Accurate estimation of Net Primary Productivity (NPP), which is a key component of the terrestrial carbon cycle, is very important in studies of global climate. Ecosystem models have been used for NPP estimates. Determining how much each source of uncertainty contributes to modeled NPP is veiy important before ecosystem models can be used with confidence over larger areas and time periods. This research has systematically evaluated the boreal ecosystem productivity simulator (BEPS) carbon model in mountainous terrain, Kananaskis, Alberta. After parameterization of the model, sensitivity analysis was conducted as a controlled series of experiments involving sensitivity simulations with BEPS by changing a model input value in separate model runs. The results showed that NPP was sensitive to most model inputs measured in the study area, but that the most important input variables for BEPS were LAI and forest species. In addition, the NPP uncertainty resulting from topographic influence was approximately 3.5 %, which is equivalent to 140 kg C ha"1 yr"1. This suggested that topographic correction for the model inputs was also important for accurate NPP estimation. Using the topographically corrected data, the carbon dynamics were simulated, and average annual NPP production by forests in Kananaskis was estimated at 4.01 T ha"1 in 2003. / xix, 117 leaves : col. ill. ; 29 cm.

Des changements de composition et de structure forestière sont projetés en réponse au climat futur potentiellement plus propice aux feux et au stress hydrique. Une réduction importante des stocks de carbone et de biomasse pourraient influencer considérablement l’industrie forestière et le réchauffement global. Malgré son importance écologique et socioéconomique, le devenir de la forêt est incertain car les impacts du changement climatique sur les processus écosystémiques et la biomasse sont encore mal compris. L’objectif principal est donc d’évaluer les effets potentiels du changement climatique sur la dynamique de végétation et des incendies, et de caractériser leurs effets conjoints sur la résilience de la forêt boréale de l’Est canadien de part et d’autre de la limite nordique des forêts sous aménagement (LNFA). Des simulations ont été réalisées avec le modèle LPJ-LMfire pour répondre à trois objectifs spécifiques : (1) reconstruire l’activité de feux au 20ème siècle et analyser l’évolution des tendances spatio-temporelles des feux avec la végétation et le climat, (2) projeter la réponse de la forêt au changement climatique et à l’augmentation prévue des feux pour déterminer si des changements brusques de biomasse des espèces dominantes pourraient survenir, (3) simuler les trajectoires passées des feux et de la végétation en réponse aux variations climatiques holocènes afin de comprendre les relations ayant existé entre le climat, le feu et la végétation. Pour la première fois, des simulations sont effectuées avec LPJ-LMfire sur plus de 6000 ans et à haute résolution spatiale (100 km2) sur la forêt boréale de l'Est canadien. Les types fonctionnels de plantes correspondant aux quatre genres d’arbres dominants (Picea, Abies, Pinus, Populus) ont été paramétrés. Les capacités prédictives de LPJ-LMfire ont été examinées en comparant nos simulations des taux annuels de combustion et de biomasse avec des ensembles indépendants de données disponibles pour le dernier siècle et des reconstructions paléoécologiques obtenues à partir des enregistrements lacustres de charbons et de pollens. Enfin, la version LPJ-LMfire développée a été utilisée avec des scénarios climatiques de l’IPCC pour analyser les trajectoires sur le 21ème siècle. Les résultats principaux de cette étude ont révélé que LPJ-LMfire reproduit correctement les tendances spatio-temporelles de la fréquence des feux observée au cours du dernier siècle et les tendances spatiales de la biomasse aérienne totale, à l’exception de la biomasse à la limite nord des arbres qui est surestimée. Les trajectoires des feux et de la végétation simulées sur l'Holocène sont décalées spatialement par rapport aux reconstructions paléoécologiques et serait dû aux données climatiques IPSL-CM5A-LR fournies en entrée du modèle. La variabilité climatique et les impacts de foudre sont les facteurs déterminants de la répartition de la fréquence des feux au cours du 20ème siècle alors que les rétroactions de la végétation sur les feux contrôlent la distribution de leur fréquence sur de longues échelles de temps. Nos résultats contredisent l’augmentation prévue du risque de feu futur, suggérant plutôt une diminution de la fréquence des feux d’ici 2100, surtout dans le sud, associée à une augmentation de la proportion des taxons feuillus et à une ouverture des paysages qui devraient limiter les allumages et la propagation des feux. Dans les zones les plus méridionales, l’effet fertilisant de l’augmentation des concentrations en CO2 atmosphériques sur la productivité forestière ne compensera pas les pertes de biomasse causées par les feux de forêt et les épisodes de mortalité attribuables aux sécheresses. En 2100, la baisse des stocks de biomasse et l’enfeuillement au sud de la LNFA pourraient menacer l’économie du secteur forestier. Des pratiques sylvicoles préservant la productivité et la résilience de la forêt sont donc à recommander pour permettre une gestion durable des forêts. / Changes in forest composition and structure are projected in response to the future climate likely more conducive to fire and water stress. A decrease in carbon and biomass stocks could significantly affect the forest industry and global warming by high carbon emissions during fires. However, despite its ecological and socio-economic importance, the future of the forest is uncertain because the impacts of climate change on ecosystem processes and standing biomass are still poorly understood. The primary objective is therefore to assess the potential effects of climate change on vegetation dynamics and fires, and to characterize their joint effects on the resilience of eastern Canada's boreal forest on both sides of the northern limit of managed forests (NLMF). Simulations were carried out with the LPJ-LMfire dynamic global vegetation model and focused on three specific objectives: (1) to reconstruct fire activity during the 20th century and analyze changes in spatial and temporal fire trends related to vegetation and climate, (2) to analyze the forest response projection to climate change and to fire increase to assess if abrupt changes in biomass of dominant species could occur, (3) to simulate trajectories of past fires and vegetation in response to Holocene climatic variations to understand the relationship between climate, fire and vegetation. For the first time, simulations are performed on the eastern boreal forest with LPJ-LMfire over 6000 years and at high spatial resolution (100 km 2) over a study area stretching west to east, from Manitoba to Newfoundland. The plant functional types for the four dominant tree genera (Picea, Abies, Pinus, Populus) have been parameterized. The predictive capabilities of the model were tested over the 20th century by comparing simulated annual rates of combustion and biomass with independent observations. The same variables, simulated over the past 6,000 years, have been compared to paleoecological reconstructions from lacustrine records of microcharcoals and pollen. Finally, the present version of LPJ-LMfire has been used with IPCC climate scenarios to analyze trajectories along the 21st century. The results show that LPJ-LMfire correctly reproduces the spatio-temporal trends in fire frequency observed in the 20th century, particularly in Manitoba and Ontario. The simulated spatial distribution of plant biomass is also consistent with observations, except at the northern limit of trees where it is overestimated, especially for Picea. The trajectories of simulated fires and vegetation over the last 6,000 years were spatially shifted compared to paleoecological reconstructions: too far south in the west and too far north in the east. The observed difference would be due to the IPSL-CM5A-LR climate data provided as input of LPJ-LMfire. Climate variability and lightning impacts are the determining factors in the distribution of fire frequency during the 20th century, while vegetation feedbacks on fires control the distribution of their frequency over long time scales. Our results contradict the predicted increase in future fire risk, suggesting a decrease in fire frequency by 2100, especially in the south, associated with an increase in the proportion of deciduous taxa and an opening of landscapes that should limit ignition and spread of fires. The frequency and intensity of droughts induced by climate change are expected to increase and favor tree mortality south of the NLMF. Rising temperatures and atmospheric CO2 will only temporarily increase forest productivity. By 2100, declining biomass stocks and increasing broadleaf proportion south of the NLMF could threaten the economy of the forest sector. Silvicultural practices that preserve productivity and boreal forest resilience are therefore recommended to maintain sustainable forest management.

