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

了解植物的相互作用，森林的发展和环境因素对森林生产力，碳固存和多样性的影响是至关重要的加拿大制定适应战略，不断变化的环境。 在过去的5年里，我的研究计划集中在林分结构和林下植被的动态，森林演替，以及造林强度对森林生产力的影响，结构和组成的中部北方混交林。未来5年拟议研究的总体目标是：（1）进一步研究物种混合对地上和地下生产力的影响，以检验生态位互补和竞争促进转变的假设，以及对植物多样性的影响，以检验资源数量和异质性假设;（2）通过调查地上和地下生产过程进一步研究林分动态，以测试生产力和碳汇是否在中间林龄达到峰值，古老的森林是否是碳源或碳汇，地下生产力和碳固存是否反映了地上动态;（3）通过测定北美白杨、白色桦、短叶松、黑云杉和白色云杉在北方森林中部增加了全球气温和大气中的二氧化碳浓度在过去两个世纪，如果更大的增长发生在高纬度，以及不同物种的反应是否不同拟议的计划将涉及培训现有的学生和同事（6个博士，4个硕士，2个PDF，2个客座教授和2个技术人员）和另外13个（5个博士，5个本科生和5个助理）。研究结果将发表在各种媒体上，包括同行评审期刊、论文、会议和研讨会。进一步了解中部北方森林的生产力、碳固存和多样性的动态过程，将有助于制定更好的森林管理战略，以科普全球气候变化。

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.