Science > Forest Biophysical Ecology

Forest Biophysical Ecology

Study Leader: Arthur Groot
agroot@NRCan.gc.ca

Introduction

The establishment, growth and development of trees all interact strongly with the physical environment. Better understanding of these interactions is necessary to improve our capability to predict how the productivity and development of forest ecosystems will respond to natural disturbance, climate change and forest management. This study comprises two investigations in forest biophysical ecology.

The first investigation deals with process-based modelling of stand growth, dynamics and productivity. There is growing recognition that process-based models can provide a more robust and flexible alternative to traditional empirical models. Such models can be applied to predict and examine a)the effects of different silvicultural practices and natural disturbances on forest productivity and carbon sequestration, and b) and the impacts of climate change on forest dynamics. Since silvicultural treatments and natural disturbances can create a highly variable light regime, which strongly influences tree establishment, growth and mortality, this investigation has developed a physically based light interception model. This model is being used to drive individual tree growth models, and eventually mortality and regeneration models. This investigation will also bring together data from a number of investigators at the Turkey Lakes Watershed needed to run and test forest productivity models being used in ECOLEAP.

The second investigation, which is nearing completion, examines biophysical factors affecting white spruce establishment. Establishment of this species is often problematic after forest harvesting on boreal mixedwood sites, at least in part because of unfavourable biophysical conditions: late frosts, low soil temperatures, high vapour pressure deficits, low light levels and low soil moisture.

Shelter provided by residual trees and control of competition can be combined to ameliorate many of these conditions. Successful strategies must be based on an understanding of interactions among shelter, vegetation, the physical environment and white spruce response.

Objectives

The objectives of this study are:

1) To adapt and test process-based productivity and development models for black spruce and sugar maple.

2) To investigate the relative roles of shelter and competition in the establishment of white spruce and its competitors.

Selected Publications

Groot, A.; Carlson, D.W.; Fleming, R.L.; Wood, J.E. 1997. Small openings in trembling aspen forest: microclimate and regeneration of white spruce and trembling aspen. For. Can., Ont. Region, Sault Ste. Marie, ON. NODA/NFP Tech. Rep. TR-47.

Carlson, D.W.; Groot, A. 1997. Microclimate of clear-cut, forest interior, and small openings in trembling aspen forest. Agric. For. Meteorol. 87: 313-329.

Groot, A. 1999. Effects of shelter and competition on the early growth of planted white spruce. Can. J. For. Res. 29: 1002-1014.