Click below to view the Forestry Digest for the week of April 22nd, 2024
Forestry Digest Email – April 15th
Click below to view the Forestry Digest for the week of April 15th, 2024
Forestry Digest Email – April 8th
Click below to view the Forestry Digest for the week of April 8th, 2024
UBC research helps migrating salmon survive mortality hot-spot
Photo credit: Mossom Creek Hatchery
When Kevin Ryan and the other hardworking volunteers at Mossom Creek Hatchery in Port Moody, B.C. release young coho smolts into the ocean, they’re never quite certain how many will return as adults.
Mossom releases between 5,000 and 10,000 coho smolts each year, and is one of the few hatcheries to release coho directly into the ocean, rather than into a river. Until now, no research had looked at the success of direct ocean releases of coho.
UBC researchers used acoustic telemetry to tag and track coho on their journey. The results were revealing: only around 40 per cent of the fish remained alive three kilometres from release. Fewer than one-quarter reached the Lions Gate Bridge 20 kilometres away.
“While low survival is not surprising during this life stage, we discovered that most mortality occurred close to the release location, likely due to predators,” said Dr. Scott Hinch, a professor in the department of forest and conservation sciences who heads the Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Lab at UBC.
“Our results confirm recent studies that Burrard Inlet is a ‘mortality hot-spot’ for juvenile salmon but also suggests ways to increase the fish’s chances of survival, such as by changing the locations and ways of releasing fish.”
The hatchery will start testing different release locations, including various marine sites, and also directly into Mossom Creek.
“With the guidance of Dr. Hinch’s team, we’ll tag and monitor these fish from their release as smolts through to their return as adults to determine which approaches work best,” said Ryan, the hatchery president.
Like other community hatcheries, Mossom’s primary focus is on public education about natural resources and acting as stewards of local salmon creeks.
“As salmon runs continue to decline,” Dr. Hinch noted, “it is more important than ever to support community and volunteer-led hatcheries to improve ways to help these fish surviving their remarkable journey.”
Originally published in UBC News
University of Idaho Society of American Foresters Student Chapter Collegiate Forestry Summit
The University of Idaho Society of American Foresters Student Chapter invites University of British Columbia students to the first annual Collegiate Forestry Summit October 3-6, 2024. This event will afford participants the opportunity to experience the many facets of operational forestry in Idaho through field-tours and industry presentations all while meeting fellow students from across the Western US.
See the link below for more information and how to get involved.
Job Posting: Field Engineers with West Coast Timber Consultants Ltd
West Coast Timber Consultants Ltd. (WCTC) is a consulting firm specializing in the Management of Natural Resources, based out of Courtenay, BC. The company was established on the basic principle of providing clients with high quality management services within the natural resource sector. We are currently seeking full time field staff to meet our client’s goals.
For more information about this position please see the link below.
Research Publications: April 2024
Discover the cutting-edge research shaping the future of forestry! Our faculty members and graduate students are at the forefront of innovation, addressing critical challenges and exploring sustainable solutions to ensure the health and vitality of our forests.
Here is a look at the research publications from UBC Forestry this month.
Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences
Physiological and biochemical response analysis of Styrax tonkinensis seedlings to waterlogging stress
Authors: Hong Chen, Chao Han, Zemao Liu, Robert D. Guy, Fangyuan Yu
Climate change is making floods worse in areas south of the Yangtze River, making it harder to grow Styrax tonkinensis trees there. We studied why these trees struggle with too much water by looking at their chemical makeup during different seasons. We tested them by flooding their pots for 4 or 12 days in summer and winter. We found that in summer, their roots couldn’t absorb water well because of hormonal imbalance and the accumulation of fermentation products. This caused damage to the roots and leaves, making them wilt. But in winter, without leaves, the plants were better at handling floods. This helps us understand how to help these plants survive floods better.
Experimental warming and nitrogen deposition in clear-cuts and forest edges: Assessing impacts on plant communities and tree seedling performance
Authors: Laura Super, Robert D. Guy
At the University of British Columbia’s Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, a study explored how nitrogen deposition and climate warming impact tree seedlings and plant communities in different environments. They focused on Douglas-fir, western red cedar, and western hemlock seedlings, planting them in forest edges and clear-cuts. Using warming treatments and nitrogen deposition, they observed changes in seedling height and plant cover. Results showed that in clear-cuts, warming increased seedling height and plant cover. However, nitrogen deposition alone didn’t have a significant effect. Species identity and soil pH were key factors affecting plant growth. These findings suggest moderate warming can benefit tree seedlings and plant cover in clear-cut areas.
Department of Forest Resources Management
Effects of Elevation, Stand Density, and Inter-Tree Competition on Tree Sizes, Vulnerability, and Health of Planted Zelkova
serrata and Quercus glauca in Reforestation
Authors: Yuan-Chi Li, Ting-Yu Chan, Tzeng Yih Lam, Shing-Wang Liu
Taiwan has a history of replanting trees to fix damaged land. But we don’t know much about how different trees grow back on these lands. This research checked the size, strength, and health of two important types of trees, Zelkova serrata and Quercus glauca, planted on old farmlands. They studied thirteen places where trees had been growing for six to seven years, from low to high altitudes. The results showed that when trees are close together, they get smaller and weaker, especially against wind. Z. serrata reacted more to this than Q. glauca. Altitude also affected the trees, mostly Z. serrata. This research warns against planting these trees too far from where they naturally grow.
