Forest structure and composition at fire edges of different ages: Evidence of persistent structural features on the landscape
Accepted version Boreal forest landscapes are dynamic with stands in different stages of development following stand-replacing disturbances such as fire and insect outbreaks. Forest edges are an important component of these heterogeneous landscapes but there have been few studies on intermediate-age...
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ftstmarysunivca:oai:library2:01/29936 2023-05-15T18:30:58+02:00 Forest structure and composition at fire edges of different ages: Evidence of persistent structural features on the landscape Harper, Karen A., 1969- Drapeau, Pierre Lesieur, Daniel Bergeron, Yves 2014-02-15 application/pdf http://library2.smu.ca/xmlui/handle/01/29936 en eng Elsevier http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.12.009 0378-1127 1872-7042 http://library2.smu.ca/xmlui/handle/01/29936 © 2014. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ CC-BY-NC-ND Taiga ecology -- Canada Black spruce -- Forest fires -- Environmental aspects Old growth forests -- Canada Text 2014 ftstmarysunivca https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.12.009 2022-05-13T05:46:45Z Accepted version Boreal forest landscapes are dynamic with stands in different stages of development following stand-replacing disturbances such as fire and insect outbreaks. Forest edges are an important component of these heterogeneous landscapes but there have been few studies on intermediate-aged forest edges which are needed for a comprehensive perspective on the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest edges. We described the structure, composition and extent of edge influence at 13, 25 and 39-year old fire edges in black spruce Boreal forest in northwestern Québec and northeastern Ontario to characterize their structural development and to assess effects of edge development on the understorey. Forest structure and understorey composition were sampled along transects perpendicular to edges of the fires. Edge influence was assessed using randomization tests. Black spruce forest was relatively unaffected by edge influence beyond 5 m into the forest at all ages of edges studied. Edge influence on the understorey was weak and not extensive at intermediate-aged edges with few consistent responses of individual species. Less decayed snags and logs at 13 and 25-year old edges peaked in abundance at or near the edge with values higher than in either adjacent ecosystem. Overall, intermediate-aged fire edges in black spruce forest showed little evidence of further changes in canopy structure with time. Structural development of these edges as well as the regeneration of the disturbed areas also resulted in reduced edge influence on the understorey. A new insight from our study is that intermediate-aged forest edges may contribute unique structural features to landscapes such as a reservoir of deadwood that may be important for wildlife species. Text taiga Saint Mary's University, Halifax: Institutional Repository Canada Deadwood ENVELOPE(-117.453,-117.453,56.733,56.733) Forest Ecology and Management 314 131 140 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Saint Mary's University, Halifax: Institutional Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftstmarysunivca |
language |
English |
topic |
Taiga ecology -- Canada Black spruce -- Forest fires -- Environmental aspects Old growth forests -- Canada |
spellingShingle |
Taiga ecology -- Canada Black spruce -- Forest fires -- Environmental aspects Old growth forests -- Canada Harper, Karen A., 1969- Drapeau, Pierre Lesieur, Daniel Bergeron, Yves Forest structure and composition at fire edges of different ages: Evidence of persistent structural features on the landscape |
topic_facet |
Taiga ecology -- Canada Black spruce -- Forest fires -- Environmental aspects Old growth forests -- Canada |
description |
Accepted version Boreal forest landscapes are dynamic with stands in different stages of development following stand-replacing disturbances such as fire and insect outbreaks. Forest edges are an important component of these heterogeneous landscapes but there have been few studies on intermediate-aged forest edges which are needed for a comprehensive perspective on the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest edges. We described the structure, composition and extent of edge influence at 13, 25 and 39-year old fire edges in black spruce Boreal forest in northwestern Québec and northeastern Ontario to characterize their structural development and to assess effects of edge development on the understorey. Forest structure and understorey composition were sampled along transects perpendicular to edges of the fires. Edge influence was assessed using randomization tests. Black spruce forest was relatively unaffected by edge influence beyond 5 m into the forest at all ages of edges studied. Edge influence on the understorey was weak and not extensive at intermediate-aged edges with few consistent responses of individual species. Less decayed snags and logs at 13 and 25-year old edges peaked in abundance at or near the edge with values higher than in either adjacent ecosystem. Overall, intermediate-aged fire edges in black spruce forest showed little evidence of further changes in canopy structure with time. Structural development of these edges as well as the regeneration of the disturbed areas also resulted in reduced edge influence on the understorey. A new insight from our study is that intermediate-aged forest edges may contribute unique structural features to landscapes such as a reservoir of deadwood that may be important for wildlife species. |
format |
Text |
author |
Harper, Karen A., 1969- Drapeau, Pierre Lesieur, Daniel Bergeron, Yves |
author_facet |
Harper, Karen A., 1969- Drapeau, Pierre Lesieur, Daniel Bergeron, Yves |
author_sort |
Harper, Karen A., 1969- |
title |
Forest structure and composition at fire edges of different ages: Evidence of persistent structural features on the landscape |
title_short |
Forest structure and composition at fire edges of different ages: Evidence of persistent structural features on the landscape |
title_full |
Forest structure and composition at fire edges of different ages: Evidence of persistent structural features on the landscape |
title_fullStr |
Forest structure and composition at fire edges of different ages: Evidence of persistent structural features on the landscape |
title_full_unstemmed |
Forest structure and composition at fire edges of different ages: Evidence of persistent structural features on the landscape |
title_sort |
forest structure and composition at fire edges of different ages: evidence of persistent structural features on the landscape |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
http://library2.smu.ca/xmlui/handle/01/29936 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-117.453,-117.453,56.733,56.733) |
geographic |
Canada Deadwood |
geographic_facet |
Canada Deadwood |
genre |
taiga |
genre_facet |
taiga |
op_relation |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.12.009 0378-1127 1872-7042 http://library2.smu.ca/xmlui/handle/01/29936 |
op_rights |
© 2014. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY-NC-ND |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.12.009 |
container_title |
Forest Ecology and Management |
container_volume |
314 |
container_start_page |
131 |
op_container_end_page |
140 |
_version_ |
1766214598023708672 |