Germination and survival of spruce seedlings following fire in Northwestern Alberta

Abstract

Thirty semipermanent plots were established in a 10 ha (24.7 ac) spruce stand the spring following a winter harvest and subsequent prescribed burn to monitor germination by month and overwinter survival of spruce seedlings. Seventy percent of all germination occurred in June with regeneration densities as high as 800,000 germinants ha-1 (323,755 ac-1). Most germination occurred, and overwinter survival was highest in depressed microsites. Overwinter survival averaged 68,000 seedlings ha-1 (27,520 ac-1), with June germinants having greater survival then July or August germinants. Only three new germinants were detected the second spring following the prescribed burn.