Reference number : GC-2017-Q4-01574, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Ruel, Jean-Claude (Université Laval), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Quebec|Québec, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Collaborative Research and Development Grants - Project, program name french : Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative - projet, program purpose english : Northern white-cedar is a valuable species, both for the wood industry and as deer habitat. Cedar can provide shelter and a food source but high deer densities can compromise cedar establishment. In this context, there is a strong tendency to ban forest harvesting from deer yards. However, this strategy, in addition to having an impact on wood procurement, does not guarantee a sustainable management of deer habitat, since there may be no regeneration to replace trees that will eventually die. _x000D_
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The current study aims at getting a better understanding of deer impacts on cedar regeneration in order to identify conditions that could favor cedar regeneration in high deer density areas.  A first part of the study will look at stand structure and regeneration in existing deer yards. Dendrochronological  analysis will make it possible to identify time periods that provided establishment opportunities. A second part of the study will look at stands treated within the last 15 years. Dendrochronological analysis will be conducted as for the previous part of the project. In the last part of the study, seedling survival and growth will be monitored in areas of high deer pressure. A simulated browsing study will enable to look at the effect of browsing timing and intensity in interaction with light level. _x000D_
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At the northern limits of its range, deer is especially dependent on a suitable winter habitat. At the same time, the forest industry is increasingly dependent on a shrinking cedar resource, a significant portion of it being protected as deer wintering habitats. In this context, an active management of deer yards could promote an integrated valorization of both resources., program purpose french : Northern white-cedar is a valuable species, both for the wood industry and as deer habitat. Cedar can provide shelter and a food source but high deer densities can compromise cedar establishment. In this context, there is a strong tendency to ban forest harvesting from deer yards. However, this strategy, in addition to having an impact on wood procurement, does not guarantee a sustainable management of deer habitat, since there may be no regeneration to replace trees that will eventually die. _x000D_
_x000D_
The current study aims at getting a better understanding of deer impacts on cedar regeneration in order to identify conditions that could favor cedar regeneration in high deer density areas.  A first part of the study will look at stand structure and regeneration in existing deer yards. Dendrochronological  analysis will make it possible to identify time periods that provided establishment opportunities. A second part of the study will look at stands treated within the last 15 years. Dendrochronological analysis will be conducted as for the previous part of the project. In the last part of the study, seedling survival and growth will be monitored in areas of high deer pressure. A simulated browsing study will enable to look at the effect of browsing timing and intensity in interaction with light level. _x000D_
_x000D_
At the northern limits of its range, deer is especially dependent on a suitable winter habitat. At the same time, the forest industry is increasingly dependent on a shrinking cedar resource, a significant portion of it being protected as deer wintering habitats. In this context, an active management of deer yards could promote an integrated valorization of both resources., agreement title english : Northern white-cedar regeneration dynamics in the context of high ungulate densities, agreement title french : Northern white-cedar regeneration dynamics in the context of high ungulate densities, agreement number : CRDPJ, agreement value : 155900.0, agreement start date : 2018-01-10, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2021-2022)., additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2021-2022)., owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada