BC-X-378 Trofymow CIDET 2
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Canadian Forest Service Forest Ecosystem Processes and Climate Change Networks The Canadian Intersite Decomposition Experiment (CIDET): Project and Site Establishment Report Table of Contents J.A. Trofymow and the CIDET Working Group Information Report BC-X-378 Pacific Forestry Centre Victoria, British Columbia Natural Resources Ressources naturelles Canada Canada Canadian Forest Service canadien Service des forêts The Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, British Columbia The Pacific Forestry Centre of the Canadian Forest Service undertakes research as part of a national network system responding to the needs of various forest resource managers. The results of this research are distributed in the form of scientific and technical reports and other publications. Additional information on Natural Resources Canada, the Canadian Forest Service and the Pacific Forestry Centre research and publications is also available on the World Wide Web at http://www.pfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/. Forest Ecosystem Processes Network Recent developments and advances by the forest sector in Canada have identified considerable shortfalls in the ecological knowledge base needed for sustainable forest management. This is not surprising when one considers the vastness and diversity of our forests and the complexity of forest ecosystems. However, the ability to forecast the outcomes of management decisions and natural disturbances on the composition and productivity of natural ecosystems is essential. The Canadian Forest Service (CFS) Forest Ecosystem Process Network (FEPN) will use CFS research centres in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and Sainte-Foy, Quebec as lead centres, and will draw upon the talent and expertise of CFS scientists across the country. The network, in collaboration with industry, provinces, and universities, will conduct and coordinate a program of ecological research within forest ecozones of Canada. This program will focus on developing criteria and measurements for sustainable resource utilization and increase our ability to forecast how natural and man-made disturbances will shape the future forest landscape of Canada. The Climate Change Network The long-term health and sustainability of Canada’s forests depend on a delicate balance of growing conditions. Even small changes in climate could have a significant effect on the growth and ranges of existing species, ecosystem behavior, and patterns of disturbance from fire, insects, and diseases. Separating the effects of natural variability from human-caused change is critical. It is also important to clarify the role of forests in carbon storage, since forest management practices can alter the uptake and storage of carbon. As Canada’s major national forest research organization, the Canadian Forest Service has a major role to play in identifying and anticipating the rate, magnitude, and location of climate change impacts and developing strategies for coping. The Climate Change Network has been established to lead this effort. The Canadian Intersite Decomposition Experiment (CIDET): Project and Site Establishment Report J.A. Trofymow and the CIDET Working Group Natural Resources Canada Canadian Forest Service Climate Change Network Ecosystem Processes Network Pacific Forestry Centre Victoria, British Columbia Information Report BC-X-378 1998 i Canadian Forest Service Pacific Forestry Centre 506 West Burnside Road Victoria, British Columbia V8Z 1M5 Phone (250) 363-0600 © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 1998 Printed in Canada Cette publication est aussi disponible en français. Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Trofymow, J.A. (John Antonio) The Canadian Intersite Decomposition Experiment (CIDET): Project and Site Establishment Report (information report, ISSN 0830-0453 ; BC-X-378) Includes an abstract in French Includes bibliographic references ISBN 0-662-26870-9 Cat. No. Fo46-17/378 1. Forest soils – Biodegradation – Canada. 2. soils and climate – Canada. 3. Biodegradation. I. CIDET Working Group (Canada) II. Pacific Forestry Centre III. Title. IV. Series: Information report (Pacific Forestry Centre) ; BC-X-378. SB390.3C36T76 1998 631.4'6'0971 C98-980232-9 ii CIDET WORKING GROUP Study Leader: J.A. Trofymow, C.F.S., Pacific Forestry Centre, 506 Burnside Rd., Victoria, BC. Site Cooperators: D. Anderson, College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. C. Camire, Facultè Foresterie et de Géomatique, Université de Laval, Québec, PQ. L. Duchesne, C.F.S., Great Lake Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON. J. Fyles, McGill University, Ste–Anne–de–Bellevue, PQ. L. Kozak, Agriculture Canada, Land Resource Unit, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. M. Kranabetter, B.C. Ministry of Forests, Smithers, BC. T. Moore, McGill University, Montreal, PQ. I. Morrison, C.F.S., Great Lake Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON. C. Prescott, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. M. Siltanen, C.F.S., Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, AB. S. Smith, Agriculture Branch, Govt. of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT. B. Titus, C.F.S. (Newfoundland), Atlantic Forestry Centre, St. John’s, NF.1 R. Trowbridge, Boreal Research and Development, Smithers, BC. S. Visser, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. R. Wein, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB. D. White, Dep. Indian and Northern Affairs, Whitehorse, YT. S. Zoltai, C.F.S., Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, AB. Litter Chemical Analyses: C. Preston, C.F.S., Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, BC. A. van Niekerk, C.F.S., Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, BC. B. Sayer, Dep. Chemistry, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON. Soil and LFH Chemical Analyses: D. Anderson, College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. A. van Niekerk, C.F.S., Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, BC. Maps and Data Tables Preparation: A. Conneys, C.F.S., Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, BC. __________________________________ 1 Present address: C.F.S., Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, B.C. iii Acknowledgements The CIDET working group would like to thank T. Bown, R. Ferris, and E. Andersen, Pacific Forestry Centre, for technical assistance in preparing samples for analysis and data entry and S. Henrich, Pacific Forestry Centre, for graphics and final page layout. M. Harmon, Oregon State University, provided advice and encouragement for the establishment of this experiment. Climate station data were provided by Atmospheric and Environment Services, Environment Canada. The Greenplan Climate Change Program and the Ecosystem Processes and Climate Change Networks of the Canadian Forest Service funded this experiment. Suggested Bibliographic Citation: Trofymow, J.A., CIDET Working Group. 1998. The Canadian Intersite Decomposition Experiment (CIDET): Project and site establishment report. Nat. Resour. Can., Can. For. Serv., Pac. For. Cent., Victoria, B.C. Inf. Rep. BC-X-378. Individual appendices can be cited as: Author. 1997. Appendix xx: Site information and maps for (site). Pages XX–XX in J.A. Trofymow and CIDET Working Group...(citation as above) iv Contents 1. Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 2. Objectives........................................................................................................................................................2 2.1 Litter Decomposition in Major Ecoclimatic Regions.....................................................................2 2.2 Litter Quality and Climate..............................................................................................................4 2.3 Microclimate and Site Factors........................................................................................................4 2.4 Site-specific Moisture Regimes......................................................................................................4 2.5 Patterns of Litter Decomposition....................................................................................................6 3. Methods...........................................................................................................................................................8 3.1 Experimental Design ......................................................................................................................8 3.2 Site Information and Maps .............................................................................................................8 3.3 Collection of Macroclimate and Microclimate Data ....................................................................10 3.4 Preparation and Placement of Litter Bags ....................................................................................11 3.5 Initial Litter Characterization .......................................................................................................14 3.6 Collection and Analysis of Litter Bags.........................................................................................14 3.7 Organization of Experiment .........................................................................................................17 4. Site Characterization Summaries ..................................................................................................................18 4.1 General Site Characteristics..........................................................................................................18 4.2 Climate Stations............................................................................................................................18