Study Sites
Fig. 4: Forest regions of Alberta.
This study began in the summer of 2009 and is
currently taking place in the Central Mixedwood
Natural Subregion of the Alberta Boreal Forest.
During the 2009 field season stands underplanted
in Calling Lake and Lac La Biche during the
following years were studied:
▪ 1994 (n=3)
▪ 1999 (n=3)
▪ 2004/05 (n=3)
Experimental Design
Fig. 5: Plot layout within a stand; 'control' plots within the non-underplanted areas, and 'base' and 'adjacent' plots at the white spruce in the underplanted areas. All plots 2x1m.
Both experimental and control plots located in each of the 9 stands:
▪ Control (non-underplanted areas)
▪ Experimental "Base" plots (0-1m from base of the white spruce)
▪ Experimental "Adjacent" plots (1-2m from base of the white spruce)
▪ Control (non-underplanted areas)
▪ Experimental "Base" plots (0-1m from base of the white spruce)
▪ Experimental "Adjacent" plots (1-2m from base of the white spruce)
Measurements
Fig. 6: Plot set up at a white spruce underplanted in 2004 (photo taken in 2009). Orange pin flags mark the outer edges of of the plots (base and adjacent).
Fig. 7: Diagram of measurement locations within experimental plots (at the tree) and control plot. Soil measurements/samples taken at locations marked with an 'X'; orange circles represent decomposition bags (colors correspond with colors of flagging on the ground seen in Fig. 6).
The following measurements were taken in each of the 150 plots sampled during the first field season:
▪ Vegetation cover (%) to species (vascular and non-vascular)
▪ Light (PAR with a ceptometer; not discussed further on this website)
▪ Soil temperature (thermocouple; not discussed further on this website)
▪ Soil moisture (ML2x/HH2 meter)
▪ Decomposition rate (cellulose filter paper in mesh bags)
▪ Soil nutrients (PRSTM-probes)
▪ Litter & FH depths
▪ White spruce height, crown radius, and stem diameter at 5 cm
Organic and mineral soil samples collected from each plot to analyze pH, microbial biomass and microbial activity (not discussed here on this website).
Disclaimer: This website was created as part of a class exercise for RenR 690 by Erica Graham.