Understanding of intra-annual wood formation and phenological development of black spruce and balsam fir over the spatial gradient in the boreal forest of Quebec

Climate warming may have resulted in altered initiation and termination dates of the primary growth (e.g. phenological development) and the secondary growth (e.g. stem xylem growth) of trees in the boreal forest, consequently impacting wood quality, forest growth and productivity, and carbon sequestration. This project will analyze the intra-annual wood formation and phenological data collected for black spruce and balsam fir over an altitudinal gradient in the Parc National des Monts-Valins from 2010-2013, and the proxy data of wood formation (onset, duration and termination) reconstructed for black spruce from 1950-2010 over a latitudinal gradient between 48-51ºN in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean area, Quebec to address the current knowledge gaps in phenology and wood formation for the two species with climate warming. The results may contribute to better assessment on the potential growth responses of trees and forests to future climate warming over time, and better modelling and predicting of wood formation and quality, phenology as well as forest growth and productivity in the Quebec’s boreal forest under climate warming.

Faculty Supervisor:

Drs. Annie Deslauriers & Hubert Morin

Student:

Jianguo Huang

Partner:

Produits forestiers Résolu

Discipline:

Other

Sector:

Forestry

University:

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi