State of the Greater Fundy Ecosystem

GREATER FUNDY ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH PROJECT

UNB Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management

State of the Greater Fundy Ecosystem

Plant Biodiversity in Natural, Mixed-species Forests and Silvicultural Plantations in the Vicinity of Fundy National Park

Cam Andrea Veinotte, Bill Freedman and Wolfgang Maass
Dept. of Biology, Dalhousie University
Halifax, N.S. B3H 4J1

Much of the area surrounding Fundy National Park (Fundy NP) is being intensively managed for forestry. The natural, mixed-species forest is being clear-cut and largely replaced by conifer monocultures. This conversion significantly alters the ecological characteristics of the region. Although ecosystems within the park are not directly effected by these forestry practices, indirect influences are likely to adversely effect the long-term integrity of Fundy NP as an ecological reserve (Dale et al., 1986; Freedman et al., 1994; Woodley and Freedman, 1995).

GOALS

The present research is designed to allow inferences to be drawn about changes in vegetation occurring in the Greater Fundy Ecosystem (GFE) as a result of clear-cutting and plantation establishment. Of particular interest are implications of these vegetational changes on the region's floral biodiversity. Specifically, the main objectives of this study are to: (1) assess the effects of the conversion of natural, mixed-species forest into silvicultural plantations on the biodiversity of plant communities, (2) identify particular plant species and/or communities whose integrity may be jeopardized as a result of these forestry practices, (3) identify ways in which the risk to species and/or communities may be avoided or mitigated, and (4) identify particular species which may be used as indicators of the natural forest condition, as these may prove useful for purposes of ecological monitoring.

METHODS

The methodology was divided into two distinct components. The first involved a survey of the ground vegetation in twenty-four 10 ha. stands of either natural or silvicultural origin. Sixteen of these stands were Black Spruce plantations of varying ages, chosen so as to develop a 21-year post-clear-cutting chronosequence. All of these stands were located in the periphery of Fundy NP; almost all were within 5 km of the Park's boundary. The other eight stands were natural, mixed-species, reference forest, most of which were chosen from areas within the boundaries of Fundy NP. These reference stands are representative of the most extensive forest types located within the Park. Within each stand, 30 quadrats of 1 m2 were established along a transect in order to sample the ground vegetation present within the site. Within each quadrat, all species of vascular plants, bryophytes, and lichens were identified and percent cover was estimated.

The second component of this study involved determination of the abundance and dominance of trees and shrubs, and presence and abundance of their associated epiphytic lichens and bryophytes. For this aspect of the study, the point-centred quarter method was employed to measure trees and shrubs, and to select these for epiphytic surveys.

RESULTS

Analysis of the ground vegetation data focused on an assessment of the trends in cover and in species richness, density, and diversity across the chronosequence, and how these values compared between plantations and reference sites. Similar trends were observed for each of these parameters, with richness, density, and diversity values generally increasing across the chronosequence, with peak values being achieved about six to eight years after plantation establishment.

Following this time, values decreased rapidly, until levels comparable to those of mature reference stands were achieved within the oldest plantations (Figures 1-3, Table 1).

Note: Squares represent Black Spruce plantations of varying ages, while circles
represent mature, mixed hardwood reference stands. All reference stands
approximate 70 years of age, but have been offset from each other for
presentation purposes.

A number of species occurred in the reference stands which were not located in Black Spruce plantations of any age. This indicates that either an insufficient period of time had passed to allow their re-establishment, or that microsite conditions present in the plantations, such as moisture, light, or nutrient availability were such that their establishment was precluded. These species included Evergreen Woodfern, Oak Fern, Christmas Fern, Indian-pipe, Shinleaf, Broad-leaved Goldenrod, Shadbush, American Beech, and Hobblebush. In addition, numerous species of opportunistic, ruderal plants occurred in plantations but not in mature, reference forest. These species included Woodland Horsetail, Black Spruce, Creeping Bent-grass, Blue-joint, Sedge (Carex muricata), Rattlesnake Grass, Soft Rush, Speckled Alder, Northern White Violet, Water Hore-hound (Lycopus uniflorus), and Spotted Touch-me-not. Swamp Ragwort and White Snakeroot, both found in plantations, are considered rare in New Brunswick.

Preliminary analyses of the data on epiphytic species (i.e. species that live on the surface of other plants ) indicate that similar patterns of species richness, density, and diversity occurred across the chronosequence. However, further analysis must be conducted before any broad-based conclusions may be drawn.

IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT

The conclusions reached by this study lend credibility to the notion that management objectives should be designed for, and implemented across, the larger landscape, as opposed to on selected areas of land which are designated as parks or preservation areas. In addition, a monitoring program should be implemented with emphasis being placed on the long-term monitoring of key indicator species of ecosystem health and function to be identified by this study. The inability to thrive, or the complete absence of these species from areas may serve as an early warning system that the ecological integrity of an area is being jeopardized and remedial action should be taken before further damage occurs.

Table 1. Species density, diversity, and richness values across a Black Spruce (Picea mariana) plantation chronosequence and within mature, mixedwood reference stands in the vicinity of Fundy NP.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was made possible as a result of financial contributions provided by Dalhousie University, the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, as well as the support of Parks Canada and the staff of Fundy National Park

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