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Understanding Boreal Forests: Diversity, Species, and Carbon Dynamics

This article explores the defining characteristics of boreal forests, covering their geographical location, diversity, key species, and the critical role they play in carbon budgeting. With over 15% of the Earth's land surface, boreal forests are essential ecosystems found predominantly in northern regions. We'll examine various tree species across different latitudes in North America and beyond, analyze the impact of climate conditions, and provide insights into the natural regeneration processes of key species like black spruce and aspen. This comprehensive overview highlights the ecological significance of boreal forests.

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Understanding Boreal Forests: Diversity, Species, and Carbon Dynamics

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  1. Forestry & SocietyBoreal Forests HORT/RGSC 302 J.G. Mexal Spring 2005

  2. Forestry & SocietyBoreal Forests:Outline • Definition • Diversity • Important Species • Carbon budgeting

  3. Forestry & SocietyWorld Forest Zones/ Sharma 1992 Boreal Temperate mixed Temperate evergreen Tropical rain Tropical dry Tropical deciduous

  4. Relationship between latitude and tree species

  5. Forestry & SocietySpecies Diversity- Tree Species • Canada >50oN Picea (4 species) • Canada >45oN Pinus (9 species) • USA 25-50oN Pinus (37 species) • Mexico 15-30oN Pinus (80 species) • Brazil 10oS 100’s species /ha • Tierra del Fuego55oS Nothofagus (3 species)

  6. Forestry & SocietyBoreal Forests: Definition • Northern Arctic Forests • 15% of land surface area • Location: >45oN latitude • also Nothofagus forests in So. Amer. & NZ • Precipitation:40-90 cm(15-35”)[snow] • Temperature: mean annual T =-3 to -10oC • Soils: highly glaciated, thin

  7. Forestry & SocietyBorealForests-Growth Comparison Black Spruce 163 yrs Eucalyptus 2yrs 25 mm 25 mm

  8. Forestry & SocietyBoreal Forest of North America 60o 50o Science Findings 40:2001

  9. Forestry & SocietyBoreal Forests-Important Canadian-US Species • Black spruce (Picea mariana) • White spruce (Picea glauca) • Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) • Jack pine (Pinus banksiana) • Aspen (Populus tremuloides) • Tamarack (Larix laricina) • Paper birch (Betula papyifera)

  10. Forestry & SocietySE Alaska Forests (Tongass NF)/PNW-GTR 609, 2004

  11. Forestry & SocietySE Alaska Forests/PNW-GTR 609, 2004

  12. Forestry & SocietySE Alaska Forests/PNW-GTR 609, 2004

  13. Forests of Russia/J.For. 101(4):34:2003 Boreal forest/taigas Temperate broadleaf & mixed forests Temperate conifer forest

  14. Forests of Russia/J.For. 101(4):34:2003 Removal (KK m3/yr) Major Species: Pinus silvestris, Larix sibirica Larix gmelinii, Picea obovata Abies sibirica, Pinus sibirica Betual pendula, Populus tremula Year

  15. Forestry & SocietyBoreal Forest of North America Natural Regeneration of black spruce ~5cm/yr ~15cm/yr Science Findings 40:2001

  16. Forestry & SocietyBoreal Forests-Important Canadian-US Species /Coombes 1992 Picea mariana Black spruce

  17. Forestry & SocietyBoreal Forests-Important Canadian-US Species/Coombes 1992 Larix laricina

  18. Forestry & SocietyBoreal Forests-Important Canadian-US Species/Coombes 1992 Betula papyrifera Paper birch

  19. Forestry & SocietyBoreal Forests-Southern Hemisphere Species/Coombes 1992

  20. Forestry & SocietyNothofagus of Tierra del Fuego, Chile

  21. Forestry & SocietyTropical Forests- Boreal Forests/ Longman & Jenik 1987 Annual Carbon Capture

  22. Forestry & SocietyForests of the World/ Litter & nutrient residence time (yrs)/Kozlowski & Pallardy 1999

  23. Forestry & SocietyForest Productivity Comparison

  24. 0.70 Strong Positive Positive Near Zero Negative Strong Negative Ps (Pg/yr) 0.60 0.50 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Climate Change in Boreal Forests/www.whrc.org/resources/published_literature/pdf/BunnetalEarthInt.06.pdf Annual Fires (AK and NA)

  25. Forestry & SocietyBoreal Forests--Review Questions • Compare and contrast the carbon budgets of a tropical, temperate, and boreal forest. Don’t memorize numbers, just give concepts and relative differences. • What is a boreal forest? Where does it occur? What is the climate? • What are some of the major species in a boreal forest?

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