Natural regeneration in the boreal forest: seedling establishment and success in western North American and European boreal forests

• Author / Creator

  Bakker, Nicola A. K.

• As the costs and ecological implications of intensive forest management rise, alternative management strategies that minimize intervention become more desirable options, particularly natural regeneration. Two locations were studied: the boreal mixedwoods of western North America (Alberta) and the European middle boreal (Eastern Finland). In Alberta, the impact of different substrates and surrounding vegetation on Picea glauca seedlings were evaluated in the four years following harvesting. Substrate had a significant impact on seedling success; thin organics and scarified substrates were best at supporting establishment, while thick organic substrates were poor. In Eastern Finland, regeneration was studied 11 years partial retention harvesting and prescribed burning were applied. Pioneer species benefitted from prescribed burning; variable retention at the levels studied did not affect the growth of these species. In both cases, natural regeneration is a viable management alternative, but standards must be inclusive of mixed species and increased time for establishment.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Ecology
  • North America
  • Microsite
  • Regeneration
  • Europe
  • White spruce
  • Vegetation
  • Prescribed burning
  • Substrate
  • Partial retention
  • Forests
  • Natural
  • Boreal

• Graduation date

  Fall 2014

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3GH9BJ1K

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.