release P fertilizers to match the fertilizer P availability to crop requirement has potential for improvement of P uptake and crop production. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the concept of controlled-release P fertilizer by using different coatings to regulate the release of P and to compare the growth and P uptake of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in three Alberta soils. Testing of different coatings in one experiment was followed by further evaluation of the promising treatments in two experiments. Commercial monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP) were coated with a polymer (thin-coated, 1.8% by weight or thick-coated, 2.2%) or enveloped in commercial packaging polyethylene film (shrink wrap, SW) with two, four or six pin-holes to control P release. Thin-coated treatment showed greater dry matter yield (DMY), P uptake (PU), net fertilizer P efficiency (NFPE) and net fertilizer releases efficiency of MAP compared to the uncoated, thick-coated or SW treatments in many cases. Coating of DAP did not consistently improve any of the above-mentioned parameters. In some cases, uncoated fertilizer had greater DMY, PU and NFPE than the polymer-coated treatments in early stages of crop growth (at the 13th, 26th, and 30th days), but coated treatments generally performed better during later stages of crop (at the 39th, 45th, 60th and 90th days). At 31.4 mg P pot-1 for example, thick-coated treatment had about 25% of its total PU during the 60th to 90th day, which resulted in greater spike yield accumulation in this treatment (8.4 g pot-1) compared to uncoated fertilizer (5.0 g pot-1). The P release rate was greater with thin-coated fertilizer than with thick-coated fertilizer during the 0 to 13th days (by 0.199 mg P kg-1d-1) and the 13th to 26th days (by 0.084 mg P kg-1d-1), but the opposite was true during the 26th to 39th days (by 0.112 mg P kg-1d-1) and the 39th to 52th days (by 0.064 mg P kg-1d-1). The polymer-coated, in particular the thin-coated, fertilizers delivered P in a manner that allowed the plants to use it more effectively than the uncoated MAP in several cases, which indicated a potential for improvement of fertilizer P efficiency and crop production. Key words: Barley growth, controlled-release P fertilizer, P uptake, yield

Description: Runoff from manured cropland during the wet fall and winter season, when 70% of the annual rainfall occurs, is a surface water quality concern in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia. This study compares different fall-manure application strategies on runoff and contaminant transport from silage corn (Zea mays) land. The treatments were (i) a control, which did not receive manure in the fall; (ii) manure broadcast in the fall on corn stubble; and (iii) manure broadcast in the fall on corn stubble with an established relay crop. Runoff, solids, and nutrients loads from natural precipitation were measured on replicated experimental plots (0.0125 ha) from 1996 to 1998. Fall-applied manure on 3–5% sloping silage cornland without a relay crop resulted in a high risk to surface water quality, due to high suspended solid loads of between 7 and 14 Mg ha-1 yr-1 and high nutrient transport with mean annual total Kjeldahl N (TKN) P, and K loads of 98, 21, and 63 kg ha-1, respectively. Compared with no relay crop, intercropping silage corn with a relay crop of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) reduced the mean annual runoff and suspended solid load by 53 and 74%, respectively, TKN load by 56%, P load by 42%, K load by 31%, and Cu load by 57%. Even though total nutrient loads were lower with the relay crop treatment, all fall manure treatments including the relay crop resulted in nutrient loads above guidelines for the first three runoff events immediately following application. Key words: Runoff, suspended solids, nutrient loads, relay crop, cover crop, silage corn, manure

