DOCSLIB.ORG

Disturbance and Persistence of Sitka Spruce (Picea Sitchensis (Bong) Carr.) in Coastal Forests of the Pacific Northwest, North America

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Disturbance and Persistence of Sitka Spruce (Picea Sitchensis (Bong) Carr.) in Coastal Forests of the Pacific Northwest, North America Disturbance and Persistence of Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong) Carr.) in Coastal Forests of the Pacific Northwest, North America Alan H. Taylor Journal of Biogeography, Vol. 17, No. 1. (Jan., 1990), pp. 47-58. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0305-0270%28199001%2917%3A1%3C47%3ADAPOSS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-3 Journal of Biogeography is currently published by Blackwell Publishing. Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/about/terms.html. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/journals/black.html. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to and preserving a digital archive of scholarly journals. For more information regarding JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. http://www.jstor.org Thu Mar 29 13:19:38 2007 JO~rnalof Biogeograpky (1990)17,47-58 Disturbance and persistence of sitka spruce (Picea sitehensis (Bong) Carr.) in coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest, North America ALANH. TAYLORDepartment of Geograplzy, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21228, U.S.A. Abstract. Forests dominated by Picea sitchensis (Bong) and tree growth in gaps to determine if P. sitclzensis can Carr. and Tsuga lzeteroplzylla (Raf.) Sarg. occupy a narrow persist under a small gap disturbance regime. Tree replace- coastal strip along the Pacific Northwest coast of North ment models derived from tree replacement patterns in America. P. sitchensis is considered seral to T. heterophylla gaps were used to predict abundances of P. sitchensis and but descriptions of groups of P. sitchensis saplings and small T. heterophylla in the next generation. Tree replacement trees in light gaps created by small canopy disturbances models did not predict a decline in P. sitchensis abundance (<0.25 ha) suggest that P. sitchensis may persist by gap- in the next generation. Gaps of 800-1000 m2 appear large phase regeneration after small-scale disturbance. This enough for P. sitclzensis to persist in thesc: forests. study combines analyses of the disturbance regime (gap size distribution, gap age distribution, the spatial distribution of Key words. Disturbance, succession, forest dynamics, gaps, forest turnover time), patterns of tree regeneration Pacific Northwest, Picea sitchensis. INTRODUCTION Throughout most of its range Picea is considered seral to Tsuga. Catastrophic disturbances such as fire, windthrow, Natural disturbances are a common feature of forested landslides and insect attacks initiate secondary succession. landscapes that influence the spatial and temporal patterns Both species regenerate prolifically after catastrophic dis- of species abundance (Veblen & Ashton, 1978; White, turbance but as stands mature mixed forest is replaced by 1979; Runkle, 1981; Sousa, 1984). Infrequent catastrophic Tsuga (Franklin & Dyrness, 1973; Fonda, 1974; Ruth & fire, for example, is considered the most important disturb- Harris, 1979). Some sites deviate from this general pattern. ance affecting the distribution and abundance of some spe- Picea population structures in mixed forest on rnesic cies (e.g. Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) ill the alluvial flats in coastal valleys, and in the salt spray zone coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest (Hemstroni & indicate that Picea will remain codominant with Tsuga Franklin, 1982). Pseudotsuga lnenziesii requires cata- (Cordes, 1972; Franklin & Dyrness, 1973; Kratz, 1975; strophic fire to regenerate and persist except as residual Mckee, LaRoi & Franklin, 1982). Picea reproduction in trees in old-growth forest (Franklin & Dyrness, 1973). Fre- mixed forest on typical sites is present, however, suggesting quent smaller-scale disturbances undoubtedly influence the that young Picea could replace canopy trees as they die composition, structure and community dynamics of con- (Hines, 1971; Juday, 1976; Quay, 1982; Greene, 1982; iferous forests in the Pacific Northwest but they have been Hemstrorn & Logan, 1986). Hines (1971), Juday (1976) and little studied. Quay (1982) observed groups of Picea saplings and small Coniferous forests dominated by Picea sitchensis (Bong.) trees beneath light gaps in the forest canopy inolder stands Carr. and Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. (referred to and speculated that Picea could persist by gap regeneration below as Tsuga and Picea, respectively) occupy a narrow in opening produced by death of small group of trees. Picea coastal strip from near Coos Bay Oregon to Prince William clearly persists at landscape scales by regenerating after sound in Alaska (Fig. 1) (Ruth & Harris, 1979). The dis- catastrophic disturbance but smaller disturbances too may tribution of Picea, which defines the range of this forest provide an opportunity for Picea to regenerate and persist type, is associated with a mild mesic maritime climate at stand scales. (Fowells, 1965; Franklin & Dyrness, 1973; Ruth & Harris, The objectives of this study were to: (1) identify patterns 1979). Picea declines in importance away from the coastal of regeneration in small (<0.25 ha) canopy opening pro- zone and other conifers become major associates of Tsuga duced by death of one or a few canopy trees; (2) determine (Franklin & Dyrness, 1973; Ruth & Harris, 1979). if a disturbance regime characterized by treefall gaps is 48 Alan H. Taylor / Picea sitchensis - Tsuaa heterophvlla - ---L - - - J Forest type L 0 300 60C krr \ i do'- 1 - CALIFORNIA ( \ I \ FIG. 1. Distribution of the Piceu sitchensis (Bong) Carr.-Tsugu heterophyllri (Raf.) Sarg. forest type in the Pacific Northwest (adapted from Ruth & Harris, 1979). adequate for Picea regeneration; and (3) predict future tems are shallow and rarely penetrate below 1 m in depth forest composition from tree replacement patterns in gaps. (Harmon, 1986). Study areas. Forests at two sites, Cascade Head and Cape The forest canopy is dominated by Picea and Tsuga and Lookout, both on the northern Oregon coast, were selected there is a well-developed shrub-forb-moss understorey. for sampling. These sites were chosen for the following Important shrubs include Rubus spectabilis Pursh, Vac- reasons: (1) previous descriptions of their forest structure ciniumparvifolium Smith, V.ovalifolium Smith, Sambucus suggested that Picea might persist by gap-phase regenera- racemosa L. var. arborescens (T. & G.) Gray, Menziesia tion; (2) reconnaissance showed gaps to be common at both ferruginea Smith and Oplopanax horrirluln (J. E. Smith) sites; and (3) stands were undisturbed by recent human Miq. The most common forbs are Oxalis oregana Nutt. ex activity. T. & G., Polysticum munituln (Kaulf.) Presl. and Montia Cascade Head. Sampling was conducted in the Neskowin siberica (L.) How. (Quay, 1982). Much of the forest estab- Crest Research Natural Area (Greene, 1982). Cascade lished after a human-set conflagration in the mid-nine- Head is a deeply dissected headland composed primarily of teenthcentury (Morris, 1934; Muliger, 1944; Gr&ne, 1982; marine tuffaceous sandstone overlying volcanics (Baldwin, Harcornbe, 1986) but there are groups of trees scattered 1964; Greene, 1982). Altitudes vary between sea level and throughout the area that did not burn in this fire. 400 m. Soils are strongly acidic, high in nitrogen and organic Cape Lookout. Cape Lookout is a long (4 km) narrow matter, and vary in texture from silt loam to silty clay loam (=I km) peninsula that juts into the Pacific Ocean. Parent and are moderately well drained (Grier, 1978). Root sys- material consists primarily of basaltic deposits and soils Gap regeneration of Picea sitchensis 49 vary in texture from loam to silty clay loam and may exceed mineral soil) of each seedling, sapling or tree were 1 m in depth (Quay, 1982). Altitudes vary from sea level to recorded. Additional detail on rooting substrates were 100 m and overall the topography is less rugged than that at obtained by classifying each log by decomposition class Cascade Head. (sensu Fogel, Ogawas & Trappe, 1972). The tallest tree Picea-Tsuga forests on Cape Lookout apparently did not (>5.0 cm dbh) in a quadrant was designated as the suc- originate after the mid-nineteenth century fire that burned cessor tree, or tree most likely to fill the gap quadrant (sensu forests on Cascade Head. Various stand ages were present Barden, 1981). No successor tree was designated for a of Cape Lookout including young, mature and old-growth quadrant if no sterns were 35.0 cm dbh. Four successor suggesting that stand initiating disturbances have been trees could be designated per gap. All trees within a gap cornmon over the last 200 years. The forest understorey is were cored 30 cm above the base and their age was esti- similar to that at Cascade Head but the shrubs R. spectabilis mated by counting annual growth rings. and Gaultheria shallon Pursh. and the forbs Blechnum spi- The relationship between age and dbh of canopy trees cant (L.) Roth and Maianthemum dilatatuln (Wood) Nels. was determined using least squares regression for a sample & Macbr. are more common (Quay, 1982). of at least five trees of each species in 10 cm cbh classes Climate. The climate at both sites is strongly influenced beginning at 5.0 cm and ending at 85 cm dbh, at each site. by proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Conditions are mild and Gap age, gap expansion, tree growth rates, canopy dis- moist. Average annual precipitation at a representative turbance. Ages of canopy gaps were estimated in one of two station (Otis, Oregon, altitude=60 m) is about 250 cm with ways: (1) by dating the oldest sudden increase in annual tree little falling between June and August (16 cm).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Picea Sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. Sitka Spruce Pinaceae Pine Family A
    Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. Sitka Spruce Pinaceae Pine family A. S. Harris Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), known also as tideland spruce, coast spruce, and yellow spruce, is the largest of the world’s spruces and is one of the most prominent forest trees in stands along the northwest coast of North America. This coastal species is seldom found far from tidewater, where moist maritime air and summer fogs help to main- tain humid conditions necessary for growth. Throughout most of its range from northern Califor- nia to Alaska, Sitka spruce is associated with western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) in dense stands where growth rates are among the highest in North America. It is a valuable commercial timber species for lumber, pulp, and many special uses (15,16). Habitat Native Range Sitka spruce (fig. 1) grows in a narrow strip along the north Pacific coast from latitude 61” N. in south- central Alaska to 39” N. in northern California. The most extensive portion of the range in both width and elevation is in southeast Alaska and northern British Columbia, where the east-west range extends for about 210 km (130 mi) to include a narrow main- land strip and the many islands of the Alexander Archipelago in Alaska and the Queen Charlotte Is- lands in British Columbia (24). North and west of southeast Alaska, along the Gulf of Alaska to Prince William Sound, the range is restricted by steep mountains and Piedmont glaciers edging the sea. Within Prince William Sound, the range again widens to about 105 km (65 mi) to include many offshore islands.
    [Show full text]
  • Respacing Naturally Regenerating Sitka Spruce and Other Conifers
    Respacing naturally regenerating Sitka spruce and other conifers Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis ) Practice Note Bill Mason December 2010 Dense natural regeneration of Sitka spruce and other conifers is an increasingly common feature of both recently clearfelled sites and stands managed under continuous cover forestry in upland forests of the British Isles. This regeneration can be managed by combining natural self-thinning in the early stages of stand establishment with management intervention to cut access racks and carry out selective respacing to favour the best quality trees. The target density should be about 2000 –2500 stems per hectare in young regeneration or on windfirm sites where thinning will take place. On less stable sites that are unlikely to be thinned, a single intervention to a target density of 1750 –2000 stems per hectare should improve mean tree diameter without compromising timber quality. Managing natural regeneration in continuous cover forestry or mixed stands can be based upon similar principles but the growth of the regenerated trees will be more variable. FCPN016 1 Introduction Natural self-thinning Dense natural regeneration of conifers in upland Britain has Management intervention to respace young trees is sometimes become increasingly common as forests planted during the last justified on the basis that stands of dense natural regeneration century reach maturity. The density of naturally regenerated Sitka will ‘stagnate’ if no respacing is carried out. However, with the spruce ( Picea sitchensis ) can exceed 100 000 seedlings per hectare exception of stands of lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta ) on very on suitable sites in forests throughout northern and western poor-quality sites in Canada, there are few examples of Britain – examples include Fernworthy, Glasfynydd, Radnor, ‘stagnation’ occurring.
