Canadian Forest Service

About: Canadian Forest Service is a government organization based out in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Taiga. The organization has 794 authors who have published 1259 publications receiving 63889 citations. The organization is also known as: CFS.

Mapping the land cover of the forested area of Canada with Landsat data

Abstract: A priority of the Canadian Forest Service and Canadian Space Agency joint project Earth Observation for Sustainable Development of Forests (EOSD) is the production of a land cover map of the forested area of Canada. The land cover map of the forested area of Canada will be based upon Landsat data. The land cover will be produced through a partnership of federal and provincial governments, universities, and industry. The short term goal of EOSD is to produce a land cover map of the forested area of Canada representing circa 2000 conditions. The satellite land cover of the forested area of Canada is to be completed in early 2006. Over the longer term, EOSD will aim to produce land cover products to capture the conditions present for 1990, and important reporting years occurring after 2000. Many provincial and territorial mapping agencies have on-going land cover mapping programs. EOSD will work in partnership with the provincial agencies to produce a complete satellite mapped coverage of the forested area of Canada. The forested area of Canada represents approximately half of Canada's land mass, requiring over 450 scenes for complete coverage (with overlap minimised). The combined output of EOSD and provincial/territorial land cover mapping programs will produce maps of the forested area of Canada which can be combined with maps developed by other sectors and agencies (such as agriculture) to produce a full coverage of Canada.

Fate of spinosad in litter and soils of a white spruce plantation in central Ontario

Abstract: Spinosad is a natural insecticide with potential as a novel biorational control agent for spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem]), the most destructive insect defoliator of spruce and balsam fir in Canada. Concurrent terrestrial fate experiments were conducted under full coniferous canopy and in a natural opening of a mature white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench]) plantation of central Ontario to examine the fate and persistence of spinosad in the forest floor and underlying soils. Mean initial residues of spinosyn A and D were approximately 0.2 and 0.02 µg g−1, respectively, in thatch and exposed soils, but were substantially higher, 2.72 and 0.36 µg g−1, in litter under coniferous canopy. Results demonstrated that spinosad residues in spruce litter, graminaceous thatch and exposed sandy loam soils dissipated rapidly, following hyperbolic or exponential decline models. Dissipation time (DT50) values ranged from 2.0 to 7.8 days, depending on matrix and experimental conditions. Transient increases in demethylated metabolite residues confirmed that the parent product was degraded in situ. No evidence of vertical mobility of any of the analytes was observed. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry

Chemical and dispersal characteristics of particulate emissions from forest fires in Siberia

Abstract: Approximately 20 experimental fires were conducted on forest plots of 1–4 ha each in 2000–07 in two types of boreal forests in central Siberia, and 18 on 6 × 12-m plots in 2008–10. These experiments were designed to mimic wildfires under similar burning conditions. The fires were conducted in prescribed conditions including full documentation on pre-fire weather, pre-fire and post-fire forest fuels, fire intensities, and other biological, physical and chemical parameters. The amount of particulate matter emitted during a typical fire averaged 0.6 t ha–1 and ranged within 0.2–1.0 t ha–1 depending on burning conditions. Particulates accounted for ~1–7% of the total mass of the consumed biomass during a typical forest fire (10–30 t ha–1 based on our data from 2000–07). Most of the particulate matter consists of organic substances, 77% on average, with a range of 70–90%. Elemental carbon averaged 8%, with a range of 2–18%. Trace element compositions and amounts of particulates indicate that there was no actual difference in the element emissions sampled from the fires conducted in the two forest types (6–8% in larch forest and 8% in pine forest). Most of the particulate matter, 90–95%, consists of submicrometre and near-micrometre particles ~0.1–5 μm in diameter.

If forest dynamics in Canada's west are driven mainly by competition, why did they change? Half-century evidence says: Climate change.

Abstract: In a recent paper (1), Zhang et al present analyses of “forest dynamics” inferred from measurements collected during 1958–2009 at permanent sample plots (PSP) distributed across Canada’s western forests Their results are almost unanimous in showing widespread increases in mortality, and declines in relative growth and recruitment (figure 2 in ref 1) Zhang et al conclude these trends are explained primarily by changes in stand-scale competition, and that recent changes in climate are of secondary importance Surprisingly, Zhang et al do not explain the temporal changes in competition they detected We accept that stand dynamics depend upon competition for light, nutrients, and water, but argue that climate affects the supply of these resources We find some major problems with the report by Zhang et al, including misinterpretation of results and a critical lack of clarity on key model assumptions, which cast serious doubt on their conclusions