Summary
Published in Forestry 91(1): 62-72. https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/cpy031
We used 11 silvicultural trials in forests dominated by sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) to compare the development of structural attributes between unmanaged stands and stands subjected to two selection cuttings. Results showed that managed stands had significantly lower amounts of large live and dead trees, lower downed coarse woody debris (CWD) volume and lower density of large trees with wildlife cavities compared to unmanaged stands. Despite these differences, both managed and unmanaged stands had sufficient amounts of large trees and large trees with wildlife cavities to maintain excavator bird habitat based on minimum target guidelines from the literature. In both managed and unmanaged stands, minimum target guidelines to emulate old-growth conditions were not met: at least 30 live trees ha−1 >49.0 cm in diameter at breast height, and at least 11 m3 ha−1 of downed CWD volume with large-end diameter >44.0 cm. We discuss management options to promote the development of structural attributes in managed, uneven-aged sugar maple stands.
Sector(s):
Forests
Categorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forestry Research, Forests, Silviculture
Departmental author(s):
Author(s)
GAUTHIER, Martin-Michel, Steve BÉDARD and François GUILLEMETTE
Year of publication :
2018
Format :
PDF available upon request
How to get the publication :
ISSN
0015-752X
Keywords :
attributs structuraux, érablière, débris ligneux, arbres à cavités, vieux peuplement, article scientifique de recherche forestière, sylviculture et rendement des forêts naturelles - peuplements feuillus, silviculture and yield of natural forests - hardwood stands, structural attributes, sugar maple stands, coarse woody debris, wildlife cavities, old-growth
