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Type: Journal Article
Author(s): Nicolas Lecomte; Yves Bergeron
Publication Date: 2005

To infer successional pathways on different surficial deposits in northwestern Quebec, we combined the chronosequence approach to the study of within-stand species' vertical distribution. The deposits sustained different frequencies of postfire stand composition types and successional trajectories. After fire, Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P. dominated all stands on organic deposits, while shade-intolerant species dominated the canopy in over 30% and 60% of stands, respectively, on fine- and coarse-textured deposits. In the absence of fire, P. mariana eventually dominates the canopy of all stands on every deposit. However, as the frequency of Larix laricina (DuRoi) K. Koch and Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. in old stands (>100 years) are, respectively, positively and negatively correlated with the deposits' paludification potential, changes in composition in this landscape appear to be driven by the species' tolerance to shade and paludification. Structural changes were characterized by the replacement of closed dense stands by open stands. The diversity of P. mariana stand structures within the youngest age-classes suggests that fire severity may also explain the diversity of stand structures within this landscape. As among-stand structural diversity decreases with increasing time elapsed since fire, converging structural development pathways may be occurring in this landscape.

Online Links
Citation: Lecomte, N., and Y. Bergeron. 2005. Successional pathways on different surficial deposits in the coniferous boreal forest of the Quebec Clay Belt. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, v. 35, no. 8, p. 1984-1995.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
Alaska    California    Eastern    Great Basin    Hawaii    Northern Rockies    Northwest    Rocky Mountain    Southern    Southwest    International    National
Keywords:
  • Abies balsamea
  • Betula papyrifera
  • boreal forests
  • Canada
  • coniferous forests
  • diameter classes
  • dominance (ecology)
  • fire exclusion
  • forest management
  • Larix laricina
  • overstory
  • Picea glauca
  • Picea mariana
  • Pinus banksiana
  • Populus tremuloides
  • post fire recovery
  • Quebec
  • regeneration
  • soil organic matter
  • soils
  • succession
  • wildfires
Tall Timbers Record Number: 18766Location Status: In-fileCall Number: Journals-CAbstract Status: Fair use, Okay, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 43530

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.