Response to fertilization is a function of the degree to which nutrients are limiting growth, the capacity of individual trees to respond to nutrient inputs, the degree to which other factors limit growth, and the possible extrinsic effects of treatment (e.g., root mortality due to fertilizer-induced soil pH effects). Recognition and examination of these factors is essential if response to fertilization is to be predictable. Over the past 25 years numerous western hemlock fertilizer trials have shown responses ranging from negative to positive with no clear trends. Theories for this erratic response include: (a) different nutritional requirements during different stages of stand development; (b) high native N availability or low supplies of other nutrients (P and S, in particular); (c) differential adverse effects of N fertilizers on surface roots, mycorrhizal populations and P nutrition; (d) a requirement for slow release N; and (e) induced water stress. The objective of this study was to develop site-specific guidelines for western hemlock fertilization decision-making for industrial use. This study reports on the first and third growing-season response to two different fertilizer treatments, and identification of possible relationships between fertilizer response and site and stand conditions.

When making decisions on which areas to harvest in a sustained yield, even-flow manner in mountainous areas such those in coastal British Columbia, it is important to know how timber productivity changes with elevation. This information allows foresters to decide at what elevation to start increasing the rotation age and to decide at what elevation sustainable harvesting becomes infeasible due to low productivity. Since Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis Dougl. ex Forbes) has an elevation range that extends from sea level nearly to the tree line (0 m to approximately 1,650 m; from the Coastal Western Hemlock zone, through the Mountain Hemlock zone; to the lower limits of the Alpine Tundra zone), productivity-elevation relationships are especially important. To acquire quantitative measures of productivity decrease with increasing elevation a regression equation relating site index (the height of the dominant trees at a base age of breast height age of 50 years) to elevation in southern coastal BC was developed. In turn, we used this regression as an input into the height driven yield model named the Variable Density Yield Prediction model (VDYP). The use of the VDYP model allows the site index values to be translated into actual productivity measures (e.g., volume per hectare, mean annual increment at culmination age).

