6. Conclusion
Seymour (1992) suggested that “large scale,
episodic removal of trees, by logging in combination
with spruce budworm, bark beetles and windstorms,
have transformed Maine’s spruce-fir forest from one
dominated by mixed-age, old-growth stands, to a
forest dominated by younger, more uniform stands
that may be more extensive in area, and lack the
within-stand height and age diversity of old-growth.”
Though Newfoundland lacks the tree species diversity
of Maine’s sub-boreal forest, Newfoundland’s
forests may be experiencing a similar phenomenon
(Thompson, 1991; Thompson and Curran, 1995).
Because the Newfoundland marten appears to be
particularly dependent on structure associated with
old-growth forests, this transformation is probably
one of the main factors contributing to the marten’s
decline on the island.