Relationships between Structure, Composition, and Dynamics of the Pristine Northern Boreal Forest and Air Temperature, Precipitation, and Soil Texture in Quebec (Canada)

This study reports on the contemporary structure, composition, and dynamics of the pristine northern boreal forest in Quebec, Canada, associated with air temperature, precipitation, and soil texture, using 147 permanent sample plots located at the limit of continuous forest in Quebec. The results sh...

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Main Authors: Louis Duchesne, Rock Ouimet
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2009-01-01
Series:International Journal of Forestry Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/398389
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author Louis Duchesne
Rock Ouimet
author_facet Louis Duchesne
Rock Ouimet
author_sort Louis Duchesne
collection DOAJ
description This study reports on the contemporary structure, composition, and dynamics of the pristine northern boreal forest in Quebec, Canada, associated with air temperature, precipitation, and soil texture, using 147 permanent sample plots located at the limit of continuous forest in Quebec. The results show that tree species composition of stands is associated with stand age, soil texture, air temperature, and precipitation regime. After establishment of the pioneer cohort, the postsuccessional stand dynamics differed among temperature and precipitation regimes, probably because of their influence on tree growth. Our results support the hypothesis that shifts in forest composition related to stand dynamics and the subsequent senescing phase associated with the old growth stage generally occur sooner and proceed faster on more fertile sites due to quicker growth and the subsequent earlier mortality of pioneer species. This study suggests that climate warming should accelerate the successional dynamics of these ecosystems through its positive influence on tree growth.
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publishDate 2009-01-01
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series International Journal of Forestry Research
spelling doaj-art-2f2af495744848619f2f414d4d07417f2025-08-20T03:55:16ZengWileyInternational Journal of Forestry Research1687-93681687-93762009-01-01200910.1155/2009/398389398389Relationships between Structure, Composition, and Dynamics of the Pristine Northern Boreal Forest and Air Temperature, Precipitation, and Soil Texture in Quebec (Canada)Louis Duchesne0Rock Ouimet1Direction de la Recherche Forestière, Forêt Québec, Ministère des Ressources Naturelles et de la Faune du Québec, 2700 Einstein Street, QC, G1P 3W8, CanadaDirection de la Recherche Forestière, Forêt Québec, Ministère des Ressources Naturelles et de la Faune du Québec, 2700 Einstein Street, QC, G1P 3W8, CanadaThis study reports on the contemporary structure, composition, and dynamics of the pristine northern boreal forest in Quebec, Canada, associated with air temperature, precipitation, and soil texture, using 147 permanent sample plots located at the limit of continuous forest in Quebec. The results show that tree species composition of stands is associated with stand age, soil texture, air temperature, and precipitation regime. After establishment of the pioneer cohort, the postsuccessional stand dynamics differed among temperature and precipitation regimes, probably because of their influence on tree growth. Our results support the hypothesis that shifts in forest composition related to stand dynamics and the subsequent senescing phase associated with the old growth stage generally occur sooner and proceed faster on more fertile sites due to quicker growth and the subsequent earlier mortality of pioneer species. This study suggests that climate warming should accelerate the successional dynamics of these ecosystems through its positive influence on tree growth.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/398389
spellingShingle Louis Duchesne
Rock Ouimet
Relationships between Structure, Composition, and Dynamics of the Pristine Northern Boreal Forest and Air Temperature, Precipitation, and Soil Texture in Quebec (Canada)
International Journal of Forestry Research
title Relationships between Structure, Composition, and Dynamics of the Pristine Northern Boreal Forest and Air Temperature, Precipitation, and Soil Texture in Quebec (Canada)
title_full Relationships between Structure, Composition, and Dynamics of the Pristine Northern Boreal Forest and Air Temperature, Precipitation, and Soil Texture in Quebec (Canada)
title_fullStr Relationships between Structure, Composition, and Dynamics of the Pristine Northern Boreal Forest and Air Temperature, Precipitation, and Soil Texture in Quebec (Canada)
title_full_unstemmed Relationships between Structure, Composition, and Dynamics of the Pristine Northern Boreal Forest and Air Temperature, Precipitation, and Soil Texture in Quebec (Canada)
title_short Relationships between Structure, Composition, and Dynamics of the Pristine Northern Boreal Forest and Air Temperature, Precipitation, and Soil Texture in Quebec (Canada)
title_sort relationships between structure composition and dynamics of the pristine northern boreal forest and air temperature precipitation and soil texture in quebec canada
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/398389
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AT rockouimet relationshipsbetweenstructurecompositionanddynamicsofthepristinenorthernborealforestandairtemperatureprecipitationandsoiltextureinquebeccanada