Regeneration lags and growth trajectories influence passive seismic line recovery in western North American boreal forests

• DOI: 10.1111/rec.14353
• Publication Date: 2024-12-09T05:40:15Z
• Authors: Colleen M. Sutheimer; Angelo T. Filicetti; Leonardo Viliani; Scott E. Nielsen
• Keywords: Woodland caribou; Forest regeneration; Old-growth forest

Across the western North American boreal region, networks of narrow clearings called seismic lines from oil and gas exploration fragment forests. Restoration for habitat recovery threatened woodland caribou has been prioritized, but there is little guidance on temporal spatial targets forest recovery. Between 2016 2022, we sampled regenerating trees 344 with limited re‐disturbance across sands region Alberta, Canada. We modeled growth relationships trees, including regeneration lags, using field geospatial data to predict passive lines. Recovery in peatland transitional forests could take >30 years, due longer lags (8–13 years) slower‐growing tree species (>25 years reach 3 m). xeric mesic uplands was nearly half that, shorter (3–5 years), faster‐growing (9–13 m), recent wildfires. Over upland had predicted ≤5 many that burned after initial line clearing, indicating not delayed. However, all were have >8 years. Slower associated compounding effects slower rates dominant species. efforts should prioritize where active treatment can significantly reduce expedite growth.