Growth dynamics of successive post-fire cohorts of black spruce: Is site potential reduced?

Abstract

Black spruce is one of the main commercial species in boreal forests of North America. It usually forms large and single-species natural stands in eastern Canada, yet in recent years, parts of this area have undergone forest cover regression and the conversion of closed-crown forests to open lichen woodlands, partly due to successive disturbances and regeneration accidents. We studied two successive post-fire cohorts growing at the same site, for which a clear forest cover regression trajectory has already been demonstrated, to assess possible changes in the site potential. The Wilcoxon nonparametric test found significant differences in mean diameter and height growth between cohorts, compared by cambial age, generally with higher mean values for the most recent cohort. There were no indications of growth reduction between the previous and the current cohorts. This paper sets the ball rolling for a discussion on the pertinence of reforestation in this type of recently established open formation, where growth potential (as expressed by diameter and height) seems, at least, maintained.