Morrison, I. K., and N. W. Foster. 2001. NPP Boreal Forest: Mississagi, Canada, 1970-1973. Data set. Available on-line [http://www.daac.ornl.gov] from Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.
The Mississagi study site (46.35 N 83.38 W) is situated in the Mississagi River area, within section L-10 of the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence forest region, about 150 km due west of Sudbury, Ontario. Based upon a 4 degrees Celsius index, the growing season lasts 175 days from April to mid-October. The forest consists of even-aged fire-origin stands of jack pine (Pinus banksiana), with an understorey of shrubs and herbs. Despite fire cycling and logging, the soil and the forest floor layer are thought to contain sufficient reserves of nutrients to sustain productivity of this species, with its apparently modest nutrient requirement. Climate data are available for Saulte Sainte Marie, Ontario, approximately 75 km to the west of the study site.
Nutrient content (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) of leaves, live and dead branches, stem bark, trunk, cones and roots, and total above- and below-ground biomass are available for a 30-year old stand which was clear-cut around 1970-1973. Comparable data for stands aged 20 years and 65 years are available, normalised to a standard stocking density. Additional detailed data are available for the complete estimated nutrient budget of the ecosystem, including inputs from precipitation.
Above-ground annual tree growth was previously estimated at 262 g/m2 (0-20 years), 289 g/m2 (20-30 years) and 93 g/m2 (30-65 years). Average annual litter production, including understorey, was estimated over the course of 3 years at 400 g/m2. Above-ground NPP may therefore be calculated as between 500 and 700 g/m2/yr, depending upon stand age.
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references and summaries for the Mississagi site.