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Group Selection Study
130-503
Description: This project consists of a suite of studies designed to evaluate the impacts of selection system silviculture on hardwood forest stand structures, tree regeneration and the dynamics of bird and insect communities. The studies are taking place on 22 different sites within Algonquin Provincial Park. The overall project has two main components. The retrospective component will compare single-tree selection stands at different times since harvest to similar uncut stands, in order to evaluate the time and the ability of a stand to recover to reference conditions and to evaluate stand quality and tree regeneration success. The experimental component will use pre and post-harvest data to compare intensive group selection (20 % land area in gaps) to the current approach of applying group selection, i.e. harvesting a few gaps in ecologically appropriate places within an otherwise normal single-tree selection cut. The group selection experiment will evaluate whether hardwood tree species, with moderate tolerance to shade, regenerate and grow better in these gaps. Within both studies, data will be collected on vegetation, downed wood, nest habitat, birds, cavity-dependant wildlife, insects, and economics. Changes to biodiversity and productivity across these indicators will be analyzed, and current guidelines will be evaluated.
A young Pileated Woodpecker...
The Project Team: Ken Elliott and Dawn Burke, OMNR, Erica Nol, Trent University
Project Outputs:
Canadian Forest Service Research Partnership (CFSPJ) Grant Final Report
Group Selection Study Progress Report - 2007
The effects of partial harvest on the understory vegetation of southern Ontario woodlands
Project Work Report (2007-2008)
For Additional Information Contact: