Les coupes forestières dans les pessières à lichens: effets sur la croissance et la régénération des conifères (Whapmagoostui, Québec subarctique)

In the Whapmagoostui area (east of Hudson Bay), tree harvesting by Crée Indians in lichen woodlands affects the form and the growth of surviving trees and also the forest population dynamics. A study of the growth form of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss.) and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Botany
Main Authors: Delwaide, Ann, Filion, Louise
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:French
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1988
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b88-146
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b88-146
Description
Summary:In the Whapmagoostui area (east of Hudson Bay), tree harvesting by Crée Indians in lichen woodlands affects the form and the growth of surviving trees and also the forest population dynamics. A study of the growth form of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss.) and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) that have been pruned shows the efficiency of a total traumatic reiteration process. After several years, the annual radial growth was equivalent to that recorded before pruning. In clear-cutting areas (more than 75% of trees removed), the increase in the radial growth of spared trees was 400 to 700%. The main factors that govern the success of regeneration in cutting areas are the rather small extension of the openings (<0.005 km 2 ), the low intensity of tree harvesting (<75% of trees over 90% of the surface), the physical conditions of the lichenous ground cover and the abundance of the lignified debris after clearing vegetation, and the climatic conditions in the subsequent years.