    [Show full text]
  • Isoenzyme Identification of Picea Glauca, P. Sitchensis, and P. Lutzii Populations1
    BOT.GAZ. 138(4): 512-521. 1977. (h) 1977 by The Universityof Chicago.All rightsreserved. ISOENZYME IDENTIFICATION OF PICEA GLAUCA, P. SITCHENSIS, AND P. LUTZII POPULATIONS1 DONALD L. COPES AND ROY C. BECKWITH USDA Forest Service,Pacific Northwest Forest and Range ExperimentStation ForestrySciences Laboratory, Corvalli.s, Oregon 97331 Electrophoretictechniques were used to identify stands of pure Sitka sprucePicea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.and purewhite spruceP. glauca (Moench)Voss and sprucestands in whichintrogressive hybridization betweenthe white and Sitka sprucehad occurred.Thirteen heteromorphic isoenzymes of LAP, GDH, and TO were the criteriafor stand identification.Estimates of likenessor similaritybetween seed-source areas were made from 1) determinationsIntrogressed hybrid stands had isoenzymefrequencies that were in- termediatebetween the two purespecies, but the seedlingswere somewhat more like white sprucethan like Sitkaspruce. Much of the west side of the KenaiPeninsula appeared to be a hybridswarm area, with stands containingboth Sitka and white sprucegenes. The presenceof white sprucegenes in Sitka sprucepopula- tions was most easily detectedby the presenceof TO activity at Rm .52. White spruceshowed activity at that positionin 79% of its germinants;only 1% of the pure sitka sprucegerminants had similaractivity. Isoenzymevariation between stands of pure Sitka sprucewas less variablethan that betweeninterior white spruce stands (mean distinctionvalues were 0.11 for Sitka and 0.32 for white spruce). Clusteranalysis showedall six pure Sitka sprucepopulations to be similarat .93, whereaspure white sprucepopulations werenot similaruntil .69. Introduction mining quantitatively the genetic composition of Hybrids between Picea glauca (Moench) Voss and stands suspected of being of hybrid origin would be Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. were of great use to foresters and researchers.
    [Show full text]
  • Bucket Cable Trap Technique for Capturing Black Bears on Prince of Wales Island, Southeast Alaska Boyd Porter
    Wildlife Special Publication ADF&G/DWC/WSP–2021–1 Bucket Cable Trap Technique for Capturing Black Bears on Prince of Wales Island, Southeast Alaska Boyd Porter Stephen Bethune ©2012 ADF&G. Photo by Stephen Bethune. 2021 Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Wildlife Conservation Wildlife Special Publication ADF&G/DWC/WSP-2021-1 Bucket Cable Trap Technique for Capturing Black Bears on Prince of Wales Island, Southeast Alaska PREPARED BY: Boyd Porter Wildlife Biologist1 Stephen Bethune Area Wildlife Biologist APPROVED BY: Richard Nelson Management Coordinator REVIEWED BY: Charlotte Westing Cordova Area Wildlife Biologist PUBLISHED BY: Sky M. Guritz Technical Reports Editor ©2021 Alaska Department of Fish and Game Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Wildlife Conservation PO Box 115526 Juneau, AK 99811-5526 Hunters are important founders of the modern wildlife conservation movement. They, along with trappers and sport shooters, provided funding for this publication through payment of federal taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment, and through state hunting license and tag fees. This funding provided support for Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Black Bear Survey and Inventory Project 17.0. 1 Retired Special Publications include reports that do not fit in other categories in the division series, such as techniques manuals, special subject reports to decision making bodies, symposia and workshop proceedings, policy reports, and in-house course materials. This Wildlife Special Publication was reviewed and approved for publication by Richard Nelson, Region I Management Coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Conservation. Wildlife Special Publications are available via the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s public website (www.adfg.alaska.gov) or by contacting Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Wildlife Conservation, PO Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526; phone: (907) 465- 4190; email: [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • Sitka Spruce and Engelmann Spruce in Northwest California and Across