Description: Atmospheric NH3 is potentially toxic to terrestrial plants, and there are other environmental effects such as haze from (NH4)2SO4 aerosols and N enrichment of ecosystems that are normally very low in N. Toxic levels can arise from atmospheric releases from livestock operations. Plants detoxify NH3 by incorporation of the N into the plant, so direct toxic effects are most likely when plants are growing slowly, as in cold weather. Indirect effects include leaching of nitrates and cations, and cation imbalances, and are most likely in N-poor, non-agronomic settings. The concentrations in air that cause direct toxic effects were summarized, and the corresponding "expected no effect value" (ENEV) was established at 35 nmol NH3 mol-1(48 µg m-3). Critical loads, the threshold flux density of NHx-N to the landscape that causes detrimental effects, were also summarized. The critical load was 10 kg N ha-1 yr-1. Using deposition velocity values from the literature (0.3 to 3.6 cm s-1), the ENEV implies a load flux of 24 to 290 kg N ha-1 yr-1. This is above the critical load, suggesting that critical loads to the landscape are more limiting than are direct toxic effects on plants. Another novel approach was to define an ENEV as the mean compensation point (ENEVcp). Compensation point is the atmospheric concentration below which plants emit NH3 and above which they absorb NH3. Compensation point data were summarized and the ENEVcp was established at 3.7 nmol mol-1 (5.1 µg m-3). This coincides with a load flux of 4.8 to 58 kg N ha-1 yr-1, more consistent with the critical loads. Key words: Priority Substance List, compensation point, ammonia toxicity, atmospheric ammonia

Description: Crop production on acid soils can be improved greatly by adjusting the pH to near neutrality. Although soil acidity is commonly corrected by liming, there is evidence that animal manure amendments can increase the pH of acid soils. Fresh cattle manure and agricultural lime were compared for their effects on soil acidity and the production of canola (Brassica napus L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a greenhouse study. Canola and wheat yield, the nutrient content of grain and straw, and selected soil properties were determined on a Gray Luvisol (pH 4.8) from the Peace Region of Alberta. Soil pH increased with lime and manure applications, and canola and wheat yields were higher in limed and manure-amended soils than unfertilized, unlimed soils. Macronutrient uptake by canola and wheat was generally improved by liming and manure applications, and micronutrient uptake was related to the effects of lime and manure on soil pH. An economic analysis compared the costs of using cattle manure and lime to increase soil pH to 6.0. The costs of applying lime and fresh cattle manure to increase soil pH were compared, based on the fees for purchasing and applying lime or loading, hauling and applying manure. The nutrient value of manure was calculated based on the quantities of plant-available N, P and K in fresh manure. At distances less than 40 km, it is economical to substitute fresh cattle manure for agricultural lime to increase soil pH of acidic soils. However, good manure management practices should be followed to minimize the risk of nutrient transport and environmental pollution from agricultural land amended with cattle manure. Key words: Agricultural economics, canola production, cattle manure, lime, soil pH, wheat prodution

Description: This paper describes the influence of soil texture on snowmelt infiltration into frozen soils. Field data collected on frozen, unsaturated agricultural soils of the Canadian Prairies during snow ablation demonstrate: (a) poor association between the amount of infiltration of meltwater released by the seasonal snowcover and soil texture, and (b) small differences in cumulative amounts among soils of widely different textures. A physics-based numerical simulation of heat and mass transfers with phase changes in frozen soils is used to study the mechanics of the infiltration process in representative clay, silty clay loam, silt loam and sandy loam soils. The results of the simulations show that the differences among cumulative snowmelt infiltration into clay, silty clay loam and silt loam soils after 24 h of continuous infiltration are small. Infiltration into a lighter-textured sandy loam after 24 h was on average 23% higher than in the other three soils with most of the increase occurring in the first 5 h of the simulation. Key Words: Soil texture, snowmelt, infiltration, frozen soils

Description: Estrogenic hormones can affect fish at extremely low aquatic concentrations. A study was therefore undertaken to determine if agricultural soils, which can receive steroidal estrogenic hormones via livestock, poultry or municipal biosolids, could dissipate ng kg-1 soil concentrations of 17ß -estradiol or 17α-ethynylestradiol. Incubations with [4-14C]-17ß-estradiol, [6,7-3H(N)]-17ß-estradiol and [6,7-3H(N)]-17α-ethynylestradiol revealed that the major pathway of hormone dissipation was formation of soil-bound, non-extractable residues. The dissipation kinetics and pathways of both these compounds at these very low concentrations were entirely consistent with those previously observed at 1000-fold higher concentrations. We conclude that, in the absence of preferential or surface flow, very low concentrations of hormones can be expected to be dissipated, and the risk of contamination of water adjacent to agricultural soils treated with estrogen-containing biosolids during a temperate growing season is likely to be low. Key words: Endocrine disrupting chemical, soil, 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethynylestradiol, biodegradation

