Cindy Prescott | University of British Columbia (original) (raw)

Papers by Cindy Prescott

Research paper thumbnail of Crossing the Divide: Engaging scientists and policy-makers in adapting forest management to climate change in British Columbia

Forestry Chronicle, 2014

The Future Forest Ecosystems Scientific Council (FFESC) was created in 2008 following a one-time ... more The Future Forest Ecosystems Scientific Council (FFESC) was created in 2008 following a one-time allocation of funding from the BC provincial government to support research that would inform adaptation of BC’s current forest management policies to a changing climate. A key goal of the council was to maximize the utility of the research to inform provincial policy. The eightstep process that we developed to achieve this goal is described in this paper. In roughly chronological order, the eight steps were: determining the research needed to inform policy, connecting scientists and policy-makers, requiring interdisciplinary teams including both natural and social scientists and relevant stakeholders, assessing proposals for their value to inform policy, fostering scientific excellence, fostering ongoing communication between scientists and policy-makers, tailoring communication to policy-makers, and disseminating the policy-relevant outcomes in a timely and targeted manner. Based on the FFESC experience, we suggest best practices for engaging policy-makers in research and scientists in policy development and adaptation.

Research paper thumbnail of Does exogenous carbon extend the realized niche of canopy lichens? Evidence from sub-boreal forests in British Columbia

Research paper thumbnail of Nitrogen availability in forest floors of three tree species on the same site: the role of litter quality

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of Decomposition and Mineralization of Nutrients from Litter and Humus

Springer eBooks, Dec 29, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of The contribution of coarse woody debris to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles in three Rocky Mountain coniferous forests

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Oct 1, 1999

Research paper thumbnail of Does nitrogen availability control rates of litter decomposition in forests?

Research paper thumbnail of Forest Fragmentation Slows the Decomposition of Coarse Woody Debris in a Subtropical Forest

Research Square (Research Square), May 25, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Connecting ecological science and management in forests for scientists, managers and pocket scientists

Forest Ecology and Management, Feb 1, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of The Nutritional Significance of Coarse Woody Debris in Three Rocky Mountain Coniferous Forests 1

Research paper thumbnail of Pellets or particles? How can we predict the effect of soil macro‐arthropods on litter decomposition?

Functional Ecology, Nov 1, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of The effects of nutrition and density on growth, foliage biomass, and growth efficiency of high-density fire-origin lodgepole pine in central British Columbia

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Dec 1, 2005

A factorial thinning and fertilization experiment was established in central British Columbia in ... more A factorial thinning and fertilization experiment was established in central British Columbia in a 36-year-old high-density fire-origin lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) stand to examine the effects of density, nutrition, and their interaction on tree and stand growth, foliage biomass per hectare, and growth efficiency. Volume growth was increased from 2 to 7 m3·ha–1·year–1 when fertilizer was applied without thinning and to 5 m3·ha–1·year–1 when fertilizer was applied with thinning. Thinning increased tree-level foliage biomass and growth efficiency by concentrating limited resources onto fewer trees, resulting in increased tree-level volume growth. Stand-level volume growth was reduced by thinning because of the large reduction in stocking. However, by year 4, stand-level volume growth was the same on control and thinned plots, suggesting that thinned trees have already recaptured the site potential. Fertilization increased both tree-level and stand-level productivity through increases in resource availability per tree and per hectare. This resulted in increased foliage biomass and growth efficiency at the tree and stand level. The combination of thinning and fertilization resulted in the greatest tree-level growth because of increased tree-level foliage biomass and growth efficiency. Boron appears to be the most limiting element followed by sulfur and nitrogen.

Research paper thumbnail of Cycling and availability of nitrogen and phosphorus in four Rocky Mountain coniferous forests

Research paper thumbnail of The effects of soil scarification on humus decomposition rate in forests in British Columbia, Canada

Research paper thumbnail of Clarity of ideas and terminology in Forest Ecology and Management

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of sulphur dioxide pollution on litter decomposition in a cool temperate pine forest

Research paper thumbnail of The scientific value of long-term field trials in forest soils and nutrition research: An opportunist's perspective

Canadian Journal of Soil Science, Aug 1, 2014

Prescott, C. E. 2014. The scientific value of long-term field trials in forest soils and nutritio... more Prescott, C. E. 2014. The scientific value of long-term field trials in forest soils and nutrition research: An opportunist's perspective. Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: 255–262. Long-term field trials are essential in allowing accurate prediction of stand responses to silvicultural treatments. Less well appreciated is the added value that long-term field trials afford to science through a variety of means, often not included in the original experimental plan. Long-term field trials provide a platform upon which additional studies can be conducted; for example a suite of alternative silvicultural trials allowed assessment of influences of forest harvesting on rates of litter decomposition. Well-designed, long-term field trials can be re-purposed to address questions not related to the original research; for example, many of the common garden experiments used to discern influences of different tree species on soil were not originally intended for this purpose. Long-term trials may reveal effects on other ecosystem components such as understorey vegetation or soil organisms, which can generate new hypotheses about ecosystem functioning. Finally, including unusual or non-operational treatments can generate insights that would not occur where trials were constrained to current operational practices. Improved accounting of the additional scientific insights afforded by long-term field trials would go some way towards improved accounting of their true value to science.

Research paper thumbnail of Growth response and nutrient availability in western redcedar plantations following amendment with fish-wood compost and straw

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Apr 1, 1997

Research paper thumbnail of Factors contributing to the superior growth and N nutrition of 11-year-old lodgepole pine compared with Sitka spruce on a N-poor cedar-hemlock cutover

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Jul 1, 2001

Research paper thumbnail of Soil Carbon Stabilization Under Coniferous, Deciduous and Grass Vegetation in Post-mining Reclaimed Ecosystems

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change

Vegetation plays an important role in determining soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, and influence... more Vegetation plays an important role in determining soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, and influences the mechanisms through which SOC is stabilized within the soil. The type of vegetation selected for use in reclamation may therefore influence the accumulation rate and residence time of SOC in these ecosystems. Earlier studies at reclaimed sites in the Alberta Oil Sands demonstrated that reclaimed ecosystems planted with deciduous trees accumulated the most soil organic matter in the top 10 cm of reclamation material, followed by grass sites, while coniferous sites accumulated the least SOM. The objective of this study was to assess differences in SOC stabilization in the upper 10 cm of soil among revegetated deciduous, coniferous and grass ecosystems 20–40 years following reclamation. We compared soil C in unprotected, physically protected, and chemically protected forms among the three reclamation treatments using density flotation to isolate free particulate (unprotected) SOC from ...

Research paper thumbnail of Soils and restoration of forested landscapes

Soils and Landscape Restoration, 2021

Abstract The nature and properties of the soil, along with other site factors such as climate, sl... more Abstract The nature and properties of the soil, along with other site factors such as climate, slope position, elevation, and aspect, determine the availability of water and nutrients to plants and therefore influence the success of forest restoration programs. Characteristics of the soil therefore warrant careful consideration when estimating the potential of a site for afforestation or reforestation. Many sites being considered for forest landscape restoration have soils that have been degraded through various human activities, which will need to be rehabilitated as part of the restoration process. Characteristics of degraded soils include loss of structure and organic matter, susceptibility to erosion by wind or water, diminished aeration and water-holding capacity, insufficient or excess nutrient supply, excess acidity or salinity, and diminished soil biota. In this chapter, we discuss each of these impairments and the restoration practices that can be applied to rehabilitate degraded soils.

Research paper thumbnail of Crossing the Divide: Engaging scientists and policy-makers in adapting forest management to climate change in British Columbia

Forestry Chronicle, 2014

The Future Forest Ecosystems Scientific Council (FFESC) was created in 2008 following a one-time ... more The Future Forest Ecosystems Scientific Council (FFESC) was created in 2008 following a one-time allocation of funding from the BC provincial government to support research that would inform adaptation of BC’s current forest management policies to a changing climate. A key goal of the council was to maximize the utility of the research to inform provincial policy. The eightstep process that we developed to achieve this goal is described in this paper. In roughly chronological order, the eight steps were: determining the research needed to inform policy, connecting scientists and policy-makers, requiring interdisciplinary teams including both natural and social scientists and relevant stakeholders, assessing proposals for their value to inform policy, fostering scientific excellence, fostering ongoing communication between scientists and policy-makers, tailoring communication to policy-makers, and disseminating the policy-relevant outcomes in a timely and targeted manner. Based on the FFESC experience, we suggest best practices for engaging policy-makers in research and scientists in policy development and adaptation.

Research paper thumbnail of Does exogenous carbon extend the realized niche of canopy lichens? Evidence from sub-boreal forests in British Columbia

Research paper thumbnail of Nitrogen availability in forest floors of three tree species on the same site: the role of litter quality

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of Decomposition and Mineralization of Nutrients from Litter and Humus

Springer eBooks, Dec 29, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of The contribution of coarse woody debris to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles in three Rocky Mountain coniferous forests

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Oct 1, 1999

Research paper thumbnail of Does nitrogen availability control rates of litter decomposition in forests?

Research paper thumbnail of Forest Fragmentation Slows the Decomposition of Coarse Woody Debris in a Subtropical Forest

Research Square (Research Square), May 25, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Connecting ecological science and management in forests for scientists, managers and pocket scientists

Forest Ecology and Management, Feb 1, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of The Nutritional Significance of Coarse Woody Debris in Three Rocky Mountain Coniferous Forests 1

Research paper thumbnail of Pellets or particles? How can we predict the effect of soil macro‐arthropods on litter decomposition?

