Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification / Plant Ecology

Overview
Current Focus Areas
Research Highlights
Extension and Consultations
Recent Publications
Useful Links
Ministry Contacts

Overview

British Columbia is a province with diverse landscapes, strong regional climatic gradients, and complex local site variations. Over the past 30 years the Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) system has provided the ecological framework and language for ecosystem management in British Columbia. As a result, the Ministry of Forests and Range is regarded as a leader in ecologically based resource management. Ecology research is focused on better understanding forest ecosystems and natural disturbance dynamics at multiple scales in order to promote sustainable resource management practices that maintain ecosystem integrity and function.

The BEC / Plant Ecology research program expands the scientific foundation for sustainable resource management by providing a comprehensive, multi-level ecological classification system with related interpretations and applications that support the objectives of many agencies. BEC provides a multi-scale classification framework. It describes broad biogeoclimatic (zonal) units, used for applications such as seed zones, protected area and land management planning, forest pest risk, and wildlife habitat management. More detailed site units provide the ecological foundation for interpretations such as tree species selection, site preparation, stocking density and free-to-grow standards, and vegetation competition.

BEC program clients range from forest practices policy analysts to field foresters, and from land use planners to compliance and enforcement staff. Many extension products and training courses are developed to meet specific client needs and uses. Plant ecology researchers provide valuable technical support to many provincial-level Ministry initiatives. See the Extension and Consultations section below for more details.

The BECWEB web site provides information on how the BEC system works and gives access to reports, maps, software, and other products for the entire provincial BEC and Ecology Research program (Regional and Branch staff).

Current Focus Areas

• Maintaining, updating, and correlating the provincial ecological dataset and provincial classification, standardizing and developing ecosystem mapping methodologies, and building software tools for collecting and analyzing field data.
• Developing new applications and ecologically based management interpretations for use at operational and strategic levels of forest management, including ecosystem–site productivity relationships, tree species selection, and habitat and climate change modelling.
• Developing a seral classification and succession model for the Dry Cool Sub-Boreal Spruce (SBSdk) and Moist Cold Interior Cedar-Hemlock(ICHmc) biogeoclimatic subzones using long-term succession trials and ecological data from plantations and naturally disturbed ecosystems.
• Developing an ecological site classification for the Alpine and Subalpine ecosystems of British Columbia. This research has implications for the Protected Areas Strategy, species–at-risk recovery planning, and the Future Forest Ecosystems Initiative on climate change.
• Developing alternative methods for estimating site index in stands based on the relationships between site index and site series (Site Index by Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification or SIBEC); there is ongoing work to improve the provincial SIBEC estimates and make them available in a new approximation each year.
• Updating provincial tree species selection guidelines and developing decision-making tools that provide science-based information, analysis, and reporting that will assist practitioners in their tree species management decisions, particularly in light of climate and forest health considerations, such as the mountain pine beetle outbreak.
• Studying and modelling natural disturbance regimes, including fire history and ecology, forest health interactions, ecosystem succession, habitat relationships, and coarse woody debris management.
• Developing an ecological foundation for enhancing the production of plants that are important to First Nations by characterizing the ecological conditions conducive to abundant growth of high-quality plant products.
• Modelling drivers of ecosystem change and projecting how changes will affect biogeoclimatic zone distribution and other fundamental components of forest and range management.

Research Highlights

• Updating digital data and revising district-level biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification (BEC) maps and tools (Version 7.0) to provide a basis for stand-level forest management prescriptions and detailed Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM) or Predictive Ecosystem Mapping (PEM). [link]
• Developing and correlating BEC for new field guides for the alpine and subalpine ecosystems of British Columbia, the boreal forests of northern British Columbia, the ecosystems of the Queen Charlotte Islands, and Garry Oak plant communities.
• Based on stakeholder needs, designing a tree species selection decision support system to facilitate easy access for forest practitioners to relevant science-based tree selection information.
• Synthesizing the scientific knowledge on complex systems and resilience theory to form a conceptual framework for ecologically based management of B.C. ecosystems in a changing climate. As a component of the Future Forest Ecosystem Initiative, a scientific foundation paper was produced to provide guidance on developing forest management strategies to address rapidly changing environmental conditions.
• Developing and parameterizing models for analyzing the spatial distribution of mountain pine beetle outbreaks in relation to climate and stand characteristics. These models are important for determining conservation implications, forest management options, and ecological restoration options.

• Involved in an ecosystem recovery project in second-growth stands. Results will contribute to developing guidelines for site- and landscape-level ecosystem-based management (EBM) and contribute to our understanding of ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.

