UBC Theses and Dissertations

UBC Theses Logo

UBC Theses and Dissertations

Western redcedar dieback : possible links to climate change and implications for forest management on Vancouver Island, B.C. Seebacher, Tanya Marie

Abstract

This thesis studied the distribution and potential causes of western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don) dieback on the east coast of Vancouver Island, B.C. using dendrochronology and water balance modelling. Redcedar trees were cored in four of the driest and warmest biogeoclimatic (BEC) units on the island. Dieback was found in varying intensity in three of the four driest BEC units; however, it was primarily concentrated near the Qualicum Beach area (CDFmm). Ring-widths were found to be sensitive to climate on certain sites, but more complacent on other sites. Warm and dry summer climate was found to reduce radial growth of redcedar, and thus moisture stress may be the major determinant of redcedar dieback. Subsequent causes include well drained coarse textured soil conditions (predisposing), drought periods over the growing season (inciting), and contributing factors such as insects and pathogens. Water balance modelling found relationships between transpiration deficit index (TDI) and residual ring-width indices at three of the 16 study sites. The low number of significant relationships was likely caused by the low climate-sensitivity of breast-height tree ring data in redcedar growing on zonal sites. Low climate sensitivity may have been exacerbated by stand dynamics and competition, since study sites were often in mixed stands with multiple age cohorts. ForWaDy, when linked to FORECAST, could provide useful information on water stress and future growth of redcedar on the coast if linked with more climatically sensitive tree ring data. Over the next few hundred years, it is unlikely that redcedar will be lost completely from Vancouver Island due to the resilient and acclimative nature of this species; however, redcedar growing on low elevation sites vulnerable to moisture stress may experience increased dieback occurrences and eventual decline in these areas. Recommendations for future studies of redcedar dieback and considerations for forest management are provided.

Item Media

Item Citations and Data

Rights

For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.