Functional Ecology, Nov 1, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of The effects of nutrition and density on growth, foliage biomass, and growth efficiency of high-density fire-origin lodgepole pine in central British Columbia

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Dec 1, 2005

A factorial thinning and fertilization experiment was established in central British Columbia in ... more A factorial thinning and fertilization experiment was established in central British Columbia in a 36-year-old high-density fire-origin lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) stand to examine the effects of density, nutrition, and their interaction on tree and stand growth, foliage biomass per hectare, and growth efficiency. Volume growth was increased from 2 to 7 m3·ha–1·year–1 when fertilizer was applied without thinning and to 5 m3·ha–1·year–1 when fertilizer was applied with thinning. Thinning increased tree-level foliage biomass and growth efficiency by concentrating limited resources onto fewer trees, resulting in increased tree-level volume growth. Stand-level volume growth was reduced by thinning because of the large reduction in stocking. However, by year 4, stand-level volume growth was the same on control and thinned plots, suggesting that thinned trees have already recaptured the site potential. Fertilization increased both tree-level and stand-level productivity through increases in resource availability per tree and per hectare. This resulted in increased foliage biomass and growth efficiency at the tree and stand level. The combination of thinning and fertilization resulted in the greatest tree-level growth because of increased tree-level foliage biomass and growth efficiency. Boron appears to be the most limiting element followed by sulfur and nitrogen.

Research paper thumbnail of Cycling and availability of nitrogen and phosphorus in four Rocky Mountain coniferous forests

Research paper thumbnail of The effects of soil scarification on humus decomposition rate in forests in British Columbia, Canada

Research paper thumbnail of Clarity of ideas and terminology in Forest Ecology and Management

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of sulphur dioxide pollution on litter decomposition in a cool temperate pine forest

Research paper thumbnail of The scientific value of long-term field trials in forest soils and nutrition research: An opportunist's perspective

Canadian Journal of Soil Science, Aug 1, 2014

Prescott, C. E. 2014. The scientific value of long-term field trials in forest soils and nutritio... more Prescott, C. E. 2014. The scientific value of long-term field trials in forest soils and nutrition research: An opportunist's perspective. Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: 255–262. Long-term field trials are essential in allowing accurate prediction of stand responses to silvicultural treatments. Less well appreciated is the added value that long-term field trials afford to science through a variety of means, often not included in the original experimental plan. Long-term field trials provide a platform upon which additional studies can be conducted; for example a suite of alternative silvicultural trials allowed assessment of influences of forest harvesting on rates of litter decomposition. Well-designed, long-term field trials can be re-purposed to address questions not related to the original research; for example, many of the common garden experiments used to discern influences of different tree species on soil were not originally intended for this purpose. Long-term trials may reveal effects on other ecosystem components such as understorey vegetation or soil organisms, which can generate new hypotheses about ecosystem functioning. Finally, including unusual or non-operational treatments can generate insights that would not occur where trials were constrained to current operational practices. Improved accounting of the additional scientific insights afforded by long-term field trials would go some way towards improved accounting of their true value to science.

Research paper thumbnail of Growth response and nutrient availability in western redcedar plantations following amendment with fish-wood compost and straw

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Apr 1, 1997

Research paper thumbnail of Factors contributing to the superior growth and N nutrition of 11-year-old lodgepole pine compared with Sitka spruce on a N-poor cedar-hemlock cutover

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Jul 1, 2001

Research paper thumbnail of Soil Carbon Stabilization Under Coniferous, Deciduous and Grass Vegetation in Post-mining Reclaimed Ecosystems

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change

Vegetation plays an important role in determining soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, and influence... more Vegetation plays an important role in determining soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, and influences the mechanisms through which SOC is stabilized within the soil. The type of vegetation selected for use in reclamation may therefore influence the accumulation rate and residence time of SOC in these ecosystems. Earlier studies at reclaimed sites in the Alberta Oil Sands demonstrated that reclaimed ecosystems planted with deciduous trees accumulated the most soil organic matter in the top 10 cm of reclamation material, followed by grass sites, while coniferous sites accumulated the least SOM. The objective of this study was to assess differences in SOC stabilization in the upper 10 cm of soil among revegetated deciduous, coniferous and grass ecosystems 20–40 years following reclamation. We compared soil C in unprotected, physically protected, and chemically protected forms among the three reclamation treatments using density flotation to isolate free particulate (unprotected) SOC from ...

Research paper thumbnail of Soils and restoration of forested landscapes

Soils and Landscape Restoration, 2021

Abstract The nature and properties of the soil, along with other site factors such as climate, sl... more Abstract The nature and properties of the soil, along with other site factors such as climate, slope position, elevation, and aspect, determine the availability of water and nutrients to plants and therefore influence the success of forest restoration programs. Characteristics of the soil therefore warrant careful consideration when estimating the potential of a site for afforestation or reforestation. Many sites being considered for forest landscape restoration have soils that have been degraded through various human activities, which will need to be rehabilitated as part of the restoration process. Characteristics of degraded soils include loss of structure and organic matter, susceptibility to erosion by wind or water, diminished aeration and water-holding capacity, insufficient or excess nutrient supply, excess acidity or salinity, and diminished soil biota. In this chapter, we discuss each of these impairments and the restoration practices that can be applied to rehabilitate degraded soils.