Motorized vehicles for forest plant biodiversity research

在加拿大西部北部平原的中生地，森林主要是颤抖的白杨和白云杉的不同组合。这两个树种的相对丰富度对林下植物的组成和生物多样性具有重要影响。因此，就对生物多样性的潜在影响而言，人们对改变这两种树的相对丰富度的森林管理做法感到一些关切。林下植物是森林生物多样性的重要组成部分，为其他生物群提供栖息地，也是生态系统进程的驱动力。本研究旨在探讨混交林景观中白云杉的存在对林下植物群落组成和生物多样性的影响。所需的设备，包括三辆全地形车辆(ATV)和两辆拖车，对于进入艾伯塔省北部偏远的森林地点是必要的，这项研究正在那里进行。以下研究生研究项目将在未来五年内受益于这种设备的使用：1)火灾后林下社区发展：一名在艾伯塔省北部House River(2002)野火中工作的理科学生将记录烧伤严重程度和林下植物群落，作为与烧焦的白杨树或白云杉距离的函数。2)白云杉的时间发展对林下植物的影响：博士生将在野火中白云杉密度不同的地点描述林下植物群落，年龄从15岁到65岁不等。3)大残存白云杉对林下植物群落的影响：在杨树占主导地位的林分中，树冠中包含大的新生白云杉，博士生将量化这些树对林下植物群落、白云杉更新和森林环境条件的影响。他说，这项研究将有助于我们了解影响北方森林植物群落的因素，也将提供对可持续森林管理至关重要的信息。

On mesic sites in the boreal plain of western Canada forests are dominated by varying combinations of trembling aspen and white spruce. The relative abundance of these two tree species has important implications for the composition and biodiversity of plants growing in the understory. Thus, there is some concern regarding forest management practices that alter the relative abundance of these two types of tree, in terms of the potential effects on biodiversity. Understory plants are an important component of forest biodiversity, they provide habitat for other biota, and are drivers of ecosystem processes. My research is exploring the influence of the presence of white spruce in mixedwood forest landscapes on understory plant community composition and biodiversity. The equipment requested, including three all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and two trailers to transport them, is necessary to gain access to remote forest locations in northern Alberta, where this research is being conducted.    The following graduate student research projects will benefit from the use of this equipment over the next five years: 1) Post-fire understory community development: An MSc student, working in the House River (2002) wildfire in northern Alberta, will document burn severity and understory plant communities as a function of distance from a burnt aspen or white spruce tree. 2) Temporal development of white spruce influence on the understory: A PhD student will characterize understory plant communities in sites with varying densities of white spruce in wildfires varying in age from 15 to 65 years. 3) Effects of large remnant white spruce on understory plant communities: In aspen-dominated stands that contain large, emergent white spruce trees in the canopy a PhD student will quantify the influence of these trees on understory plant communities, white spruce regeneration, and forest environmental conditions.    The research will contribute to our understanding of factors influencing plant communities in the boreal forest and will also provide information critical for sustainable forest management.