Patterns of damage and mortality in red pine plantations following a major ice storm

Abstract

The impact of a major ice storm in eastern Ontario on 28 pine plantations (red pine, Pinus resinosa Ait.; Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris L.; white pine, Pinus strobus L.; and jack pine, Pinus banksiana Lamb.) was examined for 4 years after the event. Degree of crown loss and tree mortality were quantified in relation to tree and stand characteristics (e.g., tree species, diameter at breast height (DBH), stand density, stand edge versus interior). We also tested whether salvaging damaged material reduced subsequent tree mortality. Jack and Scots pine were 2.5 times more likely to be damaged by the ice storm than were red pine and white pine. Overstocked stands, and stands with lower mean DBH, were most susceptible to storm damage. Trees were five times more likely to be damaged in the interior versus the edge of a stand, in contrast with previous findings in hardwood stands. In unsalvaged stands, ca. 75% tree mortality was observed in severely damaged trees (>50% crown loss) compared with ca. 45% tree mortality in salvaged stands. Properly timed thinnings to increase diameter growth and the removal of dead and dying wood from heavily damaged stands are recommended to reduce the long-term effects of ice storms.Résumé : Pendant les 4 années qui ont suivi une importante tempête de verglas survenue dans l'est de l'Ontario, les auteurs ont étudié l'impact de cette tempête dans 28 plantations de pins (pin rouge, Pinus resinosa Ait.; pin sylvestre, Pinus sylvestris L.; pin blanc, Pinus strobus L. et pin gris, Pinus banksiana Lamb.). Le degré de perte de cime et la mortalité des arbres ont été quantifiés en relation avec les caractéristiques des arbres et du peuplement (p. ex., espèce d'arbres, diamètre à hauteur de poitrine (DHP), densité du peuplement, bordure versus intérieur du peuplement). Ils ont aussi vérifié si le fait de récupérer les arbres endommagés réduirait la mortalité par la suite. Le pin gris et le pin sylvestre avaient 2,5 fois plus de chances d'être endommagés par le verglas que le pin rouge et le pin blanc. Les peuplements avec une densité relative excessive et les peuplements avec un plus faible DHP moyen étaient les plus susceptibles d'être endommagés par le verglas. Les arbres avaient cinq fois plus de chances d'être endommagés à l'intérieur qu'en bordure d'un peuplement contrairement à ce qui a été rapporté précédemment dans le cas des peuplements feuillus. Dans les peuplements où il n'y avait pas eu de récupération, la mortalité atteignait environ 75 % chez les arbres sévèrement endommagés (>50 % de perte de cime) comparativement à environ 45 % dans les peuplements où des travaux de récupération avaient été effectués. Des éclaircies effectuées au moment opportun pour augmenter la croissance en diamètre et enlever les tiges mortes ou mourantes dans les peuplements sévèrement endommagés sont recommandées pour réduire les effets à long terme des tempêtes de verglas.[Traduit par la Rédaction] Ryall and Smith 493

Sequential patterns of colonization of coarse woody debris by Ips pini (Say) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) following a major ice storm in Ontario

“…Sites were selected in pairs across the study region (damaged and undamaged) with a minimum of 2 km between sites. In the damaged plantations, possible habitat for I. pini included snapped tops, standing snags, uprooted trees, blown-down trees and trees with varying degrees of crown loss (Table 1; Ryall & Smith, 2005).…”

“…In January 1998, a unusually severe ice storm throughout eastern United States and Canada caused extensive damage to numerous red pine, Pinus resinosa Ait., plantations across the region (Irland, 1998). The storm caused damage to red pine trees through up-rooting, blowing over, bending or completely breaking the stems (Ryall & Smith, 2005), creating a range of host material with varying levels of resistance to colonization by secondary bark and wood-boring beetles.…”

Application of Semiochemicals to Assess the Biodiversity of Subcortical Insects following an Ecosystem Disturbance in a Sub-boreal Forest

“…A large number of predators and parasites also are associated with subcortical herbivorous insects (Dahlsten 1970;Ryall 2003). Thus, as the amounts and characteristics of CWD change over time (Ryall and Smith 2005;Wilson and McComb 2005), there will be changes and turnover of associated subcortical insect communities (Weiss 1920;Blackman and Stage 1924;Savely 1939;Wallace 1953).…”

Damage assessment to subtropical forests following the 2008 Chinese ice storm

“…Belanger et al (1996) found no difference in damage to loblolly pines of different size classes following an ice storm. Ryall & Smith (2005) observed that large diameter trees were less damaged by ice accumulation than small diameter trees. Therefore, it is necessary to consider more factors, such as tree species, age, development stage and health condition, when the role of tree size is assessed in determining its resistance to ice storms.…”

“…Ryall & Smith (2005) reported a strong positive relationship between crown damage and stand density for red pine (Pinus resinosa) plantations in Eastern Ontario, damaged by the 1998 ice storm. Cremer et al (1982) observed that overstocked or dense plantations suffered more severe damage than more widely spaced plantations with trees characterized by sturdier boles and well-developed canopies.…”