Burning and Browsing Effects on Willow Growth in Interior Alaska
Wolff JO. 1978. Burning and Browsing Effects on Willow Growth in Interior Alaska. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 42(1):135-140
Productivity and utilization of browsed and unbrowsed Scouler willow (Salix scouleriana) was measured in a 1971 burn and in an adjacent 70-year old mature black spruce (Picea mariana) forest. Production of available willow browse in the burn increased from 8 kg/ha in 1973 to 22.6 kg/ha in 1974. The greatest production came from branches which had been browsed the previous winter. In the burn in 1974, an average browsed branch produced 4.0 g of new growth, whereas an unbrowsed branch produced 2.4 g. The available willow browse produced in the control in 1974 was 9.9 kg/ha, with a browsed branch producing 2.8 g and an unbrowsed branch 0.8 g. Willow shrubs are able to compensate for loss of biomass due to overwinter browsing by increased productivity of browse-damaged stems.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Wolff, Jerry
- Units
- CAKN , DENA , WRST , YUCH
- Keywords
- anti-herbivory, Boreal, Browsing, cater thesis, Disturbance, FIRE, Food Habits, Growth, Herbivores, Mammals, mammmals, Natural, Picea mariana, Primary Production, Productivity, Salix scouleriana, Shrubs, Subarctic, Tundra, Vegetation, Wildfire, Wildlife, Willow