Black sturgeon boreal mixedwood research project

Over 50% of the productive forest land in boreal Ontario is composed of bor ed mixedwood stands. These stands represent some of the most complex ecolog ical problems for forest researchers because of inherent fertility and high productivity both in terms of timber yields and ability to sustain high wi ldlife populations. The response of boreal mixedwoods to disturbances such as fire, insects and disease and harvesting is also unclear. An integrated, multi-disciplinary, multi-agency approach to understanding boreal mixedwoo d ecosystems was undertaken in the early 1990s with the establishment of th e Black Sturgeon Boreal Mixedwood Research Project Four broad research comp onent studies - site preparation alternatives, harvesting impacts, fire eco logy and aquatic ecosystem responses - were begun in second growth boreal m ixedwoods in north central Ontario. This account provides a broad overview of the specific research investigations on the Black Sturgeon Bored Mixedwo od Research Project. It outlines the funding, partnerships and management o f this project and provides a historical research perspective of the Black Sturgeon area.