vegetation ecology of floodplain forests

Learning from protected ecosystems:
vegetation ecology of floodplain forests
BC PARF Dec 6, 2011
Ian Giesbrecht12, Ken Lertzman2, Andy MacKinnon3, Sari Saunders3
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West Ecological (Giesbrecht.Ian@gmail.com), 2 Simon Fraser University, 3 BC MFLNR
Outline
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The need for floodplain forest research
Old Growth Dynamics monitoring project
Research methods and results
Implications for management and monitoring
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Floodplain forests in the coastal
temperate rainforest
From Naiman et al. 2010
Ecosystem Restoration
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Ecotrust
R. Jackrel
Research gaps for riparian
vegetation ecology
1
2
4
Ecotrust
1
Pabst and Spies 1999
2 Van
Pelt et al. 2006
Research objectives
1. Describe gap frequency and understory light
regime
2. Examine role of canopy structure in shaping fine
scale understory vegetation structure,
composition, and diversity.
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Old-Growth Dynamics Project
Ecotrust
1992-93: P. Alaback and F. Nuszdorfer
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Installed 10 X 0.25ha stem-mapped macroplots
- 4 in floodplains
2007-09: S. Saunders, A. MacKinnon et al.
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Re-measured/expanded 4 X 1ha, 1 x 0.25ha
- 3 of 4 floodplains
- Carmanah (‘07), Kitlope (‘08), Clayoquot (‘09)
- Tahsish-Kwois soon…?
See poster and website:
www.for.gov.bc.ca/rco/research/eco/oldgrowthforests/
oldgrowthdynamics/index.htm
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Carmanah and Kitlope
Ecotrust
High bench floodplain
Sitka spruce – salmonberry plant association
Kitlope
Carmanah
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Sampling
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Each with:
25 subplots
50 photos
GLA v2
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2m x 2m
Expanded Gap
Closed Canopy
Canopy
Gap
Edaphic Origin
Developmental Origin
Figure adapted from Lertzman (2007) with permission.
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Lertzman and Krebs (1991); Lertzman et al. (1996)
Results
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High frequency of gaps
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Bright understories
27%
CG
20%
EG
9%
EG
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Spatially variable understory light
Kitlope
Carmanah
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Understory structure varies with light
Kitlope
Implications for conifer recruitment
- persistent shrub maintained openings
Carmanah
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Understory structure varies with light
Low light
Implications for conifer recruitment
- persistent shrub maintained openings
High light
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Composition varies with light
- composition varies within each stand
- light is correlated with species composition (r^2=0.52 Kit)
Kitlope
STRE LAN
GRASS
OSMO BER
MAIA DIL
OPLO HOR
Axis 2 (17%)
POLY BRA
TIAR TRI
OSMO PUR
ATHY FIL
RIBE BRA
SAMB RAC
% Full Sun
DRYO EXP
TRAU CAR
STRE AMP RUBU SPE
CIRC ALP
GALI TRF
STEL CRI
LYSI AME
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Axis 1 (41%)
Composition varies with light, substrate
- light is correlated with species composition (r^2=0.33 Car)
- at Carmanah, substrate also correlated with composition (r^2=0.45)
Carmanah
DRYO EXP
Clay
VACC PAR
BLEC SPI
Axis 2 (27%)
ATHY FIL
MAIA DIL
RUBU SPE
TIAR TRI
TRAU CAR
MITE OVA
RIBE BRA
% Full Sun
BOYK ELA
GALI TRF
POLY MUN
H horizon
DISP SMI
CLAY SIB
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Axis 1 (34%)
Conceptual Model
Canopy
Gap
Abundant gaps and light (vs. upland) Light is spatially heterogeneous
Vigorous understory vegetation
Persistent patterns of openness
Fine scale mosaic of understory
composition and structure
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Implications for
Management and
Monitoring
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Can we restore similar (OG) characteristics?
Overstocked conifer stand (RVT2)
Some common types of
second growth riparian1
Young alder stand
with few conifers (RVT4)
Jeremy Koreski
Jessica Hutchinson
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Jeremy Koreski
1
Poulin and Simmons 1998
Can we restore similar characteristics?
Overstocked conifer example
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Can we restore similar characteristics?
Test experimentally – monitor effectiveness of operational trials
Research to describe RoNV of these attributes among many sites
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Implications for Monitoring
1. Implications for sampling design
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Tradeoffs of a few large plots vs. many small plots
2. Suggests key attributes and indicators
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Gaps, light, understory vegetation
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Amount and variability
3. Value of linking research with monitoring
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Snapshot of temporal data  spatial research
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Spatial research  predictions for monitoring
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Acknowledgements
Collaborators:
Ken Lertzman, Andy MacKinnon, Sari Saunders
Financial Support:
NSERC – CGS award to Ian Giesbrecht
BC Ministry of Forests, Forest Investment Account – Forest Science Program award to Ian Giesbrecht
BC Forest Service – in-kind contributions
Simon Fraser University – canopy photography equipment and in-kind contributions
West Ecological – in-kind contributions
Advisors and Technicians:
Alton Harestad
Gordon Frazer
Marie-Josee Fortin
Jason Smith
Paul Alaback
Bill Beese
Audrey Pearson
Jessica Hutchinson
Warren Warttig
West Coast Forestry Society
MoFR summer field crews:
Kaeli Stark
Heather (West) Klassen
Sonya Powell
Jane Pendray
Rachel Field
Leah Ballin
Rachel White
Liz Poulson
Molly Hudson
Haisla Resource Centre including:
Emily Pratt
Amanda Woods
Chris Wilson
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Questions?
References
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www.for.gov.bc.ca/rco/research/eco/oldgrowthforests/oldgrowthdynamics/index.htm