Boreal Ecology Article Review: "Natural Disturbance Dynamics in the Boreal Forests of European Russia: a Review"

This is a review for the article:  "Natural Disturbance Dynamics in the Boreal Forests of European Russia: a Review".

Andrei Gromtsev is researcher associated with the Forest Research Institute and Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

This reading covers the causes and the effects of natural disturbances in Russian-European boreal forests. Natural disturbances mainly include fires, wind throw, and insect outbreaks that affect the life and expansion of boreal trees such as pine and spruce – in nutrient poor dry areas, fires can allow pristine pine growth; whereas in moist areas, fire can allow shade tolerant spruce to grow abundantly. On the other hand, natural disturbances such as insect outbreaks can lead to weakening of the trees, which will make them more vulnerable to being destroyed by wind throw.

The major strength of this reading is its focus on fires and descriptions of its causes on forests in different terrains.  However, the author could have explained in more detail about the insect outbreaks and wind throws, since this paper is about “natural disturbances” (as the title suggests) and not only fires. Nevertheless, this paper has helped me understand and learn how these seemingly harmful natural disturbances can actually promote growth pine and spruce.

Although this paper primarily focuses only on spruce and pine, this paper fits in with the course content perfectly since they are explained in detail and are some of the topics that is covered in this class.

I think this reading can be used to not only to increase the student’s reading stamina (since it is over 12 pages), but to also help students understand the importance of fires in boreal forest expansion as well as to help students become aware of the danger natural disturbances can have on them.

Source Cited:

“Natural Disturbance Dynamics in the Boreal Forests of European Russia: a Review,” Gromtsev, Andrei, Silva Fennica 36(1):41-55, 2002.