• Assisting with a soils research project to develop biologically based indicators of soil productivity, function, and biodiversity across a gradient of soil nutrient and moisture regimes (site series). This research is providing insight into the ecological differences between the ecosystems described by BEC.

• Completing a database on natural disturbance that collects and digitizes all available historical and contemporary maps of wildfire and insect outbreaks in British Columbia (in collaboration with the Canadian Forest Service). [link]
• Gathering and summarizing current and historical literature on disturbance history for each biogeoclimatic zone.
• Participating in the Canadian National Vegetation Classification Project to develop a nationally correlated ecosystem classification system, focussing initially on determining higher-level classification units for western Canadian boreal forests.
• Modelling potential geographic shifts in tree species ranges and in BEC zones and subzone/variants due to climate change up to 2080, to inform seed transfer guidelines and species selection.
• Developing conceptual and numerical models of ecosystem dynamics that assess the potential interactive impacts of many drivers of ecosystem change, such as climate change, land use, and exotic species. Identifying the operational ecosystem indicators of resilience will provide the framework and strategies for field studies and monitoring that can be implemented to detect ecosystem changes.
• Comparing the abundance of vegetation in similar ecosystems on the Queen Charlotte Islands and mainland North Coast to enable identification of sites on the Islands that have the greatest potential, once deer are excluded, for producing plants of importance to the Haida First Nation.
• Modelling the potential impacts of climate change on the probability that major tree species will be able to regenerate in three ecological regions of B.C., taking into account climatic factors that affect seedling survival such as susceptibility to frost, chilling requirements for budburst, and response to summer drought.

Extension and Consultations 

Research ecologists ensure that the results of their research and recommendations reach their clients through extension and consultation on a variety of ecological issues, including BEC-related operational interpretations and policy implications, such as tree species selection and appropriate silviculture practices, coarse woody debris management, fire history and disturbance, conservation strategies, and ecosystem restoration options. 

Ecology program clients include the Chief Forester’s office and Ministry Executive, as well as district, regional, and industry foresters. BEC program clients range from forest practices policy analysts to field foresters, and from land use planners to compliance and enforcement staff. Extension products include large-scale biogeoclimatic maps, regional field guides for site identification and interpretation, plant identification guides, forest practices guidebooks and standards, and a variety of training courses. 

Plant ecology researchers provide valuable technical support to Ministry initiatives such as the Future Forest Ecosystems Initiative, Forest and Range Practices Act Forest Resource Evaluation Program (FRPA/FREP), and Timber Supply Review. The research underlies and supports government commitments to compliance and enforcement of stewardship objectives, fire and pest management, gene resource management, environmental stewardship, and Ecosystem-Based Management on the coast. It also supports trade and market access by providing a framework for environmental certification. 

Researchers continue to maintain the respect of their scientific peers by ensuring that experimental approaches and scientific findings meet the high standards and rigour required by peer-reviewed technical reports and scientific journals. Researchers participate in a variety of scientific gatherings, such as the Ecological Society of America/Society for Ecological Restoration Joint meeting on Ecological Restoration in a Rapidly Changing Environment, the Intermountain Forest Health workshop, Ecological Restoration in Southeastern B.C: Grasslands to Mountaintops conference, and the North American Forest Ecology workshop.

• Future Forest Ecosystems Initiative, Technical Committee – Leading the co-ordination of research knowledge to develop a sound scientific foundation for understanding climate change and ecosystem resilience.

• Forest and Range Practices Act/ Forest Resource Evaluation Program (FRPA/FREP) – Providing consultation to the program on landscape-level biodiversity.

• Environmental Science Advisory Committee, Department of National Defence – Implementing a program for management of all natural resources on 16 federal properties, (4400 hectares).

• Provincial Coarse Woody Debris Working Group, Member – Providing guidance on field sampling methods and support for coarse woody debris management policy and procedures.

• Canadian National Vegetation Classification Working Group – Providing technical advice for British Columbia in correlating ecosystems / plant associations across Canada and providing web access to all Canadian plant associations.

• Hierarchy Revisions Working Group, U.S. Federal Geographical Data Committee—Providing technical advice in developing higher levels of an International Vegetation Classification.

• U.S. / British Columbia Plant Association Correlation Team – Providing technical advice in assisting with correlation of ecological units between the U.S. and British Columbia jurisdictions.

Recent Publications

Heemskerk, B.H., C. DeLong, and T. Milner. 2008. A framework for documenting the effects of the mountain pine beetle outbreak in sub-boreal forests of Northern British Columbia (E.P. 1369): establishment report. B.C. Min. For. Range, Res. Br., Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 046.

