The regrowth production and allocation of Salix arbusculoides in three growing seasons following right-of-way clearing

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Forest Research
• Main Authors: Grosbois, T. De, Kershaw, G. P., Eyton, J. R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1991
• Subjects: Ecology; Forestry; Global and Planetary Change; Northwest Territories; permafrost
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x91-164; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/x91-164

A homogeneous 4.3-ha area of black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) forest located 10 km north of Fort Norman, Northwest Territories, was selected for this study. A 25 m wide corridor was cleared in the spring of 1985 to simulate a transport corridor (e.g., winter road, seismic line, or pipeline). Salixarbusculoides Anderss., the dominant erect deciduous shrub found in this area, was monitored for three growing seasons after canopy removal. Regrown shrubs on the cleared right-of-way were compared with undisturbed shrubs in an adjacent black spruce stand, which served as a control. Salixarbusculoides has an excellent propensity for natural recovery from clear-cutting through vegetative regeneration. Regrown right-of-way shrubs attained total dry weights equal to those of control shrubs by the second growing season. High rates of aboveground biomass production, which were most pronounced in the second growing season of recovery, occurred following clearing. This increased production was primarily stem growth, as leaf production in regrown shrubs was never significantly greater than leaf production in control shrubs over the 3-year period. Shrub ground cover and leaf density both increased for regrown shrubs, as leaf biomass relative to both the area of ground covered and the shrub canopy volume was higher for right-of-way shrubs in all 3 years. This suggests that over the period of the study, the shading and gas-exchange capabilities per unit area of ground of right-of-way shrubs equalled or exceeded those of undisturbed shrubs. In this area where thaw-susceptible permafrost occurs, both characteristics of resprouting shrubs are desirable in maintenance of right-of-way integrity.