The influence of salal on tree growth has attained considerable attention in coastal British Columbia. Field observations, surveys, and studies in the CWH zone have indicated poor growth performance of crop tree species in salal-dominated plantations and natural immature and old-growth stands. Where sites have been burned and planted, tree growth has improved; similar effects have been observed for naturally regenerated stands. Immature stands that developed after wind disturbance or harvesting feature rapid growth and nearly complete absence of salal. As studies have shown that ericaceous plants negatively impact tree growth, the salal on potential harvest sites has been considered undesirable. This study examined (1) the possible influence of salal on the stand, soil nutrient status and site index, and (2) the relations between site index, salal, plant communities, and site in disturbed, immature, coastal Douglas-fir ecosystems. We compared vegetation and environmental characteristics of 101 ecosystems, and examined differences in foliar and soil nutrient characteristics and site index between stands with high and low salal cover through analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis.

A silviculturist needs to know how productivity of all tree species under management varies with the ecological determinants of site quality, i.e., the environmental factors that directly affect the growth of plants - light, heat, soil moisture, soil nutrients, and soil aeration. A good understanding of this variation is necessary for making biologically viable, speciesand site specific silvicultural decisions. Productivity of a given species is usually measured by site index (top tree height at 50 years at breast height age). Quantified relationships between site index of a given species and ecological measures of site quality provide predictive models for estimating site index for all sites on which the species may grow. Western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) is an important tree species in southern central and eastern British Columbia. It grows mainly in the IDF, ICH, and MS zones on moderately dry through very moist sites and on poor through very rich sites. In view of this relatively wide ecological amplitude, a large variation in productivity could be expected. In the study summarized here, relationships between larch site index and selected ecological measures of site quality were examined, and a site index model using these measures as predictors was developed.

Changes in forest ecosystem vegetation also bring about changes to the associated soil. In order to maintain forest productivity, it is important to know the effects of tree species upon the soil, especially the influence of deciduous versus coniferous tree species. Many deciduous species increase pH, nitrogen, base saturation and/or accumulation of organic matter in the forest floor. The chemical properties of the forest floor may, in turn, influence the chemical properties of the underlying mineral soil. If a tree species significantly alters the soil, then silviculturists may consider crop rotation between deciduous and coniferous trees or growing mixed-species stands to maintain greater nutrient availability and maintain site productivity. Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) and black spruce (Picea mariana) may occupy similar sites in the North American boreal forest. Shade-intolerant aspen is generally a seral species while shade-tolerant black spruce can be a seral species but also forms a major component in late successional stages. This study investigated differences in nitrogen-related soil properties between trembling aspen and black spruce stands on upland sites in the BWBS zone of northeastern BC. We asked two questions: (1) are the differences in soil nutrient properties manifested in both forest floor and mineral soil? (2) To what extent are these differences reflected in the floristic composition of understory vegetation?

Knowledge of ecological characteristics of sites and growth of trees on different sites is fundamental for silvicultural decision-making and planning. With the biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification in place in British Columbia, silvicultural management has been given an ecological foundation; however, relationships between growth and site quality have not yet been fully investigated, particularly for high-elevation tree species and sites. One of the contributing factors for this situation is limited knowledge of forest productivity in the high-elevation Mountain Hemlock (MH) and Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir (ESSF) biogeoclimatic zones. Consequently, the management and planning in the high-elevation forest is fraught with difficulties and uncertainties. Current harvest rates of old-growth forest stands and the method and distribution of cuttings in these zones suggest that there needs to be more recognition of the uppermost elevation limit for harvesting. Subalpine fir (Bl), Engelmann spruce (Se), and lodgepole pine (Pl) are important timber crop species in the interior high-elevation forest which is represented predominantly by the subalpine boreal ESSF zone. This zone extends from 49° to approximately 57° N latitude and from approximately 900 to 1,700 m in the north, from 1,200 to 2,100 m in central BC, and from 1,500 to 2,300 m in the south. In view of this relatively wide climatic and edaphic amplitude, a large variability in productivity is expected. The objective of this study was to quantify relationships between site index (height @ 50 yrs @ bh) of Bl, Se, and Pl, and three ecological determinants of site quality: climate, soil moisture, and soil nutrients. Quantitative relationships between site index and these measures provide predictive models for estimating site index. Additionally, we compared the site indices of the three study species to each other to examine their early height growth performance on the same sites.

Forest managers concerned with maintaining soil productivity must consider the impacts of forestry practices upon the features of a site. One critical feature is the amount and type of organic matter on a site, which may affect soil development. This study addresses the question of whether CWD accumulations increase the intensity of podzolization, thus reducing the long-term productivity of a site.

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