FRST 211 Tree Silvics

yellow cedar

low success from seed

moderately shade intolerant

snags and logs persist >100 years

early to late succession

mountain hemlock

shade tolerant

slow growing

releases in gaps

low tolerance to frost and wind

shallow rooted

red alder

regenerates almost exclusively on bare mineral soil

very shade intolerant and exposure requiring

early successional species

Western hemlock

shade tolerant

seedling bank in understory, releases in gaps

early to late succession

Sitka spruce

regenerates on mineral soil in openings/gaps

moderately shade tolerant

grows on moist/rich hypermaritime sites, tolerant of salt spray

early-mid-late succession

Coastal Douglas-fir

exposure requiring in humid environments

shade intolerant

early succession, persists in old growth

Western redcedar

vegetative layering

shade tolerant

releases in gaps but doesn’t depend on them to recruit

Ponderosa pine

shade intolerant

tolerant of heat and water deficits, moisture is limiting

deep taproot

susceptible to drought

intolerant of frost

vegetation dynamics linked to disturbance

Interior Douglas-fir

shade tolerant

protection requiring on warm, dry sites

seedlings susceptible to frost in large opening

deep tap root

vegetation dynamics linked to disturbance

Lodgepole pine

shade intolerant

heat tolerant, sensitive to drought

rapid initial growth rates

regeneration driven by fire

serotinous cones

shade intolerant, heat tolerant, sensitive to drought

stagnation of stands → release after thinning

Western larch

very shade intolerant, exposure requiring

regenerates in open forests or openings after fire

moderately tolerant of heat and water deficits

trembling aspen

early to mid succession

exposure requiring

shade intolerant

root suckering

Engelmann spruce

moderately shade tolerant

successful germination = seed crop + light + seedbed

range of substrates

subalpine fir

slow growth, releases in gaps

shade tolerant

vegetative layering

range of substrates

paper birch

water and nutrient demanding species

regenerates on exposed mineral soil or burned substrates

vegetative sprouting from stumps

moderately tolerant of shade

nurse tree to conifers, important wildlife habitat and forage

high frost tolerance, low snow tolerance, medium wind tolerance

scrub birch

montane boreal climate

montane and subalpine elevations

Salix species

dioecious reproduction

segregation of habitats

gender specific responses to climate change

white spruce

montane boreal climate and elevation

shallow rooted

moderately shade tolerant

tolerant of snow and cold winters (increases with age)

frequent on waterlogged sites, less tolerant of flooding

regenerates after severe fire

black spruce

high tolerance to snow, extreme cold weather and permafrost

reproduces by layering

very shade tolerant

very slow growth

pioneer after severe fires

tamarack

very cold climate

short growing season

tolerates frozen soil and frosts

very shade intolerant, exposure requiring

jack pine

present distribution result of re-invasion and migration

common ancestor with lodgepole pine (can hybridize)

amabilis fir

grows in dense stands

associated with poorly developed understory vegetation

regenerates well on organic substrates