Summary:
Published in Forest Ecology and Management 257: 38-45
Silvicultural treatments creating large canopy openings failed to restore regeneration of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) due to browsing pressure from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann). Consequently, we tested two alternative silvicultural treatments aimed at improving balsam fir establishment on Anticosti Island (Québec, Canada). In 1998 and 1999, we set up shelterwood seed cutting using three harvest intensities (0, 25 and 40% of basal area) and strip clearcutting with scarification using three different strip widths (15, 30 and 45 m), both with fenced and unfenced regeneration plots, in balsam fir stands. After 8 years, shelterwood seed cutting did not allow the establishment of new balsam fir seedlings, nor the development of unbrowsed balsam fir seedlings. In the strip clearcutting, deer browsing suppressed growth of palatable species in all strip widths. This favoured the development of unpalatable species, especially white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss). Our study demonstrates that the use of silvicultural treatments alone is unlikely to restore balsam fir regeneration on Anticosti Island, as long as the deer population remains higher than 20 deer/km2.
Sector(s):
Forests
Catégorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forestry Research, Forests, Silviculture
Departmental author(s):
Author(s):
BEGUIN, Julien, David POTHIER and Marcel PRÉVOST
Year of publication:
2009
How to get the publication:
Keyword(s):
coupe progressive, coupe par bandes, sapin baumier, broutement par le cerf, régénération naturelle, sylviculture des forêts naturelles résineuses, Abies balsamea, sylviculture et rendement des forêts naturelles - peuplements résineux, silviculture and yield of natural forests - softwood stands, shelterwood cutting, strip clearcutting, balsam fir, deer browsing, natural regeneration