Persistence of balsam fir and black spruce populations in the mixedwood and coniferous bioclimatic domain of eastern North America.

ABSTRACT: The boreal ecocline (ca 49°N) between the southern mixedwood (dominated by balsam fir) and the northern coniferous bioclimatic domain (dominated by black spruce) may be explained by a northward decrease of balsam fir regeneration, explaining the gradual shift to black spruce dominance. 7,010 sample plots, with absence of major disturbances, were provided by the Quebec Ministry of Forest, Fauna, and Parks. The regeneration (sapling abundance) of balsam fir and black spruce were compared within and between the two bioclimatic domains, accounting for parental trees, main soil type (clay and till) and climate conditions, reflected by summer growing degree-days above 5°C (GDD_5), total summer precipitation (May-August; PP_MA). Parental trees and soil type determined balsam fir and black spruce

SUBMITTER: Messaoud Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6509386 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature