Upland boreal forest northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario : ecology and applications to silviculture

Abstract

Multivariate phytosociological methods were used to investigate the ecology of upland boreal forest stands. The ecological information was used to derive silvicultural recommendations. The boreal forest stands did not form tight associations. Species were distributed individualistically; most species have broad, overlapping, environmental tolerances. Most of the variability among stands was attributed to the environment and to species precedence on a site. Geomorphology and moisture regime were related to community composition. Pinus banksiana dominates sandy glaciofluvial deposits. Picea mariana achieves moderate abundance on glaciofluvial deposits which are moister due to finer soils or to topographic position. picea mariana may also dominate shallow moraines. Deeper moraines were dominated by mixedwoods composed of all species common to uplands in the study area. Succession is of minimal importance; other factors override successional trends. While plant communities were related to the landforms are much more discrete than communities. Therefore, landforms were used silvicultural recommendations. Land types were by combining or dividing simple features. The seven land types were associated with trends of community composition and of productivity. Silvicultural recommendations were derived for each of these land types. These recommendations were primarily determined by potential hardwood competition and productivity.