Litter production and nutrient resorption in western red cedar and western hemlock forests on northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Abstract

Fine litter fall and concentrations of N and P in green foliage and foliar litter were measured in three species over 1 year in two forest types at three sites on northern Vancouver Island to explore the hypothesis that differences in nutrient use and cycling between the dominant tree species on each forest type contribute to differences in forest floor nutrient availability. Total annual aboveground fine litter fall was significantly higher in second-growth, windstorm-derived 85-year-old stands of western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) and amabilis fir (Abiesamabilis (Dougl.) Forbes) forests (4137 kg•ha−1) than in adjacent old-growth forests of western red cedar (Thujaplicata Donn..