    Sitka spruce and www.conifercountry.com Pinaceae Engelmann spruce in Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis perennial cones have scales which are soft to the touch—a stark contrast to northwest California and the prickly needles bark has flakey, circular platelets— across the West sun bleached in a dune forrest Bark: thin with circular platelets that flake off; depending on age, color ranges from pale brown when young to dark brown when older (if you can see under mosses). Needles: 1”, dark green, very sharp at the tip, radiate from stem in all directions, tend to point forward (similar to Engelmann), stomatal bloom on underside of needle. Cones: 1”-3”, yellow when young aging to tan; scales are thin and papery with rounded tips Habitat: coastal, wet, 0’-1000’ www.conifercountry.com Pinaceae Engelmann spruce Picea engelmannii short needles are the sharpest of any conifer in the Klamath Mountains bases of trees are buttressed, offering comfortable seating to revel in the conifer diversity of the Russian Wilderness Bark: purplish to reddish-brown, thin, loosely attached circular scales appearing much darker than those of Brewer spruce Needles: one inch long, pointed at tip, roll in fingers, very sharp, with branches often growing upward Cones: 1”-2”, Range* map for: Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) bearing flexible papery scales with irregular, ragged tips, softer tips than Brewer Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) spruce Habitat: 3500’-6000’, riparian CA Range: drainages around Russian Peak in the Russian Wilderness, often dominating; also, Clark and Hat creeks in Shasta * based on Little (1971),Griffin and Critchfield (1976), and Van Pelt (2001) County www.conifercountry.com Michael Kauffmann | www.conifercountry.com Range* map for: Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) * based on Little (1971),Griffin and Critchfield (1976), and Van Pelt (2001) Michael Kauffmann | www.conifercountry.com.
    [Show full text]
  • Growth and Yield of Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock at Cascade Head Experimental Forest, Oregon
    United States Department of i Agriculture Growth and Yield of Sitka Forest Service Pacific Northwest Spruce and Western Forest and Range Experiment Station Research Paper Hemlock at Cascade Head PNW-325 September 1984 Experimental Forest, Oregon Stephen H. Smith, John F. Bell, Francis R. Herman, and Thomas See Authors STEPHEN H. SMITH was a graduate student, College of Forestry Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. He is now with Potlatch Corporation, Lewiston, Idaho. JOHN F. BELL is a professor, Forest Management, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. FRANCIS R. HERMAN is a mensurationist, retired, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fairbanks, Alaska. THOMAS SEE was a graduate student, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. He is now with Continental Systems, Inc., Portland, Oregon. Abstract Summary Smith, Stephen H.; Bell, John F.; Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Herman, Francis R.; See, Thomas. Carr.) and western hemlock (Tsuga Growth and yield of Sitka spruce heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) are the and western hemlock at Cascade principal components of the Pacific Head Experimental Forest, Oregon. Northwest coastal fog belt type (Meyer Res. Pap. PNW-325. Portland, OR: 1937) or the Picea sitchensis zone U.S. Department of Agriculture, (Franklin and Dyrness 1973) found Forest Service, Pacific Northwest along the Oregon and Washington Forest and Range Experiment Sta- coasts. The tremendous potential for tion; 1984. 30 p. rapid growth and high yield of the Sitka spruce-western hemlock type A study established in 83-year-old, ranks it among the most productive even-aged stands of Sitka spruce coniferous types in the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Shoot Growth Phenology, Dry Matter Distribution and Root: Shoot Ratios of Provenances of Populus Trichocarpa, Picea Sitchensis and Pinus Contorta Growing in Scotland
    Shoot Growth Phenology, Dry Matter Distribution and Root: Shoot Ratios of Provenances of Populus trichocarpa, Picea sitchensis and Pinus contorta growing in Scotland By M. G. R. CANNELL and S. C. WILLETT Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 WB, Scotland (Received April / July 1976) Introduction elongating in short days for several weeks; that is, their roots then grew relatively faster than their shoots. The Inherent differences in root : shoot weight ratios of trees Same phenomenon is evident in HEIDE'S (1974) data on dry are of interest as factors that may influence wind stability, weight changes in Picea abies seedlings in different photo- and because they may reflect differences in the relative periodic regimes. Also, SWEET and WAREING (1968) working growth rates of the roots and shoots. on Pinus contorta seedlings, and SCHULTZ and GATHERUM Windthrow, basal stem bending and wind-loosening are (1971) on Pinus sylvestris, showed that provenances which serious problems in Britain (EDWARDS et al., 1963; LINESand were photoperiodically induced to stop elongating their BOOTH, 1972) and any genetic gain in wind stability would shoots early in their first growing season subsequently be valuable. It is assumed in this paper that genotypes developed relatively large root : shoot dry weight ratios which have relatively heavy root systems (and hence pro- compared with provenances which continued elongating portionately smaller shoots and sail area) will often be bet- late into the autumn. ter anchored than those with light root systems, although This paper describes observations extending those al- there will, of Course, be differences in root morphology and ready made by SWEET and WAREING, and SCHULTZ and responses to soil conditions.
