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St-Laurent MH, Boulanger Y, Cyr D, Manka F, Drapeau P, Gauthier S. Lowering the rate of timber harvesting to mitigate impacts of climate change on boreal caribou habitat quality in eastern Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156244. [PMID: 35636534 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Many boreal populations of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) have declined in Canada, a trend essentially driven by the increasing footprint of anthropogenic disturbances and the resulting habitat-mediated apparent competition that increases predation pressure. However, the influence of climate change on these ecological processes remains poorly understood. We evaluated how climate change will affect boreal caribou habitat over the 2030-2100 horizon and in a 9.94 Mha study area, using a climate-sensitive simulation ensemble that integrates climate-induced changes in stand dynamics, fire regime, and different levels of commercial timber harvesting. We assessed the relative importance of these three drivers under projections made using different radiative forcing scenarios (RCP 2.6, 4.5, 8.5). Habitat quality was estimated from resource selection functions built with telemetry data collected from 121 caribou between 2004 and 2011 in 7 local populations. At the beginning of our simulations, caribou habitat was already structured along a south-to-north increasing quality gradient. Simulations revealed changes in forest cover that are driven by climate-induced variations in fire regime and scenarios of harvesting levels, resulting in the loss of older coniferous forests and an increase in deciduous stands. These changes induced a generalized decrease in the average habitat quality and in the percentage of high-quality habitat for caribou, and in a northward recession of suitable habitat. Timber harvesting was the most important agent of change for the 2030-2050 horizon, although it was slowly replaced by changes in fire regime until 2100. Our results clearly showed that it is possible to maintain the current average habitat quality for caribou in future scenarios that consider a reduction in harvested volumes, the only lever under our control. This suggests that we still have the capacity to conciliate socioeconomic development and caribou conservation imperatives in the face of climate change, an important issue debated throughout the species distribution range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
- Département de biologie, chimie et géographie, Centre for Forest Research, Centre for Northern Studies, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 Allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec G5L 3A1, Canada.
| | - Yan Boulanger
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, 1055 rue du P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Stn. Sainte-Foy, Québec, Québec G1V 4C7, Canada
| | - Dominic Cyr
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, 351 Boulevard Saint-Joseph, Gatineau, Quebec J8Y 3Z5, Canada
| | - Francis Manka
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, 1055 rue du P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Stn. Sainte-Foy, Québec, Québec G1V 4C7, Canada
| | - Pierre Drapeau
- Département des sciences biologiques, Centre for Forest Research, UQAT-UQAM Research Chair in Sustainable Forest Management, Université du Québec à Montréal, 141 Avenue du Président-Kennedy, Montréal, Québec H2X 1Y4, Canada
| | - Sylvie Gauthier
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, 1055 rue du P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Stn. Sainte-Foy, Québec, Québec G1V 4C7, Canada
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Mina M, Messier C, Duveneck MJ, Fortin M, Aquilué N. Managing for the unexpected: Building resilient forest landscapes to cope with global change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:4323-4341. [PMID: 35429213 PMCID: PMC9541346 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Natural disturbances exacerbated by novel climate regimes are increasing worldwide, threatening the ability of forest ecosystems to mitigate global warming through carbon sequestration and to provide other key ecosystem services. One way to cope with unknown disturbance events is to promote the ecological resilience of the forest by increasing both functional trait and structural diversity and by fostering functional connectivity of the landscape to ensure a rapid and efficient self-reorganization of the system. We investigated how expected and unexpected variations in climate and biotic disturbances affect ecological resilience and carbon storage in a forested region in southeastern Canada. Using a process-based forest landscape model (LANDIS-II), we simulated ecosystem responses to climate change and insect outbreaks under different forest policy scenarios-including a novel approach based on functional diversification and network analysis-and tested how the potentially most damaging insect pests interact with changes in forest composition and structure due to changing climate