Campbell, E., R. Alfaro, and B. Hawkes. 2007. Spatial distribution of mountain pine beetle outbreaks in relation to climate and stand characteristics: a dendroecological analysis. J. Integr. Plant. Biol. 49:168-178. 

Campbell, E. and A. Carroll. 2007. Climate-related changes in the vulnerability of whitebark pine to mountain pine beetle outbreaks in British Columbia. Nutcracker Notes 12: 13-15. 

Campbell, E., D. MacLean, and Y. Bergeron. [2007].  The severity of budworm-caused growth reductions in balsam fir / spruce stands decreases with increasing hardwood content of surrounding landscapes. For. Sci. Accepted. 

Erickson, W.R. and D.V. Meidinger. 2007. Garry oak (Quercus garryana) plant communities in British Columbia: a guide to identification. B.C. Min. For. Range, Res. Br., Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 040. 

Hamilton, E.H. 2007. Post-fire vegetation development and fire effects in the SBS zone: Haggen Creek, Francis Lake, Genevieve Lake, Brink, and Indianpoint sites. B.C. Min. For. Range, Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 041.

Newman, R., H. Page, and J. Parminter. 2007. Understory succession following ecosystem restoration treatments in ingrown dry forests. Poster at the Ecological Restoration in Southeastern B.C: Grasslands to Mountaintops conference. Sponsored by the B.C. Chapter, Society for Ecological Restoration, and the Columbia Mountains Institute, Cranbrook, B.C. Oct. 12-13, 2007. [pdf] 

Hamilton, E.H. 2006. Fire effects and post-burn vegetation development in the Sub-Boreal Spruce zone: Mackenzie (Windy Point) site. B.C. Min. For. Range, Res. Br., Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 033. 

Hamilton, E.H. 2006. Fire effects and tree growth after slashburning in the Engelmann Spruce–Subalpine Fir zone: Goat River site. B.C. Min. For. Range, Res. Br., Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 037. 

Hamilton, E. H. 2006. Vegetation development and fire effects at the Walker Creek site: comparison of forest floor and mineral soil plots. B.C. Min. For. Range, Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 026.  

Hamilton, E. H. and L. Peterson. 2006. Succession after slashburning in an Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir subzone variant: West Twin site. B.C. Min. For. Range, Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 028. 

MacKenzie, W. 2006. The ecology of the alpine zones. B.C. Min. For. Range, Victoria, B.C. For. Res. Brochure 83. 

Meidinger, D. and A. MacKinnon. 2006. Using the tools: biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification, terrestrial ecosystem mapping and predictive ecosystem mapping. In Incorporating non-timber forest products into sustainable forest management. An overview for forest managers. W. Cocksedge (compiler). Royal Roads Univ., Victoria, B.C., pp. 26–38. 

Parminter, J. and D. Bedford. 2006. Fire effects on selected bryophytes, lichens and herbs in Garry oak and associated ecosystems. B.C. Min. For. Range, Res. Br., Victoria, B.C. 

Parminter, J. and D. Bedford. 2006. Fire effects on selected shrubs, trees, amphibians, birds, and mammals in Garry oak and associated ecosystems. B.C. Min. For. and Range, Res. Br., Victoria, B.C. 

Schmidt, R.L. and J. Parminter. 2006. An early history of the Research Branch, British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range. B.C. Min. For. Range, Res. Br., Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 036. 

Spittlehouse, D.L., M. Eng, A. Hamann, D. Meidinger, and T.L. Wang. 2006. Spatial climate data and assessment of climate change impacts on forest ecosystems. Final Report for Forest Science Program Project Y062149, B.C. Min. For. Range, Res. Br., Victoria, B.C. 

Walton, A. and D. Meidinger. 2006. Capturing expert knowledge for ecosystem mapping using Bayesian network. Can. J. For. Res. 36:3087–3103. 

For a complete list of ecology publications click here.

Useful Links

SIBEC—provides background information and most recent approximation of the provincial site index estimates for tree species according to site units of the BEC system of British Columbia.

ECOGEN—a predictive ecosystem mapping tool that utilizes TRIM, forest cover, and other available digital mapping to model or predict the ecosystems likely to occur on the landscape. 

Dead Tree web site—An information source for wildlife trees, snags, and coarse woody debris.

Ministry Contacts

Elizabeth Campbell, Research Ecologist
Will MacKenzie, Research Ecologist, Wetlands and Riparian Specialist (Smithers)
Shirley Mah, Interpretations Ecologist
John Parminter, Research Ecologist, Forest Dynamics
 

Ministry contact: Evelyn Hamilton.
Please direct questions regarding webpage to For.Prodres@gov.bc.ca
Updated May 2009