Plant Abundances after Clearcutting and Stripcutting in Central Labrador

We compared plant abundances between clearcuts (n = 10) and stripcuts (n = 6) on former Picea mariana sites harvested in the mid-1970s and mid-1990s in central Labrador, Newfoundland, and Labrador, Canada. Redundancy analysis (RDA) found logging methods an important determinant of conifer abundance for 1990s logging, showing P. mariana associated with clearcuts and Abies balsamea associated with stripcuts. Our RDA of the years combined found logging methods unimportant, but the year of logging was the most important factor followed by pH and drainage. The size distribution of trees, with the exception of Alnus rugosa, increased with stand age. Geocaulon lividum and Cladina arbuscula were associated with 1970s logging and coarse woody debris, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, and Cornus canadensis were associated with 1990s logging. Sphagnum spp. was positively associated with imperfectly drained sites and high pH, and Pleurozium schreberi was positively associated with moderately drained sites. Our results suggest only a short-term effect of logging methods on regeneration, and similarities may have resulted from the small opening sizes and irregular shapes of our clearcuts. We suggest that stripcutting to promote P. mariana regeneration may offer little, if any, benefit over clearcutting when distances between forest canopies within clearcuts are typically 300 m or less.