and management. We found that climate warming, lengthening the vegetation season, will increase forest productivity and carbon storage, but unexpected impacts of drought and insect outbreaks will drastically reduce such variables. Generalist, non-native insects feeding on hardwood are the most damaging biotic agents for our region, and their monitoring and early detection should be a priority for forest authorities. Higher forest diversity driven by climate-smart management and fostered by climate change that promotes warm-adapted species, might increase disturbance severity. However, alternative forest policy scenarios led to a higher functional and structural diversity as well as functional connectivity-and thus to higher ecological resilience-than conventional management. Our results demonstrate that adopting a landscape-scale perspective by planning interventions strategically in space and adopting a functional trait approach to diversify forests is promising for enhancing ecological resilience under unexpected global change stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Mina
- Centre for Forest ResearchUniversité du Québec à MontréalMontréalQCCanada
- Institute for Alpine EnvironmentEurac ResearchBozen/BolzanoItaly
| | - Christian Messier
- Centre for Forest ResearchUniversité du Québec à MontréalMontréalQCCanada
- Institut des Sciences de la Forêt TempéréeUniversité du Québec en OutaouaisRiponQCCanada
| | - Matthew J. Duveneck
- Harvard ForestHarvard UniversityPetershamMassachusettsUSA
- Liberal Arts DepartmentNew England ConservatoryBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Marie‐Josée Fortin
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Núria Aquilué
- Centre for Forest ResearchUniversité du Québec à MontréalMontréalQCCanada
- Forest Sciences and Technology Centre of Catalonia CTFCSolsonaSpain
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Munro HL, Montes CR, Gandhi KJ, Poisson MA. A comparison of presence-only analytical techniques and their application in forest pest modeling. ECOL INFORM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.101525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Boulanger Y, Pascual J, Bouchard M, D'Orangeville L, Périé C, Girardin MP. Multi-model projections of tree species performance in Quebec, Canada under future climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:1884-1902. [PMID: 34854165 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Many modelling approaches have been developed to project climate change impacts on forests. By analysing 'comparable' yet distinct variables (e.g. productivity, growth, dominance, biomass, etc.) through different structures, parameterizations and assumptions, models can yield different outcomes to rather similar initial questions. This variability can lead to some confusion for forest managers when developing strategies to adapt forest management to climate change. In this study, we standardized results from seven different models (Habitat suitability, trGam, StandLEAP, Quebec Landscape Dynamics, PICUS, LANDIS-II and LPJ-LMfire) to provide a simple and comprehensive assessment of the uncertainty and consensus in future performance (decline, status quo, improvement) for six tree species in Quebec under two radiative forcing scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). Despite a large diversity of model types, we found a high level of agreement (73.1%) in projected species' performance across species, regions, scenarios and time periods. Low agreements in model outcomes resulted from small dissensions among models. Model agreement was much higher for cold-tolerant species (up to 99.9%), especially in southernmost forest regions and under RCP 8.5, indicating that these species are especially sensitive to increased climate forcing in the southern part of their distribution range. Lower agreement was found for thermophilous species (sugar maple, yellow birch) in boreal regions under RCP 8.5 mostly as a result of the way the different models are handling natural disturbances (e.g. wildfires) and lags in the response of populations (forest inertia or migration capability) to climate change. Agreement was slightly higher under high anthropogenic climate forcing, suggesting that important thresholds in species-specific performance might be crossed if radiative forcing reach values as high as those projected under RCP 8.5. We expect that strong agreement among models despite their different assumptions, predictors and structure should inspire the development of forest management strategies to be better adapted to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Boulanger
- Centre de foresterie des Laurentides, Service canadien des forêts, Ressources naturelles Canada, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Jesus Pascual
- Centre de foresterie des Laurentides, Service canadien des forêts, Ressources naturelles Canada, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Mathieu Bouchard
- Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Pavillon Abitibi-Price, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Loïc D'Orangeville
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Catherine Périé
- Direction de la Recherche Forestière, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Martin P Girardin
- Centre de foresterie des Laurentides, Service canadien des forêts, Ressources naturelles Canada, Québec, Québec, Canada
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Wang CJ, Wang R, Yu CM, Dang XP, Sun WG, Li QF, Wang XT, Wan JZ. Risk assessment of insect pest expansion in alpine ecosystems under climate change. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2021; 77:3165-3178. [PMID: 33656253 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growth in insect pest populations poses a significant threat to ecosystem functions and services, societal development, and food security in alpine regions under climate change. Risk assessments are important prioritization tools for pest management, which must be used to study insect pest expansion in alpine ecosystems under global warming. We used species distribution modeling to simulate the current and future distribution probabilities of 58 insect pest species in the Qinghai Province, China, based on a comprehensive field investigation. Subsequently, general linear modeling was used to explore the relationship between the distribution probability of these species and the damage caused by them. Finally, we assessed the ecological risk of insect pest expansion across different alpine ecosystems under climate change. RESULTS Climate change could increase the distribution probabilities of insect pest species across different alpine ecosystems. However, the presence of insect pest species may not correspond to the damage occurrence in alpine ecosystems based on percent leaf loss, amount of stunting, and seedling death of their host species. Significant positive relationships between distribution probability and damage occurrence were found for several of the examined insect pest species. Insect pest expansion is likely to increase extensively in alpine ecosystems under increasing carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emission scenarios. CONCLUSION The relationships between distribution probability and damage occurrence should be considered in species distribution modeling for risk assessment of insect pest expansion under climate change. Our study could improve the effectiveness of risk assessment of insect pest expansion under changing climate conditions. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China
- College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Forestry and Grassland Planning Institute of Qinghai Province, Forestry and Grassland Administration of Qinghai Province, Xining, China
| | - Chun-Mei Yu
- Forest Pest Control and Quarantine Station of Qinghai Province, Forestry and Grassland Administration of Qinghai Province, Xining, China
| | - Xiao-Peng Dang
- Forestry and Grassland Planning Institute of Qinghai Province, Forestry and Grassland Administration of Qinghai Province, Xining, China
| | - Wan-Gui Sun
- Forest Pest Control and Quarantine Station of Qinghai Province, Forestry and Grassland Administration of Qinghai Province, Xining, China
| | - Qiang-Feng Li
- College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Xiao-Ting Wang
- Forest Pest Control and Quarantine Station of Qinghai Province, Forestry and Grassland Administration of Qinghai Province, Xining, China
| | - Ji-Zhong Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China
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Modelling for risk and biosecurity related to forest health. Emerg Top Life Sci 2020; 4:485-495. [DOI: 10.1042/etls20200062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Modelling the invasion and emergence of forest pests and pathogens (PnPs) is necessary to quantify the risk levels for forest health and provide key information for policy makers. Here, we make a short review of the models used to quantify the invasion risk of exotic species and the emergence risk of native species. Regarding the invasion process, models tackle each invasion phase, e.g. pathway models to describe the risk of entry, species distribution models to describe potential establishment, and dispersal models to describe (human-assisted) spread. Concerning the emergence process, models tackle each process: spread or outbreak. Only a few spread models describe jointly dispersal, growth, and establishment capabilities of native species while some mechanistic models describe the population temporal dynamics and inference models describe the probability of outbreak. We also discuss the ways to quantify uncertainty and the role of machine learning. Overall, promising directions are to increase the models’ genericity by parameterization based on meta-analysis techniques to combine the effect of species traits and various environmental drivers. Further perspectives consist in considering the models’ interconnection, including the assessment of the economic impact and risk mitigation options, as well as the possibility of having multi-risks and the reduction in uncertainty by collecting larger fit-for-purpose datasets.
