Ontario's Old Growth: A Learner's Handbook.

This handbook was written in response to an identified need for more public information on Ontario's old growth forests. It is meant to be taken into old growth stands, where the learner can see, touch, and study the natural ingredients of old growth forests. Much of the handbook is a guide to forest history, helping the learner to discover first-hand the signs and artifacts of old growth and the forests of the past. Sources are also provided for finding written historical information about local forests. The guide was written with the forests of Ontario and eastern North America in mind. An introductory section outlines general characteristics of old growth forests, discusses the value of such forests and why they need special attention, and describes the four ecological lives of a tree. The main section, on forest signs and field tips, provides a guide to observation in the woods and covers tree size and life expectancy, canopy gaps and forest regeneration, wildlife and their habitats, dead tree ecology, ecology of tree cavities, cavities as wildlife habitat, classification of log decay and related habitats, mounds and pits (microtopography), fallen tree history, looking at tree rings (dendrochronology), fire scars, and stumps as evidence of forest history. Useful written records include local histories, survey records, and natural resource reports and inventories. (Contains 22 references, illustrations, and an observation checklist.) (SV)