Contrasting downed woody debris dynamics in managed and unmanaged northern hardwood stands

The reported effects of selection silviculture on downed woody debris (DWD) vary. To investigate the proc- esses underlying potential management impacts on DWD stocks and fluxes, we conducted a repeated census of downed wood in selection-harvested, selectively harvested, and unmanaged (old-growth) stands in central Ontario. DWD was significantly more abundant in stands harvested within the last 20 years than in stands harvested earlier, and shifted towards more advanced decay classes over the first 20 years after harvest. These results are consistent with persistence of a harvest-related DWD pulse for up to two decades in managed stands. The transition of DWD from early and middle decay classes to more advanced decay classes proceeded more slowly in managed than unman- aged stands. Species type, identity of fungal fruiting bodies, presence of a cut surface, and plot moisture class were significant predictors of variation in decay dynamics within particular decay classes; however, these factors did not account for observed differences in decay-class transitions between managed and unmanaged stands. A decay class matrix model projected DWD half-lives of 19 years for unmanaged stands and 21 years for managed stands. Over the long term, slower decay dynamics may help somewhat in maintaining relatively high DWD abundances in stands managed under selection silviculture. Resume´ : Les resultats qui ont eterapportes concernant les effets du jardinage sur les debris ligneux au sol (DLS) varient. Dans le but d'etudier les processus sous-jacents aux impacts potentiels de l'amenagement sur les stocks et les flux de DLS, nous avons effectues des relevesr epetes des DLS dans des peuplements soumis aune coupe de jardinage, a une coupe d'ecremage ou non amenages (foret ancienne) dans le centre de l'Ontario. Les DLS etaient significativement plus abondants dans les peuplements recoltes au cours des 20 dernieres annees que dans les peuplements recoltes il y plus long- temps et ont evoluevers des classes de decomposition plus avancees au cours des premiers 20 ans apresl a recolte. Ces re´- sultats concordent avec la persistance d'une recrudescence des DLS relieeala recolte pendant une periode pouvant aller jusqu'adeux decennies dans les peuplements amenages. Le passage des DLS des classes de decomposition initiale et inter- mediaire vers une classe de decomposition plus avancee s'est fait plus lentement dans les peuplements amenages que dans les peuplements non amenages. Le type d'essences, l'identitedes carpophores, la presence d'une decoupe et la classe d'hu- miditede la placette etaient des indicateurs significatifs de la variation dans la dynamique de la decomposition dans une classe de decomposition donnee. Cependant, ces facteurs n'expliquaient pas les differences observees entre les peuple- ments amenages et non amenages dans la transition entre les classes de decomposition. Un modele matriciel des classes de decomposition predisait une demi-vie des DLS de 19 ans dans les peuplements non amenages et de 21 ans dans les peuplements amenages. Along terme, une dynamique de decomposition plus lente peut contribuer un peu amaintenir une abondance relativement elevee de DLS dans les peuplements amenages soumis au jardinage. (Traduit par la Redaction)

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