Abstract

The chapters in this thesis examine the post-fire and post-salvage natural regeneration dynamics of Picea mariana (black spruce) and Pinus banksiana (jack pine). The first examines the compaction of the post-fire organic layer by snow and its effects on seedling recruitment. We found that compression occured but at an insufficient rate to seriously increase seedling establishment. There was a positive relationship between the initial thickness of the burned organic layer depth and the subsequent amount of compression. The second chapter examines the post-fire abscission schedule of these two species. We found that seed abscission begins immediately following fire, with jack pine having a faster rate of abscission than black spruce. The third chapter presents a post-fire and post-salvage natural regeneration model that includes (1) the abscission schedule from Chapter two, (2) seed availability as a function of basal area, salvage proportion and timing; (3) seedling survivorship as a function of seed mass, seedbed type frequencies, first summer ash, and granivory; (4) seedling and seed mortality as a function of salvage operations; and (5) re-dispersal of salvaged seeds via a chipper. Simulations indicate that a delay in salvage timing and/or a reduction in salvage proportion can yield adequate natural regeneration densities, thereby foregoing the costly need to plant