BIOL 1F26 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Selection Cutting, Algonquin Provincial Park, Shelterwood Cutting
22 Feb 2016
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Document Summary
Two modern methods of logging are currently employed at algonquin. Both forestation cases cause loss of species diversity and other damages not immediately trees apparent. 1800s (prior to establishment of the park) settlers brought cattle into the yellowstone area. Humans exterminated most if not all wolves in order to minimize loss of cattle from the wolf packs feeding. By 1930 no known population of wolf remained in the yellowstone area. Elk populations soared as a result of lack of predator activity. The resulting elk population boom caused plummeting biodiversity by overgrazing. Prior to the wolf eradication elk could feed on trees/shrubs, however elk numbers were kept in check by predation and predator/prey cycles. The imbalance to the ecosystem and soaring elk numbers caused extensive tree and shrub damage, greatly reducing the number of sapling trees/shrubs that would survive to adulthood.
