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Seismic lines—narrow and straight corridors from which overstory has been removed to allow access for oil and gas exploration—are a major human footprint in the boreal forest of western Canada. With slow to minimal recovery of tree cover along these corridors, seismic lines have become a persistent landscape feature affecting connectivity and habitat quality in forested ecosystems, particularly in wetland areas. Soil mounding is a common ground preparation treatment widely applied along seismic lines, with the expectation that it will enhance tree seedling establishment and improve the return of tree cover to disturbed areas. However, much is still unknown about environmental responses following treatment application. In this study, we compared the ground microtopography in treated and untreated seismic lines, as well as the relative elevation between treated and untreated seismic lines with their adjacent treed peatland. The ground elevation in both treated and untreated sites was significantly lower on seismic lines relative to their adjacent treed peatland, with a greater elevation difference in treated areas. Likewise, ground microtopography was orders of magnitude higher along treated areas compared to the natural variation in the adjacent treed peatland. Given the important changes in relative elevation and topography following treatment application, our results suggest the potential for eventual treatment success may be more unpredictable than expected; this may have critical consequences for other ecological properties beyond the restoration goal of tree establishment and return of tree cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boreal peatlands of Alberta (Canada) are heavily dissected by a large network of linear disturbances, including seismic lines used for Oil and Gas exploration. Edge effects resulting from these linear disturbances can increase their footprint and affect wildlife habitat, including the quality and quantity of plant and lichen forage. In 2012, seismic line restoration became a priority in Alberta, under the realm of restoration of habitat of threatened boreal woodland caribou. More accurate understanding of biotic and abiotic interactions leading to edge effects can be important in choosing appropriate restoration practices and prompting natural regeneration. We assessed the extent of edge effects of seismic lines on the adjacent boreal peatland near Peace River, northwestern Alberta. We compared plant and lichen community composition and environmental conditions on seismic lines and along 22 transects, which extended perpendicularly 75 m into the peatland from both lines edges. Soil moisture and light were higher on the lines, but frozen ground was less frequent than in the adjacent peatland. Seismic lines were also subsided by approximately 1.2 cm. Lichens were less abundant in the 2–25 m zone from the edge—indicating edge effects. On the lines, Sphagnum constituted a nearly 100% cover while lichens, trees, herbs, and other bryophytes were less abundant than in the peatland. We demonstrate how knowledge of edge effects on plants and lichens could be applied in assessing caribou habitat quality based on forage availability and predation risk, and how such knowledge could inform restoration practices of seismic lines in peatlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boreal peatlands of Alberta (Canada) are heavily dissected by a large network of linear disturbances, including seismic lines used for Oil and Gas exploration. Edge effects resulting from these linear disturbances can increase their footprint and affect wildlife habitat, including the quality and quantity of plant and lichen forage. In 2012, seismic line restoration became a priority in Alberta, under the realm of restoration of habitat of threatened boreal woodland caribou. More accurate understanding of biotic and abiotic interactions leading to edge effects can be important in choosing appropriate restoration practices and prompting natural regeneration. We assessed the extent of edge effects of seismic lines on the adjacent boreal peatland near Peace River, northwestern Alberta. We compared plant and lichen community composition and environmental conditions on seismic lines and along 22 transects, which extended perpendicularly 75 m into the peatland from both lines edges. Soil moisture and light were higher on the lines, but frozen ground was less frequent than in the adjacent peatland. Seismic lines were also subsided by approximately 1.2 cm. Lichens were less abundant in the 2–25 m zone from the edge—indicating edge effects. On the lines, Sphagnum constituted a nearly 100% cover while lichens, trees, herbs, and other bryophytes were less abundant than in the peatland. We demonstrate how knowledge of edge effects on plants and lichens could be applied in assessing caribou habitat quality based on forage availability and predation risk, and how such knowledge could inform restoration practices of seismic lines in peatlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oil and gas industry has grown significantly throughout