, 2010). Here we compare the efficacy of multi-cohort based management, aimed specifically at maintaining stand structure, and shelterwood silvicultural systems, which may provide some de facto benefit for biodiversity, for maintaining ground beetle assemblages. We also compare both of these partial cutting approaches with standard clear cuts to assess any net benefits partial cutting may provide if implemented within a larger strategy of ecosystem management. We hypothesize that the higher ALK inhibitor levels of retention left following

multi-cohort management will be more similar to uncut forests than either shelterwood or clear cuts. All sample sites were located in the Haute-Mauricie region of Québec, Canada (47°26′16″N, 72°46′35″W) and were dominated primarily by balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Miller) and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton), although numerous other hardwood (including sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marshall), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and conifer (white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), red

spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), and white pine (Pinus strobus L.)) species were also present. Stand dynamics are controlled predominately by frequent, small fires (<150 ha) and infrequent, large fires (>10,000 ha), windthrow ( Côté et al., 2010), as well as outbreaks of spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens)). We sampled beetles from replicate stands Selleck Lapatinib that were clear cut, harvested according to either shelterwood or multicohort silvicultural systems or uncut (Fig. 1). These sites were part of a larger project called TRIADE, which was established to evaluate how partial cutting and other ecosystem management options could be incorporated and implemented over a larger landscape (Côté et al., 2010). Our study stands originated from a wildfire in 1923. Stands were

harvested during the winter of 2007–2008 (Witté et al.). Dapagliflozin Clear cuts, in our study, contained 5% retention isolated within a small aggregate (between 150 and 500 m2). Retention within the shelterwood treatments consisted of a 5 m band of uncut forest with two adjacent 7 m bands of partial cut forest where retention was 50% of pre-harvest stem density. Each vegetation strip (19 m total width) was separated by 5 m of harvested forest where retention was 0%. In 10–15 years once significant conifer regeneration has established, the 5 m uncut band will be harvested along with larger stems from the adjacent 7 m partial cut strips. Retention within the multicohort treatment consisted of an uncut vegetation strip 19 m wide bordered on each side by a 7 m wide partial cut strip which retains 66% of the original stems. This larger vegetation strip (33 m) is separated from other strips by a 5 m band of harvested forest where retention was 0%.