Trembling aspen competition and climate effects on white spruce growth in boreal mixtures of Western Canada

Cortini, Francesco; Comeau, Philip G.; Bokalo, Mykola

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2012.04.022

Cited by 30 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Wright et al [10] and Filipescu and Comeau [33], for example, found different growth vs. light competition relationships among regions. This appears to be a complex interaction: regional differences are primarily climatic, and climate effects on spruce growth can be exacerbated by deciduous competition [54].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling Growth-Competition Relationships in Trembling Aspen and White Spruce Mixed Boreal Forests of Western Canada

et al. 2013

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We examined the effect of competition on stem growth of Picea glauca and Populus tremuloides in boreal mixedwood stands during the stem exclusion stage. We combined traditional approaches of collecting competition data with dendrochronology to provide retrospective measurements of stem diameter growth. Several competition indices including stand basal area (BA), the sum of stem diameter at breast height (SDBH), and density (N) for the broadleaf and coniferous species, as well as similar indices considering only trees with diameters greater than each subject (BAGR, SDBHGR, and NGR), were evaluated. We used a nonlinear mixed model to characterize the basal area increment over the past 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years as a function of growth of nearby dominant trees, the size of the subject trees, deciduous and coniferous competition indices, and ecoregions. SDBHGR and BAGR were better predictors for spruce, and SDBHGR and NGR were better for aspen, respectively, than other indices. Results showed strongest correlations with long-term stem growth, as the best models integrated growth for 10–25 years for aspen and ≥25 for spruce. Our model demonstrated a remarkable capability (adjusted R2>0.67) to represent this complex variation in growth as a function of site, size and competition.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling Growth-Competition Relationships in Trembling Aspen and White Spruce Mixed Boreal Forests of Western Canada

et al. 2013

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“…However, most of these studies focused on identifying the effects of species composition on productivity (i.e., yields in basal area), nutrient cycling, and rotation lengths [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. In recent years, wood attributes have emerged as an added characteristic of interest.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in Trembling Aspen and White Spruce Wood Quality Grown in Mixed and Single Species Stands in the Boreal Mixedwood Forest

Araujo

Hart

Mansfield

2015

Forests

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Abstract:The Canadian boreal forest is largely represented by mixed wood forests of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx). In this study, a total of 300 trees originating from three sites composed of trembling aspen and white spruce with varying compositions were investigated for wood quality traits: one site was composed mainly of aspen, one mainly of spruce and a third was a mixed site. Four wood quality traits were examined: wood density, microfibril angle (MFA), fibre characteristics, and cell wall chemistry. Social classes were also determined for each site in an attempt to provide a more in-depth comparison. Wood density showed little variation among sites for both species, with only significant differences occurring between social classes. The aspen site showed statistically lower MFAs than the aspen from the mixed site, however, no differences were observed when comparing spruce. Fibre characteristics were higher in the pure species sites for both species. There were no differences in carbohydrate contents across sites, while lignin content varied. Overall, the use of social classes did not refine the characterization of sites.

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“…These management approaches, however, largely focus on maximizing conifer production through the control of competing vegetation, which in the boreal often involves hardwood shrubs or trees (Pitt et al 2010). In addition to the many ecological benefits such as enhanced structural and biological diversity, habitat availability and resistance to pests (Kelty 1992(Kelty , 2006, mixedwood conditions may also result in greater overall productivity (Man and Greenway 2004, Lieffers et al 2007, Cortini et al 2012. While this previous work suggests the potential for a beneficial interaction between tree species in boreal mixedwoods, the mechanisms whereby these interactions influence growth at the individual tree level remain poorly understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many of these studies dealt with very young spruce plantations (<10 years of age, e.g., Man and Lieffers 1997, Bokalo et al 2007, Pitt et al 2010, often with differently aged cohorts of spruce and aspen (e.g., Gradowski et al 2008, MacPherson et al 2001, or used modeling scenarios (e.g., Bell et al 2011, Cortini et al 2012 to examine productivity projections. In most cases, competition effects are often examined at the plot or stand level.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of competition and species mixture on plantation-grown white spruce: Growth and foliar nutrient response after 20 years