the boreal and arctic ecosystems of North America. A major feature of the ecological footprint of oil and gas exploration is seismic lines-narrow corridors used to transport and deploy geophysical survey equipment. These lines, which traverse forests, tundra, uplands, and peatlands, were historically up to 10 m wide. Over the past decade, seismic lines have decreased in width (in some cases down to 1.75-3 m); however, their density has increased drastically and their construction is expected to continue in regions of Canada and the United States that are rich in oil and gas resources. We examine the literature related to the environmental impacts of, and restoration and reclamation efforts associated with, seismic lines in the boreal and arctic ecosystems of North America. With respect to conventional seismic lines, numerous studies report significant and persistent environmental changes along these lines and slow recovery of vegetation that translates into a lasting fragmentation of the landscape. This fragmentation has many ramifications for biodiversity and ecosystem processes, including significant implications for threatened woodland caribou herds. While modern, low-impact seismic lines have comparatively lower ecological effects at the site-level, their high density and associated potential edge effects suggest that their actual environmental impact may be underestimated. Seismic line restoration is a critical aspect of future integrated landscape management in hydrocarbon-rich regions of the boreal-arctic, and if widely applied, has the potential to benefit a wide range of species and maintain or re-establish key ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research note presents the results of a bibliometric analysis that was conducted to better understand the impact that Sustainable Forest Management Network (SFMN) funded research had in the forest-related social and Aboriginal research communities. We applied two indicators of research impact: (i) research outputs and (ii) citations. Our results suggest that the SFMN's research outputs were highest in the fields of economics, sociology, and political science and law. The number of research articles that acknowledged the SFMN was 30% of the total research output of the SFMN-funded Principal Investigators. These articles represented 3% of the social science articles published in the Forestry Chronicle (the journal most frequently used by SFMN-funded Principal Investigators). Research output related to Aboriginal forestry indicated that the SFMN had a significant influence on the development of the field. Our citation analysis indicated that the average number of citations per SFMN-acknowledged publication in the social sciences was approximately the same as the international impact standard in the field. These results suggest that the SFMN-funded research in the social sciences compared very well with the international research standards in forest-related social sciences. Cette note de recherche expose les résultats d'une analyse bibliométrique effectuée afin de mieux comprendre l'impact des projets de recherche financés par le Réseau de gestion durable des forêts (RGDF) au sein des communautés scientifiques préoccupées par les aspects sociaux et les enjeux autochtones en foresterie. Nous avons utilisés deux types d'indicateurs pour mesurer l'impact de la recherche : (i) la production scientifique et (ii) les citations. Nos résultats montrent que la production scientifique du RGDF est la plus prolifique dans les domaines de l'économique, de la sociologie, de la science politique et du droit. Le nombre d'articles scientifiques qui reconnaissent la contribution du RGDF 30 % de la production totale des chercheurs principaux financés par le RGDF. Ces articles constituent 3 % des articles en sciences sociales publiés dans le Forestry Chronicle (la publication la plus fréquemment utilisée par les chercheurs principaux financés par le RGDF). La production scientifique reliée à la foresterie autochtone montre que le RGDF a eu une influence marquante sur le développement du domaine. Notre analyse des citations indique que le nombre moyen de citations par publication en sciences sociales attribuée au RGDF est approximativement le même que la norme internationale dans ce domaine. Ces résultats indiquent que la contribution scientifique du RGDF dans le domaine des sciences sociales se compare très bien aux normes internationales dans le domaine de la recherche en sciences sociales en lien avec la foresterie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem responses to current global climate change can be predicted through experimental climate simulations. One such simulation method is the open-top chamber (OTC). The effects of OTCs on environmental factors are potentially complex, and recognizing the numerous interactions among these factors is crucial for the proper use of chambers. We studied the effects of OTCs on microclimatic factors including ambient temperature, relative humidity, soil temperature, and soil moisture. Plant abundance responses were also assessed. Our study involved the construction of 20 OTCs (1 m in diameter and 0.75 