Summary
Published in Canadian Journal of Forest Research 42: 1289-1305
The dynamics of high-altitude balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) forests is mainly driven by insect outbreaks and windthrows. However, very little work has been done on the role of fire on the development and maintenance of this ecosystem. In this study, we document the role of fire in the high-altitude balsam fir forests of the Réserve Faunique des Laurentides (RFL), southern Quebec. Sixteen sites were sampled among six different forest types described according to plant composition and fire evidence.
At each site, the diameter structure was recorded and stand age was calculated based on tree-ring dating of individual trees and radiocarbon-dated surficial charcoal samples. Fire played a major role in the recent dynamics of high-altitude fir forests in the RFL. Over the last 250 years, nearly 50% of the study area burned during two fire conflagrations, i.e., around 1815 and in 1878. The fires triggered gradual changes in plant composition and forest structure, as shown by a succession of forest types ranging from white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) to spruce–fir types. Absence of surficial charcoal older than 300 years suggests that high-altitude forests of the RFL area were not subjected to a constant fire regime. It is possible that recent fires were caused by human activity.
Sector(s):
Forests
Categorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forest Ecology, Forestry Research, Forests
Departmental author(s):
Author(s)
COUILLARD, Pierre-Luc, Serge PAYETTE et Pierre GRONDIN
Year of publication :
2012
How to get the publication :
Keywords :
feu, haute altitude, dynamique forestière, sapin baumier, bouleau à papier, Abies basamea, Betula papyrifera, article scientifique de recherche forestière, écologie forestière, forest ecology, fir, balsam fir, high altitude, forest dynamics
