Northern white-cedar regeneration dynamics in the context of high ungulate densities

高有蹄类动物密度背景下的北方白雪松再生动态

• 批准号: 514192-2017
• 负责人: Ruel, JeanClaude
• 金额: $ 4.66万
• 依托单位: Université Laval
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=691191
• 关键词: Northern; white; cedar; regeneration; dynamics

Northern white-cedar is a valuable species, both for the wood industry and as deer habitat. Cedar can provide shelter and a food source but high deer densities can compromise cedar establishment. In this context, there is a strong tendency to ban forest harvesting from deer yards. However, this strategy, in addition to having an impact on wood procurement, does not guarantee a sustainable management of deer habitat, since there may be no regeneration to replace trees that will eventually die. The current study aims at getting a better understanding of deer impacts on cedar regeneration in order to identify conditions that could favor cedar regeneration in high deer density areas. A first part of the study will look at stand structure and regeneration in existing deer yards. Dendrochronological analysis will make it possible to identify time periods that provided establishment opportunities. A second part of the study will look at stands treated within the last 15 years. Dendrochronological analysis will be conducted as for the previous part of the project. In the last part of the study, seedling survival and growth will be monitored in areas of high deer pressure. A simulated browsing study will enable to look at the effect of browsing timing and intensity in interaction with light level. At the northern limits of its range, deer is especially dependent on a suitable winter habitat. At the same time, the forest industry is increasingly dependent on a shrinking cedar resource, a significant portion of it being protected as deer wintering habitats. In this context, an active management of deer yards could promote an integrated valorization of both resources.

北方白雪松是一种有价值的树种，无论是用于木材工业还是作为鹿的栖息地。雪松可以提供庇护所和食物来源，但鹿的高密度可能会损害雪松的生长。在这种背景下，禁止从鹿场采伐森林的趋势十分强烈。然而，这一策略除了对木材采购产生影响外，并不能保证鹿栖息地的可持续管理，因为可能没有再生来替代最终会死亡的树木。目前的研究旨在更好地了解鹿对雪松再生的影响，以确定有利于鹿密度高地区雪松再生的条件。 该研究的第一部分将着眼于现有鹿场的林分结构和再生。树木年代学分析将能够确定提供建立机会的时期。该研究的第二部分将着眼于过去 15 年内处理过的林分。树木年代学分析将按照项目的前一部分进行。在研究的最后部分，将在鹿压力高的地区监测幼苗的存活和生长。模拟浏览研究将能够观察浏览时间和强度与光水平相互作用的影响。在其分布范围的北部边界，鹿尤其依赖合适的冬季栖息地。与此同时，林业日益依赖日益萎缩的雪松资源，其中很大一部分被作为鹿越冬栖息地而受到保护。在这种情况下，鹿场的积极管理可以促进两种资源的综合增值。