Summary
Published in Botany, 95: 697-707 https://doi.org/10.1139/cjb-2016-0319
Plant species are unique in their biological traits and biogeographical history, resulting in distinctive species distributions. Continuous and fragmented ranges of varying size and shape have captured the interest of biogeographers. Fragmented distribution into isolated populations is a common pattern of temperate and boreal species caused by contraction and expansion processes. Jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), a North American tree species, is among a multitude of species showing fragmented distributions to isolated populations. Whether disjunct jack pine forests are remnants of larger Holocene populations or newly established populations due to long-distance transport remains unanswered. We used a retrospective approach based on soil macro-charcoal analysis to address the question of residency of a disjunct population in the boreal forest. The studied forest forms a disjunct population of a former regional population that has contracted since the mid-Holocene. Short to moderately long-fire intervals have occurred over the last 6000 years to maintain the species in a fire-prone sandy environment, thereby assuring its regeneration and survival. Disjunct distributions similar to the studied pine population are often caused by regional extirpation of populations in which environmental contraction produces small ecological refugia where local conditions remain suitable through time for a species to complete its life cycle.
Sector(s):
Forests
Categorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forest Ecology, Forestry Research
Departmental author(s):
Author(s)
PAYETTE, Serge, Ann DELWAIDE, Pierre-Luc COUILLARD and Vanessa PILON
Year of publication :
2017
How to get the publication :
PDF available upon request. Available at the Direction des inventaires forestiers
Keywords :
Jack pine, pinus banksiana, ecological refugia, disjunct population
