Comparaison des caractéristiques des gros chicots entre une sapinière primitive et une sapinière aménagée sur la péninsule gaspésienne, Québec

Abstract

Snags (i.e., dead standing trees), and more particularly those of larger dimensions, are recognized as playing a major role in the maintenance of forest biodiversity. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of large snags in a primeval balsam fir forest in the Gaspé Peninsula (Quebec) and to compare them with those of an adjacent area composed of mature second-growth balsam fir stands. For snags ≥20 cm in diameter at breast height (DBH), mean density reached 51 snags/ha in the primeval forest and 24 snags/ha in the managed forest. The distribution of snags among DBH classes was similar in both areas. However, well-decayed snags made up a larger proportion of the snags in the primeval forest than in the managed forest. The proportion of snags with evidence of woodpecker feeding was higher in the managed forest than in the primeval forest. To ensure temporal and spatial continuity of snags in different decay stages, some stands could be left untouched for several rotations, and single snags could be kept or created in logged areas.