A Disturbance Ecology Perspective on Silvicultural Site Preparation

Forests

CheM. Elkin¹  PhilipJ. Burton²  Jéssica Chaves Cardoso³ 

[1] Ecosystem Science & Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada;Ecosystem Science & Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, Terrace, BC V5G 1K7, Canada;Natural Resources and Environmental Studies-Forestry, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada;

关键词: boreal mixedwood ecosystems;    disturbance footprint;    disturbance severity;    ecological disturbance;    mechanical site preparation;   

DOI  :  10.3390/f11121278

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Silvicultural site preparation methods are used as planned disturbances for counteracting soil and vegetation constraints, as well as facilitating successful tree regeneration and growth. Understanding the possible effects of silvicultural site preparation on the ecosystem and evaluating site preparation as an ecological disturbance can help guide the selection and application of site preparation techniques for forest management goals. This review evaluates silvicultural site preparation techniques that are commonly used in boreal mixedwood ecosystems as agents of ecological disturbance by comparing the effects of each technique on the area disturbed and the degree of biomass modification, and then ordering them along a disturbance severity gradient. With a strong emphasis on the numerical estimation of the spatial footprint of different disturbances, broadcast burning typically has the highest disturbance severity, followed in order by broadcast herbicide use, mixing, plowing, disc trenching, mounding, scalping, and inverting. The evaluation of disturbance severity of various silvicultural site preparation techniques while using the proposed framework is feasible, in which quantitative assessments of area disturbed and biomass modification could be collected and assessed in most managed forests.

【 授权许可】

Unknown