NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: South Slave Region

Tags: physical sciences, climate change, dendrochronology, carbon, boreal forests

Objective(s): To estimate structure, growth, and production of forest stands in northwestern Canada and to examine the relationship between climate change in the high latitudinal regions and the patterns of forest biomass growth during the past century.

Project Description: Objectives of the research are two-fold. First is to estimate structure, growth, and production of forest stands in northwestern Canada by applying a stand reconstruction and 3D ground-based laser techniques as well as stand measurement, aboveground litter collection, and find root sampling. Second is to examine the relationship between climate change in the high latitudinal regions and the patterns of forest biomass growth during the past century. The research team also measure currently occurring growth and carbon dynamics of forest ecosystems in the region to clarify the quantitative relationship between climate variability and forest response. Two basic methods will be involved in the study. First is tree measurement in selected forest study plots and collection of stem samples. The research team will collect either stem increment cores or stem disc samples. Second is analysis of tree-rings to calculate stand biomass, their annual growth, and other variables based on the recently-developed method of quantitative stand reconstruction called ‘OAZ method’ (Osawa et al. 2000, 2005). Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm will be used to estimate local vegetation and biomass change with the palynological approach. The research team also plan to estimate growth and carbon dynamics of current forests in selected study plots by tree measurement, aboveground litter collection, fine root dynamics study, etc. The research team will be able to make a presentation of the research activity in the local community particularly in Fort Smith where the team plan to stay longer. Results of the study will eventually be published in scientific papers and/or books. They will be distributed to individuals and communities when they become available. The research team also plan to make oral presentations of the research at occasions in local communities so that people could have a chance of being informed of the activity. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from May 8, 2019 to September 18, 2019.