• Coyea, Marie R
  Laval University
  
• Margolis, Hank A.
  Laval University
  

The historical reconstruction of growth efficiency and its relationship to tree mortality in balsam fir ecosystems affected by spruce budworm. Can. J. For. Res. 24: 2208-2221 . The growth efficiency (Ex: stem wood growth per unit leaf area) of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) trees from 20 stands were reconstructed over the 30-year period from 1960 to 1989 in order to determine if E could be used to predict tree mortality occurring during and after an epidemic of eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiþraia (Clem.)). Growth efficiency were reconstructed based on the relationship between age and the number of annual growth rings in the cross-sectional area of heartwood at breast height {R2= 0.97) and on the previously demonstrated relationship between sapwood area and leaf area of balsam fir across a wide geographic area.