A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Race to the canopy: the development of tree size hierarchies following a partial disturbance in a boreal old-growth forest
Authors: Kulha Niko, Ahokas Antti, Gauthier Sylvie, Aakala Tuomas
Publisher: CANADIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING
Publication year: 2023
Journal: Canadian Journal of Forest Research
Journal name in source: CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
Journal acronym: CAN J FOREST RES
First page : 996
Last page: 1005
Number of pages: 10
ISSN: 0045-5067
eISSN: 1208-6037
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2022-0224
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2022-0224
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/180407325
In boreal old-growth forests, advance regeneration typically attains canopy dominance through growth release events fol-lowing partial disturbances. We sampled competing Picea mariana (Mill.) and Abies balsamea (L.) in disturbed old-growth stands in Quebec, Canada, to understand the intra-and interspecific size hierarchy development. We reconstructed tree size devel-opment and examined the role of initial size difference, time between germination and a disturbance, and the strength of response to the disturbance in determining tree size hierarchies. Trees that regenerated first generally dominated their in-traspecific competitors also following a disturbance event. However, prolonged time between germination and disturbance resulted in a less deterministic outcome. Tree size difference prior to disturbance also influenced the development of size hi-erarchies. In interspecific competition between individuals of the same diameter, A. balsamea had a 61% probability of gaining dominance over P. mariana, the probability being 50% if P. mariana was 5 mm larger than A. balsamea. Dominant trees generally had the strongest response to the disturbance, reinforcing the existing size hierarchies. The largest trees typically gain domi-nance after a partial disturbance. However, interspecific competition is less predictable than intraspecific competition, small initial size difference, and prolonged time in suppression potentially changing tree size hierarchies.
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