Boreal mixedwood species composition in relationship to topography and white spruce seed dispersal constraint |
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| Institution: | 1. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries, Beekeeping, Game Management and Special Zoology, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;2. University of Zagreb, Veterinary Faculty, Department of Biology, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;3. Laboratory for Radioecology, Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, PO Box 160, Bijenička 54, 10002 Zagreb, Croatia |
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| Abstract: | In this study we integrated digital terrain models, forest inventory maps, optical remote sensing and field data to analyze the spatial structure of a 4850 km2 boreal mixedwood forest landscape in northeastern British Columbia. We built independent maps of forest cover and landform using a Bayesian classification algorithm and quantitative surface analysis. These data were used to test the strength of the association between topographic position and forest cover using a modified electivity index. We then used logistic regression to test whether the probability of a site being occupied by either mixedwood or hardwood is correlated to its distance from white spruce (Picea glauca) seed sources. The relationship between forest cover and topography showed significant departures from randomness, with white spruce preferentially associated with channels and concave slopes, and hardwoods preferentially associated with ridges and convex slopes. The analysis of mixedwood and hardwood stand distribution showed a positive correlation between hardwood occurrence and distance from spruce stands, suggesting that the dispersal limitations of white spruce is a significant influence on landscape vegetation dynamics. Overall, the results support the hypothesis that mixedwood dynamics are the product of ecological processes at multiple scales. Furthermore, these dynamics are only revealed by taking a varied approach to both data gathering and analyses. |
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