Black Sturgeon Boreal Mixedwood Research Project

Abstract

Over 50% of the productive forest land in boreal Ontario is composed of boreal mixedwood stands. These stands represent some of the most complex ecological problems for forest researchers because of inherent fertility and high productivity both in terms of timber yields and ability to sustain high wildlife populations. The response of boreal mixedwoods to disturbances such as fire, insects and disease and harvesting is also unclear. An integrated, multi-disciplinary, multi-agency approach to understanding boreal mixedwood ecosystems was undertaken in the early 1990s with the establishment of the Black Sturgeon Boreal Mixedwood Research Project Four broad research component studies – site preparation alternatives, harvesting impacts, fire ecology and aquatic ecosystem responses – were begun in second growth boreal mixedwoods in north central Ontario. This account provides a broad overview of the specific research investigations on the Black Sturgeon Boreal Mixedwood Research Project. It outlines the funding, partnerships and management of this project and provides a historical research perspective of the Black Sturgeon area. Key words: boreal, mixedwood, harvesting impacts, fire ecology, site preparation, aquatic ecosystems