Description: Livestock trampling impacts have been assessed in many Alberta grassland ecosystems, but the impacts of animal trampling on Aspen Boreal ecosystems have not been documented. This study compared the effects of high intensity [4.16 animal unit month per ha (AUM) ha-1] short-duration grazing (SDG) versus moderate intensity (2.08 AUM ha-1) continuous grazing (CG) by wapiti (Cervus elaphus canadensis) on soil compaction as measured by bulk density at field moist condition (Dbf) and penetration resistance (PR). Herbage phytomass was also measured on grazed pastures and compared to an ungrazed control (UNG). The study was conducted at Edmonton, Alberta, on a Dark Gray Luvisolic soil of loam texture. Sampling was conducted in the spring and fall of 1997 and 1998. Soil cores were collected at 2.5-cm intervals to a depth of 15-cm for measurement of bulk density (Dbf) and moisture content. Penetration resistance to 15 cm at 2.5-cm intervals was measured with a hand-pushed cone penetrometer. The Dbf and PR of the top 10-cm of soil were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) greater by 15 and 17% under SDG than CG, respectively, by wapiti. Generally, Dbf in both grazing treatments decreased over winter at the 0-7.5 cm and 12.5-15 cm depths, suggesting that freeze-thaw cycles over the winter alleviated compaction. Soil water content under SDG was significantly (P 〈 0.05) lower than CG. Total standing crop and fallen litter were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) greater in CG treatment than the SDG. The SDG treatment had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) less pasture herbage than CG areas in the spring (16%) and fall (26%) of 1997, and in the spring (22%) and fall (24%) of 1998, respectively. The SDG did not show any advantage over CG in improving soil physical characteristics and herbage production. Key Words: Bulk density, Cervus elaphus, moisture content, penetration resistance, pasture production

Description: Peatlands exploited for their peat by the method of milling are poorly recolonized by plants after the cessation of extraction activities, in part due to unstable peat substrates. Wind erosion has been suspected to play a role in this instability. Four studies were conducted to investigate the role of wind erosion on abandoned milled peatlands. A wind tunnel experiment was performed to evaluate the erodibility of dry, loose peat as a function of its degree of decomposition. A second wind tunnel experiment was conducted to determine how crusted peats differ in their resistance to erosion as a function of their degree of decomposition, without the input of abraders. Third, wind profiles were measured in milled, revegetated and natural peatlands in southeastern Québec to determine their aerodynamic roughness length. Finally, field measurements were made at three abandoned milled peatlands through two field seasons to characterize substrate stability and particle movement. In the wind tunnel, the erodibility of loose surface peat decreased with increasing decomposition and was predicted by their equivalent diameter to mineral particles 0.84 mm in diameter. However, once surface crusts formed, peats were all resistant to erosion. Surfaces of abandoned milled peatlands were aerodynamically smooth; therefore, exposed surface elements are subject to strong erosive forces during wind events. The greatest subsidence on abandoned milled peatlands occurred in the spring, prior to the surface movement of particles. Erosion during the summer could not be clearly detected. The instability of the peat surface remains a constraint for the restoration of abandoned milled surfaces. Key Words: Peat, cutover peatland, wind erosion, soil crust, roughness length, soil stability

