A B S T R A C T Lodgepole pine forests of north-central British Columbia have patchy ground-layer... more A B S T R A C T Lodgepole pine forests of north-central British Columbia have patchy ground-layer vegetation, typically dominated by either fruticose lichens, feathermosses, or ericaceous vascular plants; this patchy structure has been shown to correspond with environmental variables that likely moderate the ground-layer microclimate. To investigate the potential role of microclimate on patterns of dominance of ground-layer functional groups, we recorded temperature and relative humidity above the ground-layer vegetation during 25 summer days over patches dominated by mat-forming lichens, feathermosses, or vascular plants. Data were summarized for raw microclimate attributes and daily water potential of the air, and in terms of modelled equilibrium water content of moss or lichen thalli. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences in the water potential of air above the three patch types under sunny conditions, but not under overcast conditions. Differences in vegetation cover were only associated with differences in atmospheric moisture when using data from sunny periods during the daytime. These data confirm that lichens occupy microclimatic niches that are distinctly drier than those of feathermosses or vascular plants, and corroborate the suggested mechanism by which canopy or soil properties influence these types of ground-layer vegetation.
Propagation trials were completed using seeds, hardwood stem cuttings, and rhizome cuttings from ... more Propagation trials were completed using seeds, hardwood stem cuttings, and rhizome cuttings from black huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum Douglas ex Torr. [Ericaceae]) and velvetleaf blueberry (V. myrtilloides Michx.
M., Müller, J. and Struebig, M. (2018) I m pacts of salvage logging on biodiversity: A meta-analy... more M., Müller, J. and Struebig, M. (2018) I m pacts of salvage logging on biodiversity: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Ecology, 55 (1). pp. 279-289.
Most natural disturbances leave structural legacies that are used by a variety of organisms as fo... more Most natural disturbances leave structural legacies that are used by a variety of organisms as forest regrows. Forest management prescribes retention of "wildlife tree patches" in harvested stands. Ecosystem-based management assumes that, as levels of retention move beyond natural levels, risk to biodiversity increases. This study estimates RONV for structural attributes remaining after fire, insects and wind disturbances within a
Journal of Ecosystems and Management, Jul 13, 2006
Much of the forest killed by the current mountain pine beetle outbreak in British Columbia will n... more Much of the forest killed by the current mountain pine beetle outbreak in British Columbia will never be salvaged for commercial purposes. It has been suggested that large areas will need "restoration" to secure future timber supplies and habitat values in a timely manner. I argue that restoration is not the most appropriate term to apply to this scenario, as beetle-impacted forests generally are not ecologically degraded. Furthermore, available data indicate that pure pine stands constitute a minority of the forest area affected by the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), and that more than 40% of stands dominated by lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) have adequately stocked understories. This implies that much of the affected area will recover on its own and can provide mid-term and long-term forest values without human intervention. While prescribed fire may be an appropriate tool for ecological restoration and stand renewal in selected landscapes, perpetuation of even-aged stands of lodgepole pine may not be prudent. It would be more appropriate to call stand conversion and accelerated regeneration activities "stand rehabilitation" when enhanced timber values are the goal. Ecological restoration may be needed to repair critical habitats or to safeguard aquatic resources in the wake of the pine beetle outbreak. However, restoration must be done with clear objectives, and is likely to be a minor component of the overall management picture. In all cases, an objective assessment should assure that intervention will not do more harm than good, and actions should be evaluated against the alternative of no treatment.
Climate-driven change is catalyzing the global re-distribution of species and ecosystems and is t... more Climate-driven change is catalyzing the global re-distribution of species and ecosystems and is threatening their persistence. These changes undermine the current conservation paradigm that has a static approach to a dynamic system. Conservation planning agencies, such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada, recognize this quandary and have started to incorporate the potential (though uncertain) impacts of climate change into its planning framework. As a component of the Conservancy's Central Interior Ecoregional Assessment, we identified bioclimatic envelopes for 206 conservation targets (103 biogeoclimatic variants, 30 terrestrial ecological units, 73 British Columbia Conservation Data Centre plant species) using ClimateBC and ArcMap software. Using ClimateBC interpolations of current and expected future climatic conditions, locations projected to meet the 5th through 95th percentile requirements of a target's bioclimatic envelope were identified for four timeslices. The points of coincidence between these areas were identified as a target's projected suitable climate space; locations or areas of a target's current distribution that coincided with its climate space were identified as the target's persistent climate corridor (PCC). Our results projected PCCs to exist for only 10% (10/103) of the biogeoclimatic variants, 20% (6/30) of the terrestrial ecological units, and 10% (7/73) of plant species under the CGCM3 general circulation model using the A2 scenario. When comparing the projected results with those derived for three different general circulation model and scenario combinations, it is clear that the existence and locations of PCCs are subject to great uncertainty. Nevertheless, we argue that the identification of climate refugia should be an important consideration in the site selection and prioritization of candidate areas for conservation.
Does logging affect the fire proneness of forests? This question often arises af- ter major wildf... more Does logging affect the fire proneness of forests? This question often arises af- ter major wildfires, but data suggest that answers differ substantially among different types of forest. Logging can alter key attributes of forests by changing microclimates, stand structure and species composition, fuel characteristics, the prevalence of ignition points, and patterns of landscape cover. These changes may make some
... K. Miyanishi, R. Gagnon, and DF Greene Chapter 9. Comparing forest management to natural proc... more ... K. Miyanishi, R. Gagnon, and DF Greene Chapter 9. Comparing forest management to natural processes 307 Sybille Haeussler and Dan ... assistance and indexing services were provided by Margaret Bakelaar, Gillian Binsted, Carla Burton, Anne Macadam, Julie Poulin, and ...
