Northern white-cedar regeneration dynamics in the context of high ungulate densities

北方白雪松是一种珍贵的树种，无论是对木材工业还是作为鹿的栖息地。雪松可以提供庇护所和食物来源，但高密度的鹿会影响雪松的生长。在这种情况下，有一种强烈的趋势是禁止从鹿场采伐森林。然而，这一战略除了对木材采购产生影响外，并不能保证对鹿栖息地的可持续管理，因为可能没有再生来取代最终会死亡的树木。本研究旨在更好地了解鹿对雪松再生的影响，以确定在鹿密度高的地区有利于雪松再生的条件。研究的第一部分将着眼于现有鹿场的林分结构和再生。树木年代学分析将使确定提供建立机会的时期成为可能。研究的第二部分将着眼于过去15年内治疗过的树木。与项目前一部分一样，将进行树木年代学分析。在研究的最后一部分，将监测高鹿压力地区的幼苗存活和生长情况。一项模拟浏览研究将使我们能够观察浏览时间和强度与光照水平相互作用的影响。在其活动范围的北部，鹿特别依赖于一个合适的冬季栖息地。与此同时，森林工业越来越依赖于不断萎缩的雪松资源，其中很大一部分被保护为鹿的越冬栖息地。在这方面，对鹿场的积极管理可以促进这两种资源的综合增值。

Northern white-cedar is a valuable species, both for the wood industry and as deer habitat. Cedar can provide shelter and a food source but high deer densities can compromise cedar establishment. In this context, there is a strong tendency to ban forest harvesting from deer yards. However, this strategy, in addition to having an impact on wood procurement, does not guarantee a sustainable management of deer habitat, since there may be no regeneration to replace trees that will eventually die. The current study aims at getting a better understanding of deer impacts on cedar regeneration in order to identify conditions that could favor cedar regeneration in high deer density areas. A first part of the study will look at stand structure and regeneration in existing deer yards. Dendrochronological analysis will make it possible to identify time periods that provided establishment opportunities. A second part of the study will look at stands treated within the last 15 years. Dendrochronological analysis will be conducted as for the previous part of the project. In the last part of the study, seedling survival and growth will be monitored in areas of high deer pressure. A simulated browsing study will enable to look at the effect of browsing timing and intensity in interaction with light level. At the northern limits of its range, deer is especially dependent on a suitable winter habitat. At the same time, the forest industry is increasingly dependent on a shrinking cedar resource, a significant portion of it being protected as deer wintering habitats. In this context, an active management of deer yards could promote an integrated valorization of both resources.