Productivity, carbon sequestration, and diversity of the central boeal forest in changing environments

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Understanding the effects of plant interaction, forest development, and environmental factors on forest productivity, carbon sequestration, and diversity is crucial for Canada to develop adaptation strategies for a changing environment. During the past 5 yrs, my research program has focused on dynamics of stand structure and understory vegetation, forest succession, and the influences of silvicultural intensity on forest productivity, structure, and composition of the central boreal mixedwood forest. The overall objectives of the proposed research for the next 5 yrs are to: (1) further examine species mixture effects on above- and belowground productivity to test the hypotheses of niche complementarity and competition-facilitation shift, and on plant diversity to test resource quantity and heterogeneity hypothesis; (2) further study stand dynamics by investigating above- and belowground production processes to test whether productivity and carbon sequestration peak at intermediate stand age, if old growth forests are a carbon source or sink, and if belowground productivity and carbon sequestration mirror aboveground dynamics; and (3) investigate boreal forest response to global climate change by testing if tree height and diameter growth of trembling aspen, white birch, jack pine, black spruce, and white spruce in the central boreal forest have increased with increasing global temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentration for the past two centuries, if greater increases of growth have occurred in higher latitudes, and if different species have responded differently. The proposed program will involve training existing students and associates (6 PhDs, 4 MScs, 2 PDFs, 2 visiting professors, and 2 technicians) and an additional 13 (5PhD, 5 undergraduates, and 5 assistants). The results will be published in various media including peer-reviewed journals, theses, conferences, and workshops. The further improved understanding of the dynamic processes of productivity, carbon sequestration, and diversity of the central boreal forest will help develop better forest management strategies to cope with global climate changes.