m in height; made of clear acrylic plastic) and 20 control plots on substrates with and without Sphagnum moss, at post-fire and logging sites of the transitional mixedwood-boreal forest in the southern part of James Bay region, Quebec. Experimental trials were also conducted to test the effects of OTCs on snowmelt in the Montreal region. Our results suggest that OTC treatment is most evident in terms of increased daytime maximum temperatures (2°C to 3°C), and cooler (up to ∼2.4°C), drier (up to 10% volumetric moisture content) soils. Advanced thawing of the insulating snow cover and exposure of soil in the OTCs to low spring temperatures appeared to prolong soil freeze and result in cooler soils. Earlier snowmelt probably also led to earlier onset and overall increased evaporation of meltwater in the OTCs, leading to drier soils. Plant abundance responses to OTC treatment differed depending on plant species. Overall, open-top chambers provide an effective and simple method of climate change simulation, but it is highly advisable that the complex interactive effects, both desired and undesired, are well understood and appreciated before using OTCs for experimental climate simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open-top chamber (OTC) climate change simulation was used to predict the potential effects of climate change on biogeochemistry, including: 1) soil decomposition of three litter types (trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.), black spruce ( Picea mariana (Miller) BSP), and Sphagnum); 2) soil nutrient supply rates, and; 3) soil acidity. We assessed the effects of OTCs on these biogeochemical factors in the presence or absence of Sphagnum moss substrate at post-fire and logging sites, in the transitional mixedwood-boreal zone of northwestern Quebec. Higher air temperatures and cooler, drier soils created by the OTC treatment resulted in lower decomposition rates and a higher C:N ratio of aspen litter, and lower Ca concentrations of the Sphagnum litter after 14 months of incubation, as well as lower K concentrations of spruce litter after 24 month incubation. There were no effects of the OTC treatment on decomposition rates for Sphagnum and spruce litter. The nutrient supply rates of Ca and Mg were consistently lower in the OTCs. The supply rates of N were significantly higher in the control plots at the logging site than at any other combination of the OTC treatment and disturbance site. Soil pH was lower in the OTCs by the end of the growing seasons in 2006 and 2007. The results suggest that the impact of climatic changes, as simulated by the OTC treatment, on the soil system of mixedwood-boreal post-disturbance sites is likely to affect biogeochemical processes such as nutrient supply rates and the soil pH, but the effects on decomposition may be minimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear disturbances from geological exploration (i.e., seismic lines) have an extensive footprint across much of Canada's western boreal forest; however, how seismic lines interact with subsequent wildfire remains poorly understood. We assessed whether wildfires effectively mitigate the footprint of seismic lines by promoting forest recovery. We evaluated the forest structure of legacy seismic lines burned in 2001 and 2002 by comparing them against adjacent unburned control plots, using metrics derived from airborne laser scanning (ALS) data collected between 2007 and 2009. ALS metrics identified persistent differences in vegetation height and structure between seismic lines and adjacent forest controls, 7–9 years post-fire. Median canopy height was 2.90 m lower on upland seismic lines and 1.94 m lower on lowland seismic lines than on adjacent controls, corresponding to a 21% and 25% height reduction, respectively. Field surveys revealed greater graminoid and nonvascular plant cover, and lower tall-tree cover and dead vegetative matter, on seismic lines, in comparison with controls. Our results show that tree recovery remains significantly delayed on most upland and lowland burned seismic lines in our study area, and that additional management efforts or longer timescales may be required to restore these fragmented landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We identify how changes in Canada's CEA policy landscape impact CEA research. • We analyzed and compared Canada's 2012 CEA and 2019 IAA policies and guidelines. • We systematically review CEA research in Canada's forest ecosystem. • We found few research considered indigenous and public engagement. • We recommend training to provide researchers with the tools for comprehensive CEA. Cumulative effects assessment (CEA), as a subset of environmental impact assessment, has been used over the past half-century to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic and natural processes on the integrity of forest ecosystems. In 2019, the Canadian federal government launched the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) and the Practitioner's Guide to Federal Impact Assessment to replace the 2012 Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) and the Practitioner's Guide. The new