Does partial harvesting promote old-growth attributes of boreal mixedwood trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) stands?

摘要: Abstract In the current context of forest ecosystem management, partial harvesting has been proposed as a silvicultural tool to augment variability on managed landscapes and accelerate development structural compositional attributes old-growth/late successional stands. The aims this paper were (1) identify characterize, based literature, old-growth aspen-dominated stands in North American boreal mixedwood forest, (2) examine short-term potential stand toward these characteristics. Two types – pure aspen (93% basal area) mixed (81% monitored over 12-year post-treatment period. scientific literature suggests that compared pure, even-aged premature or mature stands, have lower merchantable stem densities area, more large stems, higher size variability, than one cohort trees, greater percentage area occupied by gaps, expanded gap larger snags downed wood. addition, mixedwoods characteristically shade-tolerant conifers understory overstory layers younger, Results study indicate light thinning from below (33% removal) applied successfully retained most but did not generally “accelerate succession” traits time interval since treatment. A dispersed free (45% removal all classes) showed its creating canopy gaps similar promoting recruitment both tolerant intolerant tree species. high intensity treatments, above 61% 400 m2 cuts (54% may set back disproportionally favoring growth hardwood