Description: Knowledge of B fractions is essential for understanding its chemistry and potential contribution to plant uptake. Four different extraction methodologies to determine readily available B were compared, using a four-step sequential B fractionation procedure, to reveal the nature of soil B in nine selected soils from the Brown and Gray Luvisol zones with different textures and management histories. The four soil extraction techniques were: hot water (HW), 0.01M CaCl2, 1 M NH4-acetate and anion exchange membranes (AEM). The other four fractions, specifically adsorbed, oxide bound, organically bound, and residual B were determined sequentially on the same soil samples. On average, HW extracted more B than 0.01M CaCl2, 1 M NH4-acetate, and AEM. In almost every soil, readily soluble B represented only a small proportion of the total B content, regardless of the extraction method used. Most soil B existed in the residual or occluded form, which accounted for between 92 and 99%, with an average of 97%, of the total soil B. The concentration of organically bound B was higher than that of oxide bound B and specifically adsorbed B, irrespective of the readily soluble B extracting solution used. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) appeared to be an important characteristic to predict the B pools. No significant correlation was found between soil organic carbon content and the different B pools, except for hot water soluble (HWS) B. Correlation coefficients between the B pools and particle size distribution were poor and correlation between carbonates and B pools were insignificant. The findings suggest that in Saskatchewan soils, readily soluble B is only a small proportion of the total B, and the majority of B exists as residual or occluded form. Hot water soluble B appears to be a good method to estimate available B. We found this method rather simple, efficient, and consistent. Key words: Boron fractionation, exchangeable B, extractable B, organically bound B, soluble B

Description: An adequate level of organic matter is needed to sustain the productivity, improve the quality of soils and increase soil C. Grassland improvement is considered to be one of the best ways to achieve these goals. A field experiment, in which bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss) was grown for hay, was conducted from 1974 to 1996 on a thin Black Chernozemic soil near Crossfield, Alberta. Total organic C (TOC) and total N (TN), and light fraction organic C (LFOC) and light fraction N (LFN) of soil for the treatments receiving 23 annual applications of 112 kg N ha-1 as ammonium nitrate (AN) or urea in early autumn, late autumn, early spring or late spring were compared to zero-N check. Soil samples from 0- to 5- cm (layer 1), 5- to 10- cm (layer 2), 10- to 15- cm (layer 3) and 15- to 30-cm depths were taken in October 1996. Mass of TOC, TN, LFOC and LFN was calculated using equivalent mass technique. The concentration and mass of TOC and LFOC, TN and LFN in the soil were increased by N fertilization compared to the zero-N check. The majority of this increase in C and N occurred in the surface 5-cm depth and predominantly occurred in the light fraction material. In layer 1, the average increase from N fertilization was 3.1 Mg C ha-1 for TOC, 1.82 Mg C ha-1 for LFOC, 0.20 Mg N ha-1 for TN and 0.12 Mg N ha-1 for LFN. The LFOC and LFN were more responsive to N fertilization compared to the TOC and TN. Averaged across application times, more TOC, LFOC, TN and LFN were stored under AN than under urea in layer 1, by 1.50, 1.21, 0.06 and 0.08 Mg ha-1, respectively. Lower volatilization loss and higher plant uptake of surfaced-broadcast N were probable reasons from more soil C and N storage under AN source. Time of N application had no effect on the soil characteristics studied. In conclusion, most of the N-induced increase in soil C and N occurred in the 0- to 5-cm depth (layer 1) and in the light fraction material, with the increases being greater under AN than urea. Key words: Bromegrass, light fraction C and N, N source, soil, total organic C and N

Description: Measured data from two experimental sites in Canada were used to test the ability of the DeNitrification and DeComposition model (DNDC) to predict N2O emissions from agricultural soils. The two sites, one from eastern Canada, and one from western Canada, provided a variety of crops, management practices, soils, and climates for testing the model. At the site in eastern Canada, the magnitude of total seasonal N2O flux from the seven treatments was accurately predicted with a slight average over-prediction (ARE) of 3% and a coefficient of variation of 41%. Nitrous oxide emissions based on International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) methodology had a relative error of 62% for the seven treatments. The DNDC estimates of total yearly emissions of N2O from the field site in western Canada showed an underestimation of 8% for the footslope landscape position and an overestimation of 46% for the shoulder position. The data input for the DNDC model were not of sufficient detail to characterize the moisture difference between the landscape positions. The estimates from IPCC guidelines showed an underestimation of 54% for the footslope and an overestimation of 161% for the shoulder. The results indicate that the DNDC model was more accurate than IPCC methodology at estimating N2O emissions at both sites. Key words: Nitrous oxide, DNDC, soil model, greenhouse gas, testing