    [Show full text]
  • Tree Factsheet Images at Pages 3 and 4
    Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group Tree factsheet images at pages 3 and 4 Picea sitchensis (Bongard) Carriere taxonomy author, year Carriere, 1855 synonym Pinus sitchensis Bongard 1832 Family Pinaceae Eng. Name Silver spruce, menzies spruce, coast spruce Dutch name Sitkaspar, Sitka subspecies - varieties P. abies var acuminata hybrids P. x lutzii ( P. sitchensis x P. glauca ) P. sitchensis x P. engelmannii cultivars, frequently planted - references Earle, C.J. Gymnosperm database www.conifers.org USDA Forest Service http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/index.html OECD, 2002. Concensus document on the biology of Picea sitchensis (online document) Series on Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology, No. 21 Plants for a Future Database; www.pfaf.org/index.html morphology crown habit conic to pyramidal max. height (m) North America: 80 The Netherlands: 30 max. dbh (cm) 500 highest tree year…, h 96.7, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California, USA year …, d(130) 572, h 58.2, Lake Quinault, Olympic National Forest, WA, USA actual size Europe year 1832, d(…) 249, h 44.8, Fairburn House, Contin, Highland, Scotland actual size Netherlands year 1900, d(130) …, h …, Schovenhorst, Putten, Gelderland leaf length (cm) 1,5-2,5 single leaf petiole (cm) <0,1 leaf colour upper surface green leaf colour under surface grey with stomatal bands leaves arrangement alternate flowering May flowering plant monoecious flower monosexual flower diameter (cm) inconspicuous pollination wind fruit; length cone; 5-8 cm fruit petiole (cm) 0,2 seed; length samara (=winged nut); 0,2-0,4 cm seed-wing length (cm) 1 weight 1000 seeds (g) 1,7 – 2,5 seeds ripen August-September same year seed dispersal wind habitat natural distribution W.
    [Show full text]
  • Sitka Spruce, the Largest of the World’S Spruces, Is One of the Most Prominent Forest Trees Along the Northwest Coast C North America
    Forest An American Wood Service Sitka United States Department of Spruce Agriculture FS-265 Sitka spruce, the largest of the world’s spruces, is one of the most prominent forest trees along the northwest coast c North America. It is seldom found far from tidewater, where moist maritime air and summer fog help maintain the humid conditions necessary for its growth. Throughout most of its range from northern California to Alaska, Sitka spruce is associated with western hemlock in dense stands where growth rates are among the highest in North America. It is a valuable commercial timber species for lumber, pulp, and many special uses. F-253874 An American Wood Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) A. S. Harris1 Distribution Sitka spruce grows in a narrow strip along the north Pacific coast from latitude 61 ° N. in south-central Alaska to 39° N. in northern California (fig. 1). It is restricted to an area of maritime climate with abundant moisture throughout the year, relatively mild winters, and cool summers. Sum- mer temperatures are lower in the nor- thern latitudes and lack the extremes found in the southern part of the range. The most extensive portion of the range in both width and elevation is in southeast Alaska and northern British Columbia, where it extends for about 130 miles east to west and includes a narrow mainland strip, the many islands of the Alexander Archipelago in Alaska, and the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia. North and west of southeast Alaska, along the Gulf of Alaska to Prince William Sound, the species is restricted by steep mountains and glaciers edging the sea.
