Role of Complex Stands in
Conserving Vertebrate Diversity
in Beetle Affected LandscapesDoug Steventon, Ministry of Forests and Range
Frank Doyle, Wildlife Dynamics Consulting
Supported, in part by:
Study Area
Adapted from: Coates, DeLong, Burton, and Sachs. 2006. Unpubl.
Occurrence of ‘Secondary Structure’ In Pine Dominated Stands
0
20
40
60
80
100
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Clearcut basal area equivalence (years)
Cum
ulat
ive
% o
f pl
ots
SBSdkSBSmc2
Key Stand Attributes
• Tree Species• Tree Density• Vertical layering• Standing Dead• Fallen Dead• Shrub / herd layer development• Gaps
Red Squirrel
Hares
Browse
Birds
Hypogeous fungi
Epigeous fungi
Insects
Voles
Flying Squirrel
Tree lichens
Conifer Seed
Marten
Goshawk
Lynx
Data from: Clark, D.F. 1994. Post-fire succession in the sub-boreal spruce forests of the Nechako Plateau, central British Columbia. M.Sc. Thesis.
01020304050607080
0 100 200 300 400 500
Stand age (years)
Bas
al a
rea
(m2
/ ha)
PinusAbies+Picea
Habitat Succession/Recovery After Natural Disturbance (SBSmc)
0
10
20
30
40
0 100 200 300 400 500
Stand age (years)
Bas
al a
rea
(m2
/ ha) Snags
0
10
20
30
40
50
0 20 40 60 80 100
Percent Tree Mortality
Bird
s / h
a
Data from: Stone, W.E. 1995. The impact of a mountain pine beetle epidemic on wildlife habitat and communities in post-epidemic stands of a lodgepole pine forest in northern Utah. Ph.D. Thesis, Utah Sate University.
Bird response to MPB-caused Mortality
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Year
Bird
spe
cies
det
ecte
d
No MPB Severe MPB
Bird Diversity (Nadina)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
% Cover of Shrub-Herb layer (> 0.5m height)
Har
e Pe
llets
/Qua
drat
With canopySnowshoe Hare Abundance
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
% Cover of Shrub-Herb layer (> 0.5m height)
Har
e Pe
llets
/Qua
drat
Without canopy
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
% Cover of Shrub-Herb layer (> 0.5m height)
Har
e Pe
llets
/Qua
drat
With canopy Without canopy
Disturbance Response CurvesClearcut
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0 20 40 60 80 100
Years after Disturbance
Hab
itat S
core New Growth
CombinedBeetle KillLive Overstory
Disturbance Response CurvesBeetle-killed, no ‘secondary structure’
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0 20 40 60 80 100
Years after Disturbance
Hab
itat S
core New Growth
CombinedBeetle KillLive Overstory
Disturbance Response CurvesBeetle-killed, 40-year equivalency
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0 20 40 60 80 100
Years after Disturbance
Hab
itat S
core New Growth
CombinedBeetle KillLive Overstory
0
20
40
60
80
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Habitat Quality Index
Est.
Abun
danc
e / 1
6ha
Grid
Flying Squirrel
Tree Squirrel Abundance
Steventon, J.D. 2006. Northern flying squirrels and red squirrels: is there life after logging? Extension Note 2, B.V. Centre, http://www.bvcentre.ca/pdf/Documents/Research/05-6SquirrelsBVRC-EN2Final.pdf
0
5
10
15
20
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Habitat Quality Index
Est.
Abu
ndan
ce /
16ha
Grid
Red Squirrel
Simulate Plausible Future LandscapesInitial States
Site Index
Age
Dynamic Events
Population Projections
0
500
1000
1500
2000
0 25 50 75 100
Years
Adu
lt Fe
mal
es
Habitat + Population Modelling
Species Interactions
Future landscapes
Species Models
Morice TSA
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
0 20 40 60 80 100
Years
Terr
itorie
s
Min. ProtectMax. Protect
Lakes TSA
200030004000
50006000
0 20 40 60 80 100
Years
Terr
itorie
s
Min. ProtectMax. Protect
ConclusionsMPB attacked forests continue to have substantial habitat value.
‘Secondary Structure’ can be a key contributor to that value, short-term and long-term.
Prioritizing Stands based on Structure?
Partial Cutting ?
Reduced Salvage ?
Some additional references:Werner, R.A., E.H. Holsten, S.M. Matsouka, and R.E. Burnside. 2006. Spruce beetles and forest ecosystems in south-central Alaska: a review of 30 years of research. Forest Ecology and Management 227:195-206.
Stuart-Smith, A.K., J.P. Hayes, J. Schieck. 2006. The influence of wildfire, logging and residual tree density on bird communities in the northern Rocky Mountains. Forest Ecology and Management 231:1-17.
Burton, P.J. 2006. Restoration of forests attacked by mountain pine beetle: misnomer, misdirected, or must-do. BC Journal of Ecosystems and Management 7:1-10.
Effects of bark beetle outbreaks on avian biodiversity in the British Columbia interior: implications for critical habitat management. BC Journal of Ecosystems and Management 7:10-24.
Chan-McLeod, A. C. A. 2006. A review and synthesis of the effects of unsalvaged mountain-pine-beetle-attacked stands on wildlife and implications for forest management. BC Journal of Ecosystems and Management 7:119-132.
Waterhouse, M.J., Armleder, H.M. 2007. Forest bird response to partial cutting in lodgepole pine forests on caribou winter range in west-central British Columbia. BC Journal of Ecosystems and Management (in press) .