Abstract
There is limited information on how velvet leaf blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.) responds to fires and existing small forest gaps associated with narrow linear disturbances. We measured the effects of narrow forest linear gaps from seismic lines used for oil and gas exploration versus adjacent (control) forests across a fire severity (% tree mortality) gradient on the presence, abundance (cover), vigor (height), and berry production of Vaccinium myrtilloides in recently (five-year) burned jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) forests near Fort McMurray, Alberta. Presence was greatest in forests that experienced low to moderately-high fire severities with declines at high fire severity. Abundance did not differ among seismic lines or adjacent forest, nor did it differ along a fire severity gradient. In contrast, vigor and berry production were greater on seismic lines compared to adjacent forests with fire severity positively affecting berry production, but not plant vigor. After controlling for changes in plant cover and vigor, berry production still increased with fire severity and within seismic lines compared with adjacent forests. Our findings suggest that narrow gaps from linear disturbances and fire severity interact to affect the fecundity (berry production) and growth (height) of Vaccinium myrtilloides. This has important implications for assessing the ecological effects of fire on linear disturbances associated with energy exploration in the western boreal forest.
Highlights
Fire is a common element in the boreal forest [1] with many of its dominant plants having adaptations that allow their long-term persistence, even under high fire frequencies [2,3,4]
Of the 66 sites and 132 plots sampled, Vaccinium myrtilloides was present in 41 (62.1%) seismic (p < 0.001, with43increases occurring both the seismic line and thedifference adjacentbetween forest stand up lineTable plots 1)
We found that the presence of Vaccinium myrtilloides in recently burned jack pine forests depended on fire severity with low to moderately-high severity (0%–75% tree mortality) increasing the presence in both seismic line forest gaps and adjacent forest stands
Summary
Fire is a common element in the boreal forest [1] with many of its dominant plants having adaptations that allow their long-term persistence, even under high fire frequencies [2,3,4]. Jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) is a common overstory species that dominates drier sites of the boreal forests of North America whose serotinous cones open and release seeds following fire [5,6]. Fire severity plays an important role in affecting the composition of vegetation both directly and indirectly through changes in below-ground processes [11]. A common emphasis of forest fire studies is in understanding changes in tree composition and density [13,14,15,16]. About understory responses despite having the potential to influence the direction of post-fire succession [17]
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