S. 2009. Developing site disturbance standards in Ontario: Linking science to forest policy within an adaptive management framework. Can. J. Soil Sci. 89: 13Á23. In anticipation of the review and revision of Ontario's current site protection guidelines, a site disturbance task team was formed in 2004. Over the next two years, they conducted an extensive review of the scientific literature and existing guidelines from other jurisdictions, as well as engaging both forest industry partners and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) field services personnel in a consensus building exercise (i.e., client survey, field tours, and formal workshops). The goal of their efforts was to develop a set of provincial-level site disturbance standards with metrics to be considered as part of Ontario's new stand/site guide scheduled for release in 2009 and implemented in the 2011 forest management plans. The process developed by the task team was a pro-active approach that engaged the end users of the product throughout the process and should provide stronger accountability to the public and increase competency in our practices. Setting the first iteration of a standard as a practical benchmark for rutting (depth 3 cm, length 4 m and cumulative limits for each harvest block Á 10% for clearcut and 2% for partial cut systems) will allow the forest industry to adapt to the approach relatively easily and provide a visual indicator of performance. It was stressed that there needs to be a rigorous effectiveness monitoring protocol based on objective-based silviculture that is integrated within an adaptive management framework. This, in turn, will provide local science and evidence to: (1) conduct a comprehensive evaluation to the effects and impacts of site disturbance, (2) provide a quantitative, results-based evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposed guidelines, and (3) increase core competency and performance with respect to silviculture effectiveness and the role of soil disturbance in meeting our forest management objectives. Without a strong commitment and linkage of compliance, effectiveness, and validation monitoring, Ontario's forest policy development will largely remain in a state of ''repeat or react'' rather than ''evaluate and adjust''.

Three separate collections of Ontario sources of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) acorns were made to determine the effects of long-term cold storage at +2°C, -1°C, and -2°C on their viability and vigour. We measured acorn moisture content, percent germination during storage, speed of germination and total germination values, root regrowth of seeds that germinated in storage, incidence of fungal contamination, and condition of ungerminated acorns. Viability and vigour peaked six to 12 months after acorns were placed in storage, but decreased with continued storage. After 18 months in storage, ≥60% of the acorns germinated in four of the five seedlots tested and, after 30 months in storage, ≥53% of the acorns germinated in three of the five seedlots tested. Acorn viability was only minimally affected by storage temperature; however, since temperatures above -2°C allowed acorns to germinate during storage, the preferred long-term storage temperature was -2°C. Our results suggest that, assuming proper storage conditions, most red oak seedlots will maintain relatively high germination levels when stored at -2°C for 18 months. Seedlots with particularly high initial germination and vigour may be successfully stored for up to 30 months.Keywords: germination, recalcitrant seed storage, seed storage temperature, seed storage longevity, Quercus rubra résumé Trois ensembles distincts de glands de chêne rouge nordique (Quercus rubra L.) en provenance de l'Ontario ont été rassemblés dans le but d'identifier les effets de l' entreposage au froid à long terme à +2°C, -1°C, and -2°C sur leur viabilité et leur vigueur. Nous avons mesuré le niveau d'humidité des glands, le pourcentage de germination au cours de l' entreposage, la vitesse de germination et les valeurs de germination complète, de reprise de la croissance des racines des semences qui avaient germées au cours de l' entreposage, de l'incidence de la contamination fongique et l' état des glands n'ayant pas germé. La viabilité et la vigueur ont atteint une valeur maximale de six à douze mois après l' entreposage des glands, mais ont diminué en fonction du temps d' entreposage. Après 18 mois d' entreposage, ≥60% des glands avaient germé dans quatre des cinq lots de semences testés et après 30 mois d' entreposage, ≥53% des glands avaient germés dans trois des cinq lots de semences étudiées. La viabilité des glands a été peu affectée par la température d' entreposage; cependant, compte tenu que les températures supérieures à -2°C ont permis aux glands de germer au cours de l' entreposage, la température d' entreposage à long terme préférée a été -2°C. Nos résultats suggèrent que, sous des conditions appropriées d' entreposage, la plupart des lots de semences de chêne rouge maintiendront de forts taux de germination lorsqu' entreposés à -2°C pour une période de 18 mois. Les lots de semences ayant initialement un fort taux de germination et une grande vigueur pourraient être entreposés avec succès pour une période allant jusqu'à 30 mois.Mots clés : germination, e...