A B S T R A C T Lodgepole pine forests of north-central British Columbia have patchy ground-layer... more A B S T R A C T Lodgepole pine forests of north-central British Columbia have patchy ground-layer vegetation, typically dominated by either fruticose lichens, feathermosses, or ericaceous vascular plants; this patchy structure has been shown to correspond with environmental variables that likely moderate the ground-layer microclimate. To investigate the potential role of microclimate on patterns of dominance of ground-layer functional groups, we recorded temperature and relative humidity above the ground-layer vegetation during 25 summer days over patches dominated by mat-forming lichens, feathermosses, or vascular plants. Data were summarized for raw microclimate attributes and daily water potential of the air, and in terms of modelled equilibrium water content of moss or lichen thalli. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences in the water potential of air above the three patch types under sunny conditions, but not under overcast conditions. Differences in vegetation cover were only associated with differences in atmospheric moisture when using data from sunny periods during the daytime. These data confirm that lichens occupy microclimatic niches that are distinctly drier than those of feathermosses or vascular plants, and corroborate the suggested mechanism by which canopy or soil properties influence these types of ground-layer vegetation.
Propagation trials were completed using seeds, hardwood stem cuttings, and rhizome cuttings from ... more Propagation trials were completed using seeds, hardwood stem cuttings, and rhizome cuttings from black huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum Douglas ex Torr. [Ericaceae]) and velvetleaf blueberry (V. myrtilloides Michx.
M., Müller, J. and Struebig, M. (2018) I m pacts of salvage logging on biodiversity: A meta-analy... more M., Müller, J. and Struebig, M. (2018) I m pacts of salvage logging on biodiversity: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Ecology, 55 (1). pp. 279-289.
Most natural disturbances leave structural legacies that are used by a variety of organisms as fo... more Most natural disturbances leave structural legacies that are used by a variety of organisms as forest regrows. Forest management prescribes retention of "wildlife tree patches" in harvested stands. Ecosystem-based management assumes that, as levels of retention move beyond natural levels, risk to biodiversity increases. This study estimates RONV for structural attributes remaining after fire, insects and wind disturbances within a
Journal of Ecosystems and Management, Jul 13, 2006
Much of the forest killed by the current mountain pine beetle outbreak in British Columbia will n... more Much of the forest killed by the current mountain pine beetle outbreak in British Columbia will never be salvaged for commercial purposes. It has been suggested that large areas will need "restoration" to secure future timber supplies and habitat values in a timely manner. I argue that restoration is not the most appropriate term to apply to this scenario, as beetle-impacted forests generally are not ecologically degraded. Furthermore, available data indicate that pure pine stands constitute a minority of the forest area affected by the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), and that more than 40% of stands dominated by lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) have adequately stocked understories. This implies that much of the affected area will recover on its own and can provide mid-term and long-term forest values without human intervention. While prescribed fire may be an appropriate tool for ecological restoration and stand renewal in selected landscapes, perpetuation of even-aged stands of lodgepole pine may not be prudent. It would be more appropriate to call stand conversion and accelerated regeneration activities "stand rehabilitation" when enhanced timber values are the goal. Ecological restoration may be needed to repair critical habitats or to safeguard aquatic resources in the wake of the pine beetle outbreak. However, restoration must be done with clear objectives, and is likely to be a minor component of the overall management picture. In all cases, an objective assessment should assure that intervention will not do more harm than good, and actions should be evaluated against the alternative of no treatment.
Climate-driven change is catalyzing the global re-distribution of species and ecosystems and is t... more Climate-driven change is catalyzing the global re-distribution of species and ecosystems and is threatening their persistence. These changes undermine the current conservation paradigm that has a static approach to a dynamic system. Conservation planning agencies, such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada, recognize this quandary and have started to incorporate the potential (though uncertain) impacts of climate change into its planning framework. As a component of the Conservancy's Central Interior Ecoregional Assessment, we identified bioclimatic envelopes for 206 conservation targets (103 biogeoclimatic variants, 30 terrestrial ecological units, 73 British Columbia Conservation Data Centre plant species) using ClimateBC and ArcMap software. Using ClimateBC interpolations of current and expected future climatic conditions, locations projected to meet the 5th through 95th percentile requirements of a target's bioclimatic envelope were identified for four timeslices. The points of coincidence between these areas were identified as a target's projected suitable climate space; locations or areas of a target's current distribution that coincided with its climate space were identified as the target's persistent climate corridor (PCC). Our results projected PCCs to exist for only 10% (10/103) of the biogeoclimatic variants, 20% (6/30) of the terrestrial ecological units, and 10% (7/73) of plant species under the CGCM3 general circulation model using the A2 scenario. When comparing the projected results with those derived for three different general circulation model and scenario combinations, it is clear that the existence and locations of PCCs are subject to great uncertainty. Nevertheless, we argue that the identification of climate refugia should be an important consideration in the site selection and prioritization of candidate areas for conservation.
Does logging affect the fire proneness of forests? This question often arises af- ter major wildf... more Does logging affect the fire proneness of forests? This question often arises af- ter major wildfires, but data suggest that answers differ substantially among different types of forest. Logging can alter key attributes of forests by changing microclimates, stand structure and species composition, fuel characteristics, the prevalence of ignition points, and patterns of landscape cover. These changes may make some
... K. Miyanishi, R. Gagnon, and DF Greene Chapter 9. Comparing forest management to natural proc... more ... K. Miyanishi, R. Gagnon, and DF Greene Chapter 9. Comparing forest management to natural processes 307 Sybille Haeussler and Dan ... assistance and indexing services were provided by Margaret Bakelaar, Gillian Binsted, Carla Burton, Anne Macadam, Julie Poulin, and ...
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