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BEN # 211
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No. 211 December 29, 1998
aceska@victoria.tc.ca Victoria, B.C.
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Dr. A. Ceska, P.O.Box 8546, Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 3S2
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BOTANY EVENTS IN VICTORIA, JANUARY 1999
Tuesday, January 19: Botany Night - Karen Golinski: "Beer &
Sauna: Peatbogs of the Czech Republic and Finland." Swan Lake
Nature House, 7:30 p.m.
Karen will show slides from several bogs she visited in fall
1998 and will discuss similarities/differences between
European and Pacific Northwest wetland vegetation.
Thursday, January 21: Native Plant Study Group meeting, UVIC,
1996 Classroom Bldg. Room C 112, 7:00 p.m.
OLD GROWTH FORESTS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
From: Andy MacKinnon <Andy.Mackinnon@gems1.gov.bc.ca>
The latest issue of Natural Areas Journal (Volume 18, Number 4:
October 1998) contains three articles on B.C.'s old-growth
forests. Here are the Abstracts from those articles:
1. Ralph Wells, Sari Saunders, and Ken Lertzman. 1998. Old-
growth definitions for the forests of British Columbia,
Canada. Nat. Areas J. 18(4): 279-292.
Increased scarcity of old forests of natural origin, and im-
proved understanding of the ways in which they are ecologically
distinct, have led to a need for standardized definitions for
old-growth forests in British Columbia, Canada. Useful defini-
tions of old growth that are simple and concise have been
elusive because the old-growth stage of forest development
occurs as a part of a continuum of development and varies
greatly over ecological gradients at several scales. Therefore,
we propose the development of ecologically based definitions in
three broad categories: conceptual, quantitative, and working.
We suggest that old growth be defined conceptually as a forest
in which processes of gap dynamics predominate. We further
propose that definitions of old growth should incorporate the
distinct structural and compositional characteristics that arise
from these development processes, because direct measures of gap
dynamics are elusive and because structural attributes perform
important ecological roles. Indices of forest structure that
capture the inherent variability of structural characteristics
of old-growth stands show promise for quantifying the qualita-
tive features contained in conceptual definitions; minimum
thresholds and demographic measures also have merit. In the
interim, working definitions based on minimum age and height for
different forest types have allowed the completion of province-
wide inventories from existing databases. Future research should
be directed toward determining the structural characteristics
and variability of the different late-successional forest types
in British Columbia so that conceptual definitions can be tested
and type-specific ecological definitions can be developed. The
paucity of basic information on characteristics of old-growth
forests limits the ability of managers to determine the area and
location of specific types of old-growth forest, and to develop
appropriate management goals and methods.
2. Dan Kneeshaw and Phil Burton. 1998. Assessment of functional
old-growth status: a case study in the Sub-Boreal Spruce Zone
of British Columbia, Canada. Nat. Areas J. 18(4): 293-308.
We present a practical approach for the assessment of old-growth
status that is consistent with stand development theory, namely
that a true old-growth stage is achieved when internal stand
regeneration processes have led to the replacement of in-
dividuals recruited immediately after the last stand-initiating
disturbance. Age and basal area of all individual trees and a
number of stand structural attributes were evaluated for 14
stands, ranging in age from 124 to 343 years since the last
stand-replacing wildfire, in the Sub-Boreal Spruce biogeo-
climatic zone of north-central British Columbia. Stands were
ranked on a stand development continuum of "mature" to "old-
growth" using age-class distributions, principal components
analysis of easily measured stand attributes, and ratios of
replacement cohort basal area to initial cohort basal area. The
latter - the ratio of the basal area of individuals recruited
under the canopy to the basal area of individuals recruited
immediately following disturbance - is most consistent with the
conceptual definition of old growth and can serve as a quantita-
tive measure of old-growth status. A cohort basal area ratio of
0.045 to 0.235 denotes the beginning of functional old-growth
status in these forests, that is, transitional old-growth sensu
Oliver (1981, Oliver and Larsen 1990). Thresholds are identified
for five easily measured stand attributes that separate clearly
mature from clearly old-growth stands. An old-growth scoring
system is presented, based on the ratio of observed levels of
those attributes to the identified thresholds, multiplied by a
weighting factor derived from the correlation of each attribute
with the cohort basal area ratio, which is more difficult to
measure. When summed over all five attributes, an old-growth
score > 1.0 denotes stands in this forest type that are func-
tionally old growth.
3. Andy MacKinnon and Terje Vold. 1998. Old-growth forests
inventory for British Columbia, Canada. Nat. Areas J. 18(4):
309-318.
We analyzed more than 7 000 1:20 000 forest cover maps for
British Columbia to determine the amount of old-growth forest in
the Canadian province. For this exercise, 'old growth' was
defined as: forests on the coast >250 years old; and forests in
the interior >140 years old for most tree species, and >120
years old for lodgepole pine and deciduous species. Using this
definition, British Columbia is 37.1% 'nonforest', 36.1%
'younger forest', and 26.8% 'old growth'. These data were
analyzed by broad ecological (biogeoclimatic) zones. Old-growth
forests cover more than 40% of the land base on the coast and at
subalpine elevations in interior B.C., and less than 1% of the
land base in the coastal rainshadow forests of southeastern
Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Approximately 7.7% of the
province's landbase is covered with forests >250 years old.
Almost 13% of B.C.'s remaining old growth is in protected areas.
In the future, area of old-growth forest will decrease over the
province's timber harvesting land base; this decrease may be
somewhat offset by increases (due to fire suppression) outside
of the timber harvesting land base.
For those who just can't get enough information about B.C.'s
old-growth forests, the proceedings of the February 1998 Vic-
toria workshop "Structure, Processes and Diversity in Succes-
sional Forests of Coastal British Columbia" make up a Special
Issue of the journal Northwest Science, published in late Novem-
ber 1998. This workshop reports on research findings documenting
differences between old-growth and second-growth forests in
coastal B.C.
The papers from this issue of Northwest Science are also avail-
able at the workshop web site:
http://www.pfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/workshops/toc-sfrw.htm
BOOK REVIEW: ECOLOGY OF NORTH AMERICA
From: Adolf Ceska <aceska@victoria.tc.ca>
Bolen, E. G. 1998. Ecology of North America. Illustrated by
Tamara R. Sayre. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York. xv + 448 p.
ISBN 0-471-13156-3 [hardcover] Price: US $79.95
Ordering information:
In the USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 605 Third avenue, New
York, N.Y. 10158-0012 web page: http://catalog.wiley.com
In Canada: John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd. 22 Worcester Road,
Etobicoke, Ont. M9W 1L1 Phone: 416-236-4433, 1-800-567-4797,
Fax: 416-236-8743, 1-800-565-6802
The book describes ecology of the main biomes encountered in
North America (tundra, boreal forest, eastern deciduous forest,
grasslands, deserts, chapparal, montane forest, and temperate
rain forest). An introductory chapter explains the main ecologi-
cal terms and principles and the final chapter covers special
environments (e.g, caves, Grand Canyon, Niagara Escarpment) that
don't fit into the major biomes. The author is a wildlife
biologist and the main focus of the book is on the relationship
between plants communities and animals. A general description of
the ecology of vegetation formation is accompanied by the "High-
lights" - a collection of interesting interactions, conservation
problems, or historical vignettes related to the particular
vegetation. Each chapter has a copious bibliography, useful for
further study.
The book is meant as a college textbook and it is written in a
clear style and is richly illustrated. It is a valuable source
of information and nice link between plant communities and
animal community ecology. On the other hand, the importance of
the climate as a determining factor in the vegetation structure
and composition is not stressed enough. I would have liked to
see Walter & Lieth's climatic diagrams to illustrate climates
dealt with in this book. I was annoyed that the author uses only
the common names in the text until I found a list of common vs.
scientific names of all the mentioned organisms in the Appendix.
I agree with the publishers who regard Ecology of North America
to be "an ideal first text for students interested in natural
resources, environmental science, and biology, and a useful and
attractive addition to the library of anyone interested in
attempting to understand and protect the natural environment."
Other recent books from the same author:
Baldassarre, G.A. & E.G. Bolen. 1994. Waterfowl ecology and
management. John Wiley & Sons, New York. xvii + 609 p. ISBN
0-471-59770-8 [hardcover]
Web site: see above
Bolen, E.G. & William Robinson. 1999. Wildlife Ecology and
Management. Prentice Hall Engineering, Upper Saddle River,
N.J. 605 p. ISBN 0-13-840422-4 [hardcover]
web site: http://www.prenhall.com/
BOOK REVIEW: INTERMOUNTAIN SEDGES (CAREX - CYPERACEAE)
From: Adolf Ceska <aceska@victoria.tc.ca>
Hurd, E.G., Shaw, N.L., Mastrogiuseppe, J. Smithman, L.C. &
Goodrich, S. 1998. Field guide to Intermountain sedges. Gen.
Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-10. US Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Ogden, UT. 282 p.
[ring binding] Cost: free [!]
Available from:
Publication Distribution, Rocky Mountain Research Station,
324 25th Street, Odgen, UT 84401 phone: 801-625-5437, fax:
801-625-5129 (attn: Publications)
e-mail: pubs/rmrsm_ogden@fs.fed.us
web site: http://www.xmission.com/~rmrs
This pocket field guide contains descriptions and illustrations
of 114 species of Carex from the Intermountain area. Each
species is described on one page and illustrated on the opposite
page. Descriptions contain synonymy, and morphological, habitat
and distribution information. Illustrations combine line draw-
ings with colour macrophotographs. The line drawings are mostly
taken from the "Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest" or
from the "Intermountain Flora" (with additional line drawings by
E.G. Hurd). The colour photographs show details of the inflores-
cence and a set of scales, perigynia and achenes. The
photographs were taken by the senior author and they are excel-
lent. The book has an extensive terminology section that is
fully illustrated. It also has dichotomous keys to all 114
species, plus a few more uncommon species that are not treated
in the description section. Tables in the appendix give dis-
criminant characters for identification of species in eleven
groups of similar species. These tables contain both the species
treated in the special part and the uncommon species that are
not covered by the guide.
This is an excellent guide, useful not only for the Intermoun-
tain area (Nevada, Utah, and parts of Oregon, Idaho and
Wyoming), but also for the neighbouring regions that have many
species in common with this area. Its format is an excellent
example for similar field guides and I especially like the
superb combination of line drawings with colour macro-
photographs. The guide is printed on heavy, glossy paper. The
cover, however, is a low grade paper, almost a blotter. I had it
laminated immediately when I received my copy and you should do
the same.
NEW BOOK: PLANTS IN MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATES OF THE WORLD
From: Adolf Ceska <aceska@victoria.tc.ca>
Dallman, P.R. 1998. Plant life in the world's mediterranean
climates: California, Chile, South Africa, Australia, and the
Mediterranean Basin. With a preface by Robert Ornduff.
California Native Plant Society & University of California
Press, Berkeley, CA. xii + 257 p. ISBN 0-520-20809-9
[softcover] Price: US$29.95
Ordering information:
California Native Plant Society, 1722 J Street, Suite 17,
Sacramento, CA 95814
Web site: http://www.calpoly.edu/~dchippin/pubs.html
The book covers the following topics: Definition of the mediter-
ranean climate, plant and climate origins, plant adaptations,
plant communities, and vegetation of California, Central Chile,
Western Cape-South Africa, Australia, and the Mediterranean
Basin; planning a trip (to visit areas with mediterranean
climates & plants). The bibliography contains over 240 refer-
ences.
Dr. Robert Ornduff wrote in the Preface: "In this engaging and
beautifully illustrated book, Peter Dallman describes the five
regions of the world with a mediterranean climate (their
climates are not so similar as I once believed [R. Ornduff]),
the diverse adaptations that enable plants to survive the
prolonged summer droughts typical of these regions, the plant
communities found there, and human influences that have shaped
the physical and botanical landscapes. For each region, he
describes and illustrates significant features of the terrain,
environmental influences, and vegetation types. As a traveler,
Dallman has first-hand knowledge of these places, is well-read,
and has distilled a myriad of facts into a highly readable and
engaging synthesis for those interested in the rich array of
plants that grow in these regions. Chapter 10 presents useful
suggestions for those planning a trip to any of these regions
and recommends books that will enhance their visits."
EDITORIAL - GREETINGS 1999
I would like to thank all the authors who submitted their notes
and articles to BEN in 1998. BEN would not be able to survive
without your articles. I would like to thank especially to those
of you from whom I solicited contributions: it is always dif-
ficult to write on command. My thanks go to the readers for
their patience, to all BEN subscribers for remaining faithful to
BEN, and to all those, who know how and when to use the delete
button. I have to thank the Victoria Freenet Association and the
(mysterious to me) "cue.bc.ca" for the simple mailing system
they created for me that enables me to mail BEN without any
glitches. Quite a few people in my vicinity know English better
than I do, and I would like to thank them for their ghost writ-
ing and editing of what I write. Last but not least, I would
like to thank Dr. Scott Russell for converting BEN issues to the
web pages.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !
Adolf Ceska
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