Luckai

Neufeld

Morris

et al. 2014

The Forestry Chronicle

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A 20-year-old experimental white spruce plantation was used to identify key stand (neighbourhood competition) and soil (physical and chemical properties) factors influencing spruce growth (Periodic Basal Area Increment) and foliar nutrients. Total and species-specific competition was estimated using Hegyi' s distance-dependent index for 39 individual spruce trees. Twelve trees, covering the range of total HCI (2 to 8) and aspen competition (0% to >75%), were selected for repeated (May through October) foliar sampling. Spruce PBAI declined approximately 10% for each additional unit of total HCI; species did not significantly affect this decline. Increasing aspen presence significantly influenced spruce foliar N (1.17% to 1.31%), P (0.15% to 0.23%), and K (0.68% to 0.88%), but led to declines in Ca (0.81% to 0.48%). Multiple linear regression indicated that soil carbon (partial r 2 = 0.386) and available soil moisture (partial r 2 = 0.131) together explained more of the variation in spruce growth than did competition factors alone (partial r 2 = 0.251). The results suggest that, at this stage of stand development, precommercial thinning operations should focus on density control and inter-tree spacing, while retaining an aspen component resulting in well-spaced, free-growing mixed stands of white spruce and aspen.Keywords: Fallingsnow Ecosystem Project, Hegyi' s Competition Index, trembling aspen, seasonal pattern in foliar nutrients, spruce-aspen mixedwoods résumé Une plantation expérimentale d' épinette blanche âgée de 20 ans a été utilisée pour identifier les principaux facteurs de peuplement (compétition avoisinante) et de sol (propriétés physiques et chimiques) qui influencent la croissance de l' épinette (accroissement périodique de la surface terrière) et les éléments nutritifs du feuillage. La compétition globale et spécifique a été estimée au moyen de l'index de distance de Hegyi pour 39 épinettes. Douze arbres, représentant l' ensemble des classes de hauteur (de 2 à 8) et de la compétition par le tremble (de 0 % à >75 %), ont été choisis à des fins d' échantillonnages foliaires répétés (de mai à octobre). L'accroissement périodique de la surface terrière des épinettes a diminué de près de 10 % pour chacune des classes de hauteur successives; cette réduction n' était pas liée à l' essence compétitrice. La présence croissante du tremble a amélioré significativement l'azote foliaire de l' épinette (de 1,17 % à 1,31 %), son phosphore (de 0,15 % à 0,23 %) et son potassium (de 0,68 % à 0,88 %), mais a provoqué une diminution du niveau de calcium (de 0,81 % à 0,48 %). Une régression linéaire multiple a permis de constater que le carbone du sol (r 2 partiel = 0,386) et l'humidité disponible dans le sol (r 2 partiel = 0,131) contribuaient davantage à expliquer la variation de la croissance de l' épinette que ne l' ont fait les facteurs de compétition pris dans leur ensemble (r 2 partiel = 0,251). Les résultats laissent croire qu'à ce stade du développement du peuplement, il faudrait orienter les opération...

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Trembling aspen competition and climate effects on white spruce growth in boreal mixtures of Western Canada

Cited by 30 publications

References 38 publications

Modelling Growth-Competition Relationships in Trembling Aspen and White Spruce Mixed Boreal Forests of Western Canada

Modelling Growth-Competition Relationships in Trembling Aspen and White Spruce Mixed Boreal Forests of Western Canada

Variation in Trembling Aspen and White Spruce Wood Quality Grown in Mixed and Single Species Stands in the Boreal Mixedwood Forest

The influence of competition and species mixture on plantation-grown white spruce: Growth and foliar nutrient response after 20 years

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