Yield Responses of Black Spruce to Forest Vegetation Management Treatments: Initial Responses and Rotational Projections

The objectives of this study were to (1) quantitatively summarize the early yield responses of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) to forest vegetation management (FVM) treatments through a meta-analytical review of the scientific literature, and (2) given (1), estimate the rotational conseq...

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Main Author: Peter F. Newton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Forestry Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/150157
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author Peter F. Newton
author_facet Peter F. Newton
author_sort Peter F. Newton
collection DOAJ
description The objectives of this study were to (1) quantitatively summarize the early yield responses of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) to forest vegetation management (FVM) treatments through a meta-analytical review of the scientific literature, and (2) given (1), estimate the rotational consequences of these responses through model simulation. Based on a fixed-effects meta-analytic approach using 44 treated-control yield pairs derived from 12 experiments situated throughout the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence and Canadian Boreal Forest Regions, the resultant mean effect size (response ratio) and associated 95% confidence interval for basal diameter, total height, stem volume, and survival responses, were respectively: 54.7% (95% confidence limits (lower/upper): 34.8/77.6), 27.3% (15.7/40.0), 198.7% (70.3/423.5), and 2.9% (−5.5/11.8). The results also indicated that early and repeated treatments will yield the largest gains in terms of mean tree size and survival. Rotational simulations indicated that FVM treatments resulted in gains in stand-level operability (e.g., reductions of 9 and 5 yr for plantations established on poor-medium and good-excellent site qualities, resp.). The challenge of maintaining coniferous forest cover on recently disturbed sites, attaining statutory-defined free-to-grow status, and ensuring long-term productivity, suggest that FVM will continue to be an essential silvicultural treatment option when managing black spruce plantations.
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spelling doaj-art-0079e37864894eb1972407d3d405fc5c2025-02-03T01:21:46ZengWileyInternational Journal of Forestry Research1687-93681687-93762012-01-01201210.1155/2012/150157150157Yield Responses of Black Spruce to Forest Vegetation Management Treatments: Initial Responses and Rotational ProjectionsPeter F. Newton0Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 2E5, CanadaThe objectives of this study were to (1) quantitatively summarize the early yield responses of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) to forest vegetation management (FVM) treatments through a meta-analytical review of the scientific literature, and (2) given (1), estimate the rotational consequences of these responses through model simulation. Based on a fixed-effects meta-analytic approach using 44 treated-control yield pairs derived from 12 experiments situated throughout the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence and Canadian Boreal Forest Regions, the resultant mean effect size (response ratio) and associated 95% confidence interval for basal diameter, total height, stem volume, and survival responses, were respectively: 54.7% (95% confidence limits (lower/upper): 34.8/77.6), 27.3% (15.7/40.0), 198.7% (70.3/423.5), and 2.9% (−5.5/11.8). The results also indicated that early and repeated treatments will yield the largest gains in terms of mean tree size and survival. Rotational simulations indicated that FVM treatments resulted in gains in stand-level operability (e.g., reductions of 9 and 5 yr for plantations established on poor-medium and good-excellent site qualities, resp.). The challenge of maintaining coniferous forest cover on recently disturbed sites, attaining statutory-defined free-to-grow status, and ensuring long-term productivity, suggest that FVM will continue to be an essential silvicultural treatment option when managing black spruce plantations.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/150157
spellingShingle Peter F. Newton
Yield Responses of Black Spruce to Forest Vegetation Management Treatments: Initial Responses and Rotational Projections
International Journal of Forestry Research
title Yield Responses of Black Spruce to Forest Vegetation Management Treatments: Initial Responses and Rotational Projections
title_full Yield Responses of Black Spruce to Forest Vegetation Management Treatments: Initial Responses and Rotational Projections
title_fullStr Yield Responses of Black Spruce to Forest Vegetation Management Treatments: Initial Responses and Rotational Projections
title_full_unstemmed Yield Responses of Black Spruce to Forest Vegetation Management Treatments: Initial Responses and Rotational Projections
title_short Yield Responses of Black Spruce to Forest Vegetation Management Treatments: Initial Responses and Rotational Projections
title_sort yield responses of black spruce to forest vegetation management treatments initial responses and rotational projections
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/150157
work_keys_str_mv AT peterfnewton yieldresponsesofblacksprucetoforestvegetationmanagementtreatmentsinitialresponsesandrotationalprojections