Long-term responses of mammalian herbivores to stand thinning and fertilization in young lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) forest

摘要: Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Exrleben, 1777), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817)), and moose (Alces alces (L., 1758)) commonly occur in young coniferous forests. This study was designed to test the hypothe- sis that large-scale pre-commercial thinning (PCT) repeated fertilization 15-20 years after onset of treatments lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Wats.) stands would enhance relative habitat use by hares, deer, compared with unmanaged stands. Study areas were located south-central British Columbia, Canada. Habitat measured fecal pellet pellet-group counts. Understory vegetation stand structure all highest heavily thinned stands, probably due higher levels forage cover provided understory shrubs conifers snowshoe high-density but also lower-density (£1000 stemsha -1 ) where an increase essential for hares. Managers should consider long-term nature de- velopment managed timber production. Heavy will generate suitable these herbivores sooner than conventional PCT at densities. Resume´ : Le lievre d'Amerique le cerf mulet 1817)) et l'orignal occupent generalement les jeunes forets de coniferes. Cette etude visait atester l'hypothese que l'eclaircie precommerciale (EPC) des fertilisations repetees, 10-15 ans apresl e debut traitements dans peuplements pin tordu latifolie ´ Wats.), devraient faire aug- menter l'utilisation l'habitat par lievre, comparativement aux non amenages. Les ai- res d'etudes etaient localisees centre-sud la Colombie-Britannique, au L'utilisation a ete mesuree comptage feces groupes feces. La du sous-bois coni- feres ont etemesurees tous peuplements. etait maximale fortement eclaircis, probablement en reponse ades quantites plus elevees brout couvert fournis arbustes coniferes eclaircis. ason fort denses, mais aussi faible densite tigesha )o uune mentation procurait essentiel lievre. amenagistes prendre compte developpement long terme amenages pour production ligneuse. Une eclaircie severe ramenant densitedu peuplement ` £1000 produira un qualitepour ces rapidement l'EPC conventionnelle densites elevees. (Traduit Redaction)