Summary
Published in International journal of biodiversity science, ecosystem services & management 12(1-2): 116-127 https://doi.org/10.1080/21513732.2016.1146334
We present a case study in which we assessed the effects of a severe soil perturbation on the plant community and soil variables in young hybrid poplar (Populus sp.) plantations of southern Québec (Canada). Our overall goal was to test if soil perturbation and planting fast-growing species could promote the reestablishment of a relatively diverse plant community. A chronosequence that included three plantations (4, 8, and 12-year old) established after soil scarification, paired with three natural stands representative of the local temperate mixedwood forest comprising both pioneer and late-successional tree species, was implemented. Vegetation surveys and soil collection were performed in 2012 and species traits were provided by the Traits Of Plants In Canada and TRY databases. Principal response curve analyses showed species and functional trait divergence between treated and natural stands at ages 4 and 8, but that those divergences were less at age 12. Species and trait convergences were slower in the scarification furrows than in the scarification berms (mounds between furrows). However, severe site preparation did not appear to affect soil variables on the study sites. Our results suggest that even following severe site preparation, gradual recovery of species and trait composition similar to that of natural stands appears possible in the long term, mainly through fast canopy development by hybrid poplar. However
Sector(s):
Forests
Categorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forestry Research, Forests, Silviculture
Departmental author(s):
Author(s)
HÉBERT, François, Marianne BACHAND, Nelson THIFFAULT, David PARÉ and Pierre GAGNÉ
Year of publication :
2016
Format :
PDF available upon request
How to get the publication :
Keywords :
scarifiage par pelle en V, écologie fonctionnelle, traits fonctionnels, biodiversité des plantes, résilience des écosystèmes, sylviculture et rendement des plantations, article scientifique de recherche forestière, silviculture and yield of plantations, V-blade scarification, functional ecology, functional traits, plant biodiversity, ecosystem resilience
