Supervised by:

Dominique Arseneault (Regular Member (Co-researcher))

Co-supervised by:

Esther Lévesque (Regular Member (Co-researcher))

Research project description

Effect of Fires on the Transformation of Forest Ecosystems at the Southern and Northern Limits of Forest Tundra

Introduction

In June 2022, a fire devastated over 4200 hectares of forests in the Koroc River Valley, Kuurujuuaq National Park, Nunavik. The Inuit community of Kangiqsualujjuaq and park managers are concerned about the lack of observed regeneration following this fire. This exceptional event provides an ideal opportunity to conduct a comparative study of fire regimes and the resilience of Picea mariana populations at the southern and northern limits of forest tundra.

Objectives

To determine how climate change influences dominant ecological processes at the limits of the forest tundra. This research aims to enhance understanding of high-latitude ecosystem dynamics. The increasing risks of vegetation fires (Wang et al., 2020) and reduced climate stress due to global warming (Prentice et al., 1992) are the two main ecological factors that will be emphasized in this study. Results will be shared with local authorities to guide environmental monitoring and conservation policies.

Study Sites

One site is located at the northern limit of the forest tundra, corresponding to the northern tree line. This is the fire site in the Koroc River Valley, Nunavik. Additionally, there will be sites at the southern limit of the forest tundra, corresponding to the northern limit of continuous forest. These will be along the Transtaïga Road, near Caniapiscau.

Material and methods

Characterization of burned sites and adjacent intact forests will be conducted using conventional forest inventories on 400 m² plots. The influence of climate on forest dynamics will be reconstructed using dendrochronology (age structure and growth rates) and recent climate data. Charcoal will be collected from sites, and radiocarbon dating (carbon-14) will be used to identify the most recent fire event at each site. Vegetation recovery will be studied in burned plots and compared to unburned sites. Cone collection from seed trees will facilitate germination tests.

References

Prentice, I. C., Cramer, W., Harrison, S. P., Leemans, R., Monserud, R. A., & Solomon, A. M. (1992). Special paper: a global biome model based on plant physiology and dominance, soil properties and climate. Journal of biogeography, 117-134. Wang, X., Studens, K., Parisien, M. A., Taylor, S. W., Candau, J. N., Boulanger, Y.,