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Cadieux P, Boulanger Y, Cyr D, Taylor AR, Price DT, Sólymos P, Stralberg D, Chen HY, Brecka A, Tremblay JA. Projected effects of climate change on boreal bird community accentuated by anthropogenic disturbances in western boreal forest, Canada. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Cadieux
- Sciences et Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Québec QC Canada
| | - Yan Boulanger
- Laurentian Forestry Centre Canadian Forest Service Natural Resources Canada Québec QC Canada
| | - Dominic Cyr
- Sciences et Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Gatineau QC Canada
| | - Anthony R. Taylor
- Atlantic Forestry Centre Canadian Forest Service Natural Resources Canada Fredericton NB Canada
| | - David T. Price
- Northern Forestry Centre Canadian Forest Service Natural Resources Canada Edmonton AB Canada
| | - Péter Sólymos
- Department of Biological Sciences Biological Sciences Building Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
- Boreal Avian Modelling Project Edmonton AB Canada
| | - Diana Stralberg
- Boreal Avian Modelling Project Edmonton AB Canada
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
| | - Han Y.H. Chen
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management Lakehead University Thunder Bay ON Canada
- Key Laboratory for Humid Sub‐tropical Eco‐geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education Institute of Geographical Sciences Fujian Normal University Fuzhou China
| | - Aaron Brecka
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management Lakehead University Thunder Bay ON Canada
| | - Junior A. Tremblay
- Sciences et Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Québec QC Canada
- Boreal Avian Modelling Project Edmonton AB Canada
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8
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Vulnerability of Conifer Regeneration to Spruce Budworm Outbreaks in the Eastern Canadian Boreal Forest. FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10100850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) is the main defoliator of conifer trees in North American boreal forests, affecting extensive areas and causing marked losses of timber supplies. In 2017, spruce budworm affected more than 7 million ha of Eastern Canadian forest. Defoliation was particularly severe for black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), one of the most important commercial trees in Canada. During the last decades, intensive forest exploitation practices have created vast stands of young balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) and black spruce. Most research focused on the impacts of spruce budworm has been on mature stands; its effects on regeneration, however, have been neglected. This study evaluates the impacts of spruce budworm on the defoliation of conifer seedlings (black spruce and balsam fir) in clearcuts. We measured the cumulative and annual defoliation of seedlings within six clearcut black spruce stands in Quebec (Canada) that had experienced severe levels of defoliation due to spruce budworm. For all sampled seedlings, we recorded tree species, height class, and distance to the residual forest. Seedling height and species strongly influenced defoliation level. Small seedlings were less affected by spruce budworm activity. As well, cumulative defoliation for balsam fir was double that of black spruce (21% and 9%, respectively). Distance to residual stands had no significant effect on seedling defoliation. As insect outbreaks in boreal forests are expected to become more severe and frequent in the near future, our results are important for adapting forest management strategies to insect outbreaks in a context of climate change.
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Cadieux P, Boulanger Y, Cyr D, Taylor AR, Price DT, Tremblay JA. Spatially explicit climate change projections for the recovery planning of threatened species: The Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus Bicknelli) as a case study. Glob Ecol Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
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Legault S, James PMA. Parasitism Rates of Spruce Budworm Larvae: Testing the Enemy Hypothesis Along a Gradient of Forest Diversity Measured at Different Spatial Scales. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 47:1083-1095. [PMID: 30084979 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvy113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Vegetational diversity is generally thought to be associated with ecosystem stability and resilience to perturbations such as insect outbreaks. The enemies' hypothesis states that vegetational diversity contributes to greater top-down control of insect pests, by providing further resources to natural enemies than homogeneous environments. However, direct evaluation of this hypothesis is difficult because different species of natural enemies can respond to vegetational diversity in dissimilar manners and at different spatial scales depending on functional traits such as prey/host specificity and dispersal. In this study, we specifically test the enemies' hypothesis at the landscape level in a continuous forest environment. We investigated how parasitism of spruce budworm larvae by the common parasitoids Apanteles fumiferanae and Glypta fumiferanae vary with forest diversity and host larval density at different spatial scales in the province of Quebec (Canada). We found that parasitism rates of the two parasitoid species we examined respond in opposite ways to forest diversity. Parasitism by A. fumiferanae was positively related to forest diversity, whereas parasitism by G. fumiferanae was negatively related to forest diversity. In agreement with the enemies' hypothesis, we also found that spruce budworm larval density decreased with forest diversity. We discuss these results with respect to the enemies' hypothesis and the presumed host range of the parasitoids species we examined, as well as their body size. Because A. fumiferanae kills its host earlier than G. fumiferanae, we conclude that northern forest landscapes could be more affected by spruce budworm defoliation than southern forests during the present and future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Legault
- Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Vincent-d'Indy AVE, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Patrick M A James
- Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Vincent-d'Indy AVE, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Boucher D, Boulanger Y, Aubin I, Bernier PY, Beaudoin A, Guindon L, Gauthier S. Current and projected cumulative impacts of fire, drought, and insects on timber volumes across Canada. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 28:1245-1259. [PMID: 29645330 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Canada's forests are shaped by disturbances such as fire, insect outbreaks, and droughts that often overlap in time and space. The resulting cumulative disturbance risks and potential impacts on forests are generally not well accounted for by models used to predict future impacts of disturbances on forest. This study aims at projecting future cumulative effects of four main natural disturbances, fire, mountain pine beetle, spruce budworm and drought, on timber volumes across Canada's forests using an approach that accounts for potential overlap among disturbances. Available predictive models for the four natural disturbances were used to project timber volumes at risk under aggressive climate forcing up to 2100. Projections applied to the current vegetation suggest increases of volumes at risk related to fire, mountain pine beetle, and drought over time in many regions of Canada, but a decrease of the volume at risk related to spruce budworm. When disturbance effects are accumulated, important changes in volumes at risk are projected to occur as early as 2011-2041, particularly in central and eastern Canada. In our last simulation period covering 2071-2100, nearly all timber volumes in most of Canada's forest regions could be at risk of being affected by at least one of the four natural disturbances considered in our analysis, a six-fold increase relative to the baseline period (1981-2010). Tree species particularly vulnerable to specific disturbances (e.g., trembling aspen to drought) could suffer disproportionate increases in their volume at risk with potential impacts on forest composition. By 2100, estimated wood volumes not considered to be at risk could be lower than current annual timber harvests in central and eastern Canada. Current level of harvesting could thus be difficult to maintain without the implementation of adaptation measures to cope with these disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Boucher
- Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 1055 du P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Station Sainte-Foy, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 4C7, Canada
| | - Yan Boulanger
- Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 1055 du P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Station Sainte-Foy, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 4C7, Canada
| | - Isabelle Aubin
- Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 1219 Queen Street East, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, P6A 2E5, Canada
| | - Pierre Y Bernier
- Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 1055 du P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Station Sainte-Foy, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 4C7, Canada
| | - André Beaudoin
- Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 1055 du P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Station Sainte-Foy, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 4C7, Canada
| | - Luc Guindon
- Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 1055 du P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Station Sainte-Foy, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 4C7, Canada
| | - Sylvie Gauthier
- Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 1055 du P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Station Sainte-Foy, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 4C7, Canada
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Stralberg D, Wang X, Parisien MA, Robinne FN, Sólymos P, Mahon CL, Nielsen SE, Bayne EM. Wildfire-mediated vegetation change in boreal forests of Alberta, Canada. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Stralberg
- Department of Renewable Resources; University of Alberta; 751 General Services Building Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H1 Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Alberta; CW 405, Biological Sciences Building Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Xianli Wang
- Department of Renewable Resources; University of Alberta; 751 General Services Building Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H1 Canada
- Great Lakes Forestry Centre; Canadian Forest Service; Natural Resources Canada; 1219 Queen St E Sault Ste Marie Ontario P6A 2E6 Canada
| | - Marc-André Parisien
- Northern Forestry Centre; Canadian Forest Service; Natural Resources Canada; 5320 122 Street Edmonton Alberta T6H 3S5 Canada
| | - François-Nicolas Robinne
- Department of Renewable Resources; University of Alberta; 751 General Services Building Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - Péter Sólymos
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Alberta; CW 405, Biological Sciences Building Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - C. Lisa Mahon
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Northern Region; Environment and Climate Change Canada; 91780 Alaska Highway Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 5X7 Canada
| | - Scott E. Nielsen
- Department of Renewable Resources; University of Alberta; 751 General Services Building Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - Erin M. Bayne
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Alberta; CW 405, Biological Sciences Building Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E9 Canada
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Navarro L, Morin H, Bergeron Y, Girona MM. Changes in Spatiotemporal Patterns of 20th Century Spruce Budworm Outbreaks in Eastern Canadian Boreal Forests. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:1905. [PMID: 30622551 PMCID: PMC6308396 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
