2014/04/01 by Yves Bergeron, Han Y.H. Chen, Han Y. H. Chen +5 · 2 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies #Fire effects on ecosystems #Tree-ring climate responses
paper · pdf · doi:10.5558/tfc2014-039
crossref issued 2014/04/01 · crossref published 2014/04/01 · crossref published-print 2014/04/01 · openalex publication_date 2014/04/01 · crossref created 2014/04/11 · crossref deposited 2020/08/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/07/29 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
The southern portions of the boreal region across Canada are dominated by boreal mixedwoods forests, which are characterized by varying canopy dominance of boreal broadleaf and conifer trees. This forest region encompasses a large east-to-west gradient of climate and disturbance regimes. Although the same major boreal tree species occur in all parts of the boreal mixedwood region, they vary greatly in relative abundance. This is a reflection of the interactions among the different abiotic and biotic components. As a result, there is considerable variation in post-disturbance stand development, producing a wide variety of mixedwood forest conditions existing as a mosaic in time and space. Post-disturbance dominance by broadleaf species followed by a transition to conifers is the “classic” pathway in all regions. However, there is wide variation in the transition rate and the species sequence across the gradient depending on factors such as moisture, abundance of each species, fire cycle, climate and secondary disturbances (mainly insect outbreaks). Future changes in climate and disturbance regime could influence the nature of stand dynamics of boreal mixedwoods and the prominence of different pathways among regions. Focussing on the commonality of processes in mixedwood stand development across the boreal is a promising way to address the management of this important forest ecosystem.