    [Show full text]
  • Common Insect Pests and Diseases of SITKA SPRUCE on the Oregon Coast
    Common Insect Pests and Diseases of SITKA SPRUCE on the Oregon Coast J. Reeb and D. Shaw EM 9105 JANUARY 2015 Common Insect Pests and Diseases of Sitka Spruce on the Oregon Coast EM 9105 • January 2015 J. Reeb and D. Shaw itka spruce (Picea sitchensis) (Figure 1) is one of the most prominent trees along the Pacific SNorthwest coast of North America. This spe- cies’ range extends from northern California to Alaska. The Oregon coast is at the southern limit of the range of Sitka spruce, and the tree there has many problems that are distinct from the ones it faces in British Columbia and Alaska. Background on Sitka Spruce Sitka spruce is also known as tidewater spruce, coast spruce, and yellow spruce. It is found near the Pacific Coast, where mild winters, moist maritime air, and cool summer fog maintain the humid conditions that are necessary for its growth (Figure Figure 1. Sitka spruce in coastal Oregon. Note the drooping branchlets and the associated maximization of 2, page 3). It is most often associated with western foliage display. hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) in dense stands where growth rates are among the highest in North tolerant as its most common associate, western America. Along Oregon’s central and north coasts, it hemlock. can be found with western red cedar (Thuja plicata), Sitka spruce is among the world’s fastest growing Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Pacific silver fir trees. It is the largest of the world’s spruces. It (Abies amabilis), grand fir (Abies grandis), red alder commonly reaches heights of 180 feet (55 meters), (Alnus rubra), bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), with diameters of 5 feet (1.5 meters).
    [Show full text]
  • Soils of Temperate Rainforests of the North American Pacific Coast
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska 2014 Soils of temperate rainforests of the North American Pacific Coast Dunbar N. Carpenter University of Wisconsin-Madison, [email protected] James G. Bockheim University of Wisconsin-Madison,, [email protected] Paul F. Reich USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Beltsville, MD, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub Part of the Forest Biology Commons, and the Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons Carpenter, Dunbar N.; Bockheim, James G.; and Reich, Paul F., "Soils of temperate rainforests of the North American Pacific Coast" (2014). Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty. 1413. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub/1413 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Geoderma 230–231 (2014) 250–264 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Geoderma journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/geoderma Soils of temperate rainforests of the North American PacificCoast Dunbar N. Carpenter a, James G. Bockheim b,⁎,PaulF.Reichc a Department of Forest
    [Show full text]
  • (Tsuga Heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) and Sitka Spruce (Picea Sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) in Southeast Alaska
    Order Number 9509389 Effects of pruning on growth of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) in southeast Alaska Petruncio, Markian Demetrius, Ph.D. University of Washington, 1994 Copyright ©1994 by Petruncio, Markian Demetrius. All rights reserved. UMI 300 N. ZeebRd. Ann Aibor, MI 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Effects of Pruning on Growth of Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) and Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) in Southeast Alaska by Markian Demetrius Petruncio A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Washington 1994 Approved by_ (Chairperson of Supervisory Committee) ~ r7 ) a A w J Program Authorized College of Forest Resources to Offer Degree____ Date. / . / W Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © Copyright 1994 Markian Demetrius Petruncio Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. In presenting this dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctoral degree at the University of Washington, I agree that the Library shall make its copies freely available for inspection. I further agree that extensive copying of this dissertation is allowable only for scholarly purposes, consistent with "fair use” as prescribed in the U.S. Copyright Law. Requests for copying or reproduction of this dissertation may be referred to University Microfilms, 1490 Eisenhower Place, P.O. Box 975, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, to whom the author has granted "the right to reproduce and sell (a) copies of the manuscript in microform and/or (b) printed copies of the manuscript made from the microform." Signature.
    [Show full text]