Print Report
M495 Eastern North American Boreal Forest Macrogroup
Type Concept Sentence: This macrogroup describes upland boreal forests in eastern Canada, ranging from northwestern Ontario to Newfoundland and Labrador. On mesic, well-drained sites with moderate nutrient status, these are primarily closed coniferous forests, although hardwood and mixed conifer-hardwood forests are also common. Dominant tree species include Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera, Picea glauca, Picea mariana, Pinus banksiana, and Populus tremuloides.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern North American Boreal Forest Macrogroup
Colloquial Name: Eastern North American Boreal Forest
Hierarchy Level: Macrogroup
Type Concept: This macrogroup describes upland boreal forests in eastern Canada, ranging from northwestern Ontario to Newfoundland and Labrador. On mesic, well-drained sites with moderate nutrient status, these are primarily closed coniferous forests, although hardwood and mixed conifer-hardwood forests are also common. Dominant tree species include Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera, Picea glauca, Picea mariana, Pinus banksiana, and Populus tremuloides. Two CNVC sub-macrogroups distinguish "Atlantic" boreal forests from those more characteristic of Ontario and western Quebec. On nutrient-poor sites, understory species are dominated by the ericaceous species Kalmia angustifolia, Ledum groenlandicum, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Vaccinium myrtilloides. On richer sites, forb species such as Clintonia borealis, Aralia nudicaulis, Trientalis borealis, and shrubs such as Acer spicatum and Sorbus spp. are common. Feathermoss cover is dominated by Pleurozium schreberi, although Hylocomium splendens becomes more prevalent on moister, richer sites. This macrogroup occurs within the humid to perhumid boreal climate of eastern Canada. In the "Ontario and Quebec" boreal, the humid continental climate supports an active fire regime, which results in frequent, and often extensive, post-fire stands of Pinus banksiana, usually in combination with Picea mariana. Populus tremuloides is also important in this sub-macrogroup. The "Atlantic" sub-macrogroup is characterized by dominance of Picea mariana, Abies balsamea, and white birch, at the expense of Pinus banksiana and Populus tremuloides. In the perhumid to oceanic climates of eastern Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, fire frequency is reduced and stand dynamics are largely driven by insect epidemics, especially spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) which primarily attacks Abies balsamea. Picea mariana is maintained in combination with fir on the landscape by regular, but less frequent, stand-replacing fire. Hylocomium splendens becomes more important in the moss layer in the "Atlantic" boreal and the humidity-loving hepatic Bazzania trilobata appears. Regional geologic and topographic features produce an array of local site conditions. Most of the area occupied by this macrogroup is underlain by Canadian Shield bedrock, although high elevations of the Gaspé Peninsula and the varied geology of insular Newfoundland are exceptions. Soils are typically Brunisols or podzols developed in glacial sediments.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type concept is being developed by the CNVC Technical Committee, and further development of the description will await the completion of their work.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: Fire, insects, logging and permafrost contribute to successional processes and vegetation patterns. According to Kurz and Apps (1996), 48% of the boreal forest in Canada was disturbed by fire, 39% was disturbed by insects (mainly spruce budworm in the east) and 10% by logging.
Fire is a primary disturbance factor in this region. Current mean fire intervals (i.e. the average period at which a forest burned) are estimated at about 100 years for boreal forests in western Canada (Johnstone et al. 2010, Bergeron and Fenton 2012). Based on the mean fire-return interval, old-growth forests might be expected to be relatively uncommon, but Bergeron and Fenton (2012) used a variety of sources and modeling to estimate the percent of old growth across the Canadian boreal and subarctic woodland ecozones. They found that in the Eastern Boreal Forest ecozones stands >200 years occupied 20-25% of the landscape, and stands >300 years, some 10-15% of the landscape. This is because fires largely act independent of stand