We are seeking a postdoctoral candidate to work in the following multidisciplinary project:
Impact of climate change on the productivity of mixed boreal forests. Climate warming is believed to directly affect the growth of trees and the natural disturbance regime and, consequently, the productivity of the boreal forest in Quebec. This research project will attempt to determine the effects of future climate changes on growth of two dominant boreal tree species (black spruce and trembling aspen) of western Quebec and quantify the impacts on annual allowable cut and fire frequency for a forest management unit in north-western Quebec. Dendroclimatic analysis of forest stands along latitudinal and topographic gradients, from hardwood forest in the south to the northern conifer-dominated forest, will allow identification of the major climatic factors determining diameter growth of the two species. The resulting climate - growth relationships will drive a series of models to in order to develop climate sensitive growth and yield tables and, based on climate simulations of the Regional Canadian Climate Model, to estimate future changes in annual allowable cut due to climate change. The results will allow government and industrial forest managers to adapt currently used growth and yield tables and adjust annual allowable cut evaluations in order to improve forest planning and silviculture of these mixed forests. In addition to participating in this research, the postdoc will be responsible for the Dendroecological Laboratory located in the Lake Duparquet Research and Teaching Forest (http://web2.uqat.ca/ferld/). Responsabilities will include training and supervision of graduate students in dendrochronology. Accommodation at the research station will be available. Position is for 2 years; initial salary is $40,000 Canadian per year. Send a curriculum vitae, copies of 2 publications, and names of two people who can provide letters of references to: Yves Bergeron Chaire industrielle CRSNG-UQAT-UQAM en aménagement forestier durable Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue 445 boul. de l'Université Rouyn-Noranda, QC Canada J9X 5E4 Tel: 819-762-0971-2347 Fax: 819-797-4727 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://web2.uqat.ca/cafd/