In scenarios of future climate change, there is a projectedincrease in the occurrence and severity of natural disturbances inboreal forests. Spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana)(SBW) is the main defoliator of conifer trees in the North American boreal forests affecting large areas and causing marked losses of timber supplies. However, the impact and the spatiotemporal patterns of SBW dynamics at the landscape scale over the last century remain poorly known. This is particularly true for northern regions dominated by spruce species. The main goal of this study is to reconstruct SBW outbreaks during the 20th century at the landscape scale and to evaluate changes in the associated spatiotemporal patterns in terms of distribution area, frequency, and severity. We rely on a dendroecological approach from sites within the eastern Canadian boreal forest and draw from a large dataset of almost 4,000 trees across a study area of nearly 800,000 km2. Interpolation and analyses of hotspots determined reductions in tree growth related to insect outbreak periods and identified the spatiotemporal patterns of SBW activity over the last century. The use of an Ordinary Least Squares model including regional temperature and precipitation anomalies allows us to assess the impact of climate variables on growth reductions and to compensate for the lack of non-host trees in northern regions. We identified three insect outbreaks having different spatiotemporal patterns, duration, and severity. The first (1905-1930) affected up to 40% of the studied trees, initially synchronizing from local infestations and then migrating to northern stands. The second outbreak (1935-1965) was the longest and the least severe with only up to 30% of trees affected by SBW activity. The third event (1968-1988) was the shortest, yet it was also the most severe and extensive, affecting nearly up to 50% of trees and 70% of the study area. This most recent event was identified for the first time at the limit of the commercial forest illustrating a northward shift of the SBW distribution area during the 20th century. Overall, this research confirms that insect outbreaks are a complex and dynamic ecological phenomena, which makes the understanding of natural disturbance cycles at multiple scales a major priority especially in the context of future regional climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Navarro
- Département des Sciences Fondamentales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Saguenay, QC, Canada
| | - Hubert Morin
- Département des Sciences Fondamentales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Saguenay, QC, Canada
| | - Yves Bergeron
- Chaire Industrielle CRSNG-UQAT-UQAM En Aménagement Forestier Durable, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada
| | - Miguel Montoro Girona
- Département des Sciences Fondamentales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Saguenay, QC, Canada
- Ecology Restoration Group, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Umeå, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Miguel Montoro Girona, ;
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Gherlenda AN, Moore BD, Haigh AM, Johnson SN, Riegler M. Insect herbivory in a mature Eucalyptus woodland canopy depends on leaf phenology but not CO 2 enrichment. BMC Ecol 2016; 16:47. [PMID: 27760541 PMCID: PMC5072302 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-016-0102-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Climate change factors such as elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (e[CO2]) and altered rainfall patterns can alter leaf composition and phenology. This may subsequently impact insect herbivory. In sclerophyllous forests insects have developed strategies, such as preferentially feeding on new leaf growth, to overcome physical or foliar nitrogen constraints, and this may shift under climate change. Few studies of insect herbivory at elevated [CO2] have occurred under field conditions and none on mature evergreen trees in a naturally established forest, yet estimates for leaf area loss due to herbivory are required in order to allow accurate predictions of plant productivity in future climates. Here, we assessed herbivory in the upper canopy of mature Eucalyptus tereticornis trees at the nutrient-limited Eucalyptus free-air CO2 enrichment (EucFACE) experiment during the first 19 months of CO2 enrichment. The assessment of herbivory extended over two consecutive spring—summer periods, with a first survey during four months of the [CO2] ramp-up phase after which full [CO2] operation was maintained, followed by a second survey period from months 13 to 19. Results Throughout the first 2 years of EucFACE, young, expanding leaves sustained significantly greater damage from insect herbivory (between 25 and 32 % leaf area loss) compared to old or fully expanded leaves (less than 2 % leaf area loss). This preference of insect herbivores for young expanding leaves combined with discontinuous production of new foliage, which occurred in response to rainfall, resulted in monthly variations in leaf herbivory. In contrast to the significant effects of rainfall-driven leaf phenology, elevated [CO2] had no effect on leaf consumption or preference of insect herbivores for different leaf age classes. Conclusions In the studied nutrient-limited natural Eucalyptus woodland, herbivory contributes to a significant loss of young foliage. Leaf phenology is a significant factor that determines the level of herbivory experienced in this evergreen sclerophyllous woodland system, and may therefore also influence the population dynamics of insect herbivores. Furthermore, leaf phenology appears more strongly impacted by rainfall patterns than by e[CO2]. e[CO2] responses of herbivores on mature trees may only become apparent after extensive CO2 fumigation periods. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12898-016-0102-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew N Gherlenda
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
| | - Ben D Moore
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Anthony M Haigh
- School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Scott N Johnson
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Markus Riegler
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
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