Description: Composting of source-separated municipal solid waste (SSMSW) is an option currently used to divert refuse from landfills. There is interest in using this material to alleviate soil constraints. Since many livestock producers ensile their cereals, after harvesting at boot-stage, the purpose of this project was to determine the effect that SSMSW compost and semi-solid beef manure, with and without supplemental N fertilizer, would have on the concent ration of minerals in this feed. The addition of N fertilizer increased the concentration of N, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, and Zn in boot-stage tissue of barley in 1996 and wheat in 1997, but only increased the concentration of B in wheat tissue. Cereal boot-stage N, K, and Mn concentrations were higher in the manure than compost-amended plots. However, boot-stage Mg and Cu concentrations tended to be higher in the compost-amended plots. As manure addition increased, the concentration of N and K in barley and wheat , Ca and Cu in wheat, and Mn in barley increased. As the rate of compost addition increased, the concentration of Mg in barley and wheat decreased, while that of Cu in barley increased. Even though the SSMSW compost was applied at higher than normal agronomic rates, tissue Cu and Zn concentrations were not at levels considered to be harmful to plants or livestock. Key Words: Barley, wheat, boot-stage, compost, fertilizer, mineral concentrations, municipal solid waste manure

Description: Theory is needed to estimate field-scale crop response and calibration relationships (soil test versus recommended fertilize r rate) from local scale measurements, in fields with spatially variable soil properties. The objective of this study is to present a theoretical stochastic framework for examining the influence of the spatial variability of soil properties, and covariance between soil properties, on field-scale crop response to fertilizer. An analytical solution of the general stochastic scaling equation is given for the specific case of wheat grain yield response to applied N fertilizer with variable soil-N test and available water in Saskatchewan, Canada. The analytical solution indicates spatial variance of soil properties within fields influences field average yield response to applied fertilizer. The field-scale maximum economic rate of fertilizer N (MERN), depends not only on the average soil properties, but also on (1) the amount of variability of soil properties in the field, and (2) the correlation between the spatial patterns of soil properties (e.g., soil test and available water). For the specific soil examined, positive spatial correlation between soil-N test and available water significantly increases MERN, for the same average soil test and available water. Negative correlation decreases MERN. Key Words: Fertilizer recommendation, soil test, spatial variability, crop response, soil water

Description: Limited information exists on the influence of long-term application of beef cattle manure on soil physical properties in the Canadian prairies. A site on a clay loam soil (Dark Brown Chernozem) at Lethbridge was used to determine the effect of increased rates of manure application on selected soil physical properties in 1997 and 1998. The manure (from an unpaved feedlot) was applied annually in the fall for 24 yr at one, two and three times the 1973 recommended rates under dryland (0, 30, 60, 90 Mg ha-1 wet basis) and irrigation (0, 60, 120, 180 Mg ha-1). There was a significant (P 〈 0.05) decrease in the sand content of soil (0–10, 10–20 cm) with increased rates of manure application; and an increase in clay content for the 60 and 120 Mg ha-1 rates compared to the control under irrigation. There was a significant and negative linear relationship between increased rates of manure application and bulk density (0–5, 10–15 cm) for most seasons, and season affected bulk density values for a given manure rate. Penetration resistance (0–14 cm) was unaffected by increased rates of manure application under dryland. Under irrigation, it was significantly reduced at only the 3.5 cm and 10.5 cm depths in 1997, and at only the 3.5 cm depth in 1998. Air permeability was generally unaffected by increased rates of manure application, except for the 0–5 cm depth under irrigation, where it was significantly lowered at the highest application rate. Soil temperatures (0, 10, 20 cm) were lower under increased rates of marnure application at the 10 and 20 cm depths in the spring and summer under dryland, and they were higher at these two depths in the winter. Under irrigation, soil temperatures were lower with increased rates of manure application at the 20-cm depth in the spring, and they were higher at the 20-cm depth in the fall, and at the 0- and 20-cm depths in the winter. Overall, soil physical properties generally had a neutral or positive response to 24 yr of annual manure application at high rates, and should not cause any detrimental effects to the soil's physical condition. Key words: Manure rate, physical properties, bulk density, penetration resistance, air permeability, temperature

