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Type: Journal Article
Author(s): D. R. Foster
Publication Date: 1985

(1) The pattern of post-fire vegetation development in Picea mariana (black spruce)-Pleurozium forests in south-eastern Labrador, Canada, is evaluated using palaeoecological methods and vegetation analysis of extant stands.(2) Macrofossil analysis of mor humus profiles in mature stands yields the following stratigraphy: mineral soil-charcoal-Polytrichum juniperinem-Cladonia lichens-Pleurozium schreberi-feather mosses and Sphagnum girgensohnii. The stratigraphic record of the post-fire dynamics of the vegetation at individual sites strengthens the conclusion obtained from the detailed analysis of a chronosequence of stands.(3) The pattern of vegetation development, especially of the arboreal species, is significantly different from that reported for the central and western boreal forest in North America. This difference is attributed to the much longer fire cycle in the maritime region of Labrador which allows the accumulation of a thick organic soil layer that is incompletely removed by fire.(4) Arboreal regeneration is slow due to the limited availability of mineral soil seedbeds. The progressive establishment of black spruce and balsam fir over a 70-100 year period results in an uneven age structure and provides a long period when lichen woodlands cover the landscape.(5) The majority of the vascular understorey species follow the pattern of initial floristics and resprout rapidly following fire. Coptis groenlandicum, Gaultheria hispidula, and Empetrum nigrum decrease following fire whereas only Epilobium angustifolium shows a marked increase.(6) The criptogam ground cover undergoes a physiognomic and compositional succession that represents contrasting substrate requirements and the differential response of the major species to a temporally-varying environment.© Blackwell Science Ltd. Abstract reproduced by permission.

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Citation: Foster, D. R. 1985. Vegetation development following fire in Picea mariana (black spruce)-Pleurozium forests of south-eastern Labrador, Canada. Journal of Ecology, v. 73, no. 2, p. 517-534.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
Alaska    California    Eastern    Great Basin    Hawaii    Northern Rockies    Northwest    Rocky Mountain    Southern    Southwest    International    National
Keywords:
  • Abies balsamea
  • boreal forests
  • bryophytes
  • burning intervals
  • Canada
  • charcoal
  • coastal forests
  • coniferous forests
  • conifers
  • cover
  • Epilobium
  • Epilobium angustifolium
  • fire frequency
  • fire scar analysis
  • fire sensitive plants
  • Gaultheria
  • Gaultheria hispidula
  • ground cover
  • humus
  • Labrador
  • lichens
  • mineral soils
  • mosaic
  • mosses
  • organic soils
  • overstory
  • paleoecology
  • Picea
  • Picea mariana
  • plant growth
  • Pleurozium schreberi
  • post fire recovery
  • regeneration
  • seeds
  • senescence
  • serotiny
  • species diversity (plants)
  • sphagnum
  • stand characteristics
  • succession
  • understory vegetation
  • vegetation surveys
Tall Timbers Record Number: 2182Location Status: In-fileCall Number: Fire FileAbstract Status: Okay, Fair use, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 28323

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of Tall Timbers.