act emphasizes, among other issues, the need for CEA research to actively engage Indigenous communities and the public and apply a gender-based analysis (GBA) plus framework in their assessment. This paper aims to identify how cumulative effects research in Canadian forestry has progressed over time and how it aligns with federal government guidelines under the Impact Assessment Act of 2019. Through a systematic review of CEA research in Canada since 1992 and a document analysis, we examine the conduct of CEA research and compare the 2012 CEAA and the 2019 IAA and their respective practitioners' guides to identify key similarities and differences and establish the influence of the 2019 IAA on CEA research. This accounts for how adaptive CEA research in Canada is to the changing landscape, specifically in measuring and addressing the impacts of disturbances on different interest groups. While much of CEA research followed the impact identification and reporting requirements of the 2012 CEAA and 2019 IAA, few research projects, particularly those written after 2019, paid much attention to Indigenous and public participation, while none considered GBA Plus in their analysis. This is despite the availability of GBA Plus, Indigenous, and public engagement guidelines and resources identified in the 2019 practitioners guide. We recommend active engagement between federal regulatory agencies and industry to ensure that industry and researchers have the proper training and resources to facilitate more meaningful consideration and integration of GBA Plus, including Indigenous and public engagement processes in their CEA research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various effects on plant growth associated with handling or touching plants are well documented from greenhouse and laboratory studies, but are generally unknown or ignored under field conditions. We examined the prevalence of the effects of handling, at levels typical of many ecological experiments, on aboveground biomass and damage by invertebrate herbivores for a total of 16 common species from three plant communities in western Canada. Significant effects of handling were observed in the alpine meadow and grassland, but not in the boreal forest. Handling reduced aboveground biomass and increased the mean intensity of invertebrate leaf damage for most species. A meta-analysis of the relationship between plant traits and response to handling indicated that woody plants and species without strong chemical or conspicuous morphological defenses were most strongly affected. Overall, our results indicate that potentially confounding effects of routinely sampling plants in the field are widespread and merit further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews trends in the academic literature on cumulative effects assessment (CEA) of disturbance on forest ecosystems to advance research in the broader context of impact assessments. Disturbance is any distinct spatiotemporal event that disrupts the structure and composition of an ecosystem affecting resource availability. We developed a Python package to automate search term selection, write search strategies, reduce bias and improve the efficient and effective selection of articles from academic databases and grey literature. We identified 148 peer-reviewed literature published between 1986 and 2022 and conducted an inductive and deductive thematic analysis of the results. Our findings revealed that CEA studies are concentrated in the global north, with most publications from authors affiliated with government agencies in the USA and Canada. Methodological and analytical approaches are less interdisciplinary but mainly quantitative and expert-driven, involving modeling the impacts of disturbances on biophysical valued components. Furthermore, the assessment of socioeconomic valued components, including the effects of disturbance on Indigenous wellbeing connected to forests, has received less attention. Even though there is a high preference for regional assessment, challenges with data access, quality, and analysis, especially baseline data over long periods, are hampering effective CEA. Few articles examined CEA – policy/management nexus. Of the few studies, challenges such as the inadequate implementation of CEA mitigation strategies due to policy drawbacks and resource constraints, the high cost of monitoring multiple indicators, and poor connections between scenarios/modeling and management actions were paramount. Future CEA research is needed to broaden our understanding of how multiple disturbance affects forests in the global south and coupled social and ecological systems and their implications for sustainable forest management. • We review cumulative effect assessments of disturbances in forest ecosystems. • The study developed a Python package to automate the search term selection. • We identified 148 peer review and grey literature across 29 countries. • Most studies are located in the global north, and methodologies are expert-driven. • Study should focus on how disturbance affects coupled social and ecological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]