Description: It is essential that we can rapidly characterize soil erosion severity. This paper describes a field methodology to classify soil erosion severity on Dystric Albeluvisols in Lithuania. The goal was to assess cumulative soil loss due to the combined action of accelerated and natural soil erosion. Evaluation of soil erosion severity helps us understand which segments of the landscape are susceptible to erosion and therefore require soil conservation. Factors considered in evaluating soil erosion severity included the existing genetic soil horizons remaining after soil erosion processes, the estimated thickness of lost soil, and slope inclination. The estimated depth of soil loss due to the combined action of natural (geological) and accelerated soil erosion was 0.1–0.8 m on the undulating hilly topography of the Zemaiciai Uplands of Western Lithuania. Erosion rates increased with slope steepness. Soil erosion changed soil physical and chemical properties. Therefore, natural soil fertility, as indicated by spring barley yields, decreased 22, 40 and 62% on slopes of 2–5° (3.5–8.3%), 5-10° (8.3–17.7%) and 10–15° (17.7–26.3%), respectively, compared with flat land. Crop yield was strongly negatively correlated (R2 = 0.79, P 〈 0.001, n = 138) with erosion severity. Due to pedological translocation, non-eroded Dystric Albeluvisols had relatively little clay and silt in eluvial (E) soil horizons, with their relative accumulation in illuvial (Bt) horizons . Thus, severely eroded soils had argillaceous top soils, due to exhumation of Bt horizons. The suggested classification system enables rapid assessment of past soil erosion severity and may have broader applicability in areas of Podzolic soils. Key words: Dystric Albeluvisols, soil erosion severity, slope steepness, soil properties, pedology

Description: Groundwater quality is at risk when high levels of N fertilizers are used on sandy soils. A monitoring program was initiated in the summer of 1995, to quantify nitrate leaching in sandy soils used for potato production near Quebec city, Canada. Three drainable lysimeters were installed in each of five fields, for a total of 15 lysimeters. During a 5-yr monitoring period, crop N uptake, mineral and organic N fertilizers use, nitrate concentrations and fluxes from drainage water at 1-m soil depth were assessed under potato, cereal and hay crops. In one field, a clover and timothy sod that received low mineral N fertilizer inputs generated the lowest annual nitrate leaching losses ranging from 7 to 20 kg NO3-N ha-1. High nitrate leaching losses (116 ± 40 kg N ha-1) were measured under potato crops receiving high mineral N fertilizer inputs. Cereals, including barley and wheat receiving moderate mineral N fertilizer inputs and in some instance N from pig slurry, dairy cow manure or paper mill sludge, also generated high nitrate leaching losses (88 ± 45 kg N ha-1). Only sod and oat crops generated annual flux averaged nitrate concentrations lower than 10 mg NO3-N L-1, the accepted standard for drinking water, while higher concentrations, ranging from 13 to 52 mg NO3-N L-1, were recorded under barley, wheat and potato crops receiving moderate to high amounts of mineral N fertilizer. Nitrate flux concentrations were moderate during the cropping season (May-August), highest in fall (September-December) and lowest in the winter-early spring period (January-April). After 5 yr of survey, use of pig slurry and paper mill sludge in potato-cereal crop rotations (51 to 192 kg N ha-1 annually) with mineral N fertilizers (103 to 119 kg N ha-1 annually) resulted in nitrate leaching losses (87 to 132 kg N ha-1 annually), at least 20 kg N ha-1 more than N exported by crop at harvest. More than 60% of N applied as pig slurry seemed to be unaccounted for in the partial N balance that included crop N uptake and nitrate leaching, suggesting that important losses probably occurred through ammonia volatilization, denitrification, or N immobilization in soil organic matter and crop residues. Key words: Barley, lysimeter, nitrate leaching, nitrogen balance, pig slurry, potato