Urban density and the urban forest: How well are cities balancing them in the context of climate change?
Authors: Zhaohua Cheng, Lorien Nesbitt, Cynthia Girling, Stephen Sheppard, Cecil Konijnendijk, Sophie Nitoslawski
Urban forests are becoming more important for fighting climate change and dealing with city problems. But sometimes, making cities denser (putting more people and buildings in less space) can make it hard for trees to grow well. A study in Metro Vancouver, Canada talked to experts about this. They found that while some plans for the city mentioned good things happening when urban forests and densification work together, in reality, there are often problems. Limited money and not enough attention from politicians can cause conflicts. The study suggests that by planning better and keeping an eye on things, these conflicts can turn into good results. More research is needed to understand how city rules affect urban forests.
Job Posting: Field Planners with Little River Resources Ltd.
Little River is currently hiring to fill Field Planning positions to join our team of Forest Professionals for our Campbell River operation. This location typically operates on a Monday to Friday schedule.
There is the ability for summer positions to become full-time employment. Little River is a private consulting firm that specializes in forest management on Vancouver Island. As a company, we pride ourselves on our work ethic and ability to produce quality work, safely. We work for a variety of clients including large licensees, private landholders, and woodlot owners.
For more information about this job posting please see the link below.
Job Posting: Vegetation Coordinator with BC Hydro
Powered by water… and by people like you
Providing clean electricity to 4 million customers takes a diverse workforce and that’s where you come in. We need your talent to help us build major projects to meet growing demand. To help our customers find clean energy solutions for their homes and businesses and to be ready to respond during storms and outages to keep our system reliable.
Working for BC Hydro is meaningful. And now, the stakes have been raised as we work towards a solution to climate change while safely providing clean, affordable electricity to our customers. We offer a healthy work life balance, training opportunities and career progression. We’re proud to be ranked as one of B.C.’s Top Employers and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. Join us as we build an even cleaner B.C.
For more information about this job posting please see the link below.
The Carbon Flux of Life
Researchers at UBC Forestry have identified a previously underestimated carbon flux between trees and soils that has implications for forest operations and long-term ecosystem health.
“There is a continuous replenishment of carbon stocks that retains soil carbon equilibrium,” says UBC Forestry Prof. Cindy Prescott, who is at the forefront of this potentially revolutionary area of soil carbon research.
Active carbon comes from photosynthate, which is the sugar and other substances generated by plants when exposed to sunlight through photosynthesis.
Dead leaves and branches — including slash from forest operations — were once thought to contribute the vast majority of carbon found in soils, which is the repository of more carbon than that found in the atmosphere and all vegetation on Earth combined. Scientists also believed that most of the carbon from plant matter ended up being released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide gas.
Cindy’s research forms part of a more nuanced understanding of the carbon cycle, and one that involves a complex carbon feedback loop extending from treetop to root tip and into the soil.
In their 2023 paper on continuous root forestry, Cindy and UBC Forestry Prof. Sue Grayston reviewed evidence of a carbon exchange between photosynthate exuded from tree roots and from the branching hyphae of mycorrhizal fungi, as well as soil biodiversity, organic matter and carbon stocks.
Their paper explained how some of the carbon photosynthetically fixed by a tree is released through its roots or transferred to mycorrhizal fungi. This carbon is then released into the surrounding soil, feeding belowground biodiversity, which accounts for around one quarter of all biodiversity on the planet.
However, the carbon flux dissipates quickly the further afield it extends from a tree trunk. By the 10-metre mark, it becomes insignificant, Cindy notes.
critters digest cellulose and lignin, eating 10% to 20% of annual forest stand waste, and cycling nutrients back to into the earth through their feces — shown on the far, upper left — and other remains.
Retaining more trees during harvest can protect the integrity of the carbon flux, ensuring soil carbon renewal, and the long-term health of the many organisms it supports, is preserved.
For example, partial, continuous-cover or selective retention harvesting that involves the removal of only a portion of trees from a stand can prevent a cumulative shortfall in photosynthate-derived carbon, Cindy explains.
Larger trees fix more carbon than smaller ones, and broadleaved trees, such as red alder, contribute more carbon and nitrogen than coniferous trees. Other strategies to consider in support of a robust carbon flux that replenishes soil organic matter and carbon stocks include leaving in place larger trees and repopulating harvest zones with more broadleaved trees rather than only conifers, says Cindy.
Likewise, when trees are retained close enough to each other, the carbon flux can extend throughout belowground ecosystems, feeding a multitude of plants, bugs and microorganisms.
“Based on our research, we propose an inter-tree distance of 15 metres be practiced to keep the soil alive and functioning, and to support soil carbon replenishment,” adds Cindy.
Cindy’s research is one example of how innovative work at UBC Forestry is pushing boundaries to enhance the forestry profession.
“The findings from this research have changed my views on clear-cutting and sustainable forest management. While clear-cut harvest produces a lot of dead organic matter, we now know that living trees are a critical source of active carbon that generates
persistent soil carbon,” says Cindy.
Watch Cindy’s “Carbon Flux of Life Webinar”
This article was originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of Branchlines Magazine. View the full issue here.