Lavoie, Janie, Bergeron, Yves, Martin, Maxence et Montoro Girona, Miguel 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6916-3639
(2026).
Spruce budworm outbreaks promote natural regeneration of Eastern white pine.
Forest Ecology and Management
, 601
.
Article 123320.
doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123320
Repéré dans Depositum à
https://depositum.uqat.ca/id/eprint/1825
Résumé
White pine decline in managed forests has led to the adoption of ecosystem-based management using natural disturbances, mainly surface fire. However, other natural disturbances, such as spruce budworm (SBW), are present in the native range of white pine but are rarely considered in the management of this species. SBW outbreaks are expected to change in frequency and severity under climate change, increasing the need to understand if and how this disturbance will affect the dynamics of white pine regeneration. In this study, we evaluated the impacts of an SBW outbreak on white pine and balsam fir regeneration and identified environmental variables that affect regeneration dynamics. We evaluated six defoliated and six control study plots in white pine stands close to the northern limit of the Québec’s temperate forest. In each plot, we counted white pine and balsam fir seedlings and measured structural (diameter, height), and abiotic (gap fraction, soil type) variables. White pine seedling density was three times greater in defoliated plots than in controls. By contrast, there was no significant difference in balsam fir seedling density between disturbance types. Seedlings of both species were taller in defoliated plots than in control plots. Overall, the SBW outbreak promoted white pine seedling density and height growth. This research contributes to our understanding of the effects of SBW outbreaks on white pine regeneration dynamics, and it will help forest managers to select harvesting methods that emulate SBW-modulated stand characteristics.
| Type de document: | Article |
|---|---|
| Informations complémentaires: | La version officielle de cet article a été publiée dans la revue Forest Ecology and Management en 2026. Le texte intégral de l’article est disponible en libre accès sur le site de la revue : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123320 |
| Mots-clés libres: | Balsam fir; Disturbance; Ecology; Seedling; Natural regeneration; Sustainable forest management |
| Divisions: | Forêts |
| Date de dépôt: | 26 mai 2026 17:57 |
| Dernière modification: | 26 mai 2026 17:57 |
| URI: | https://depositum.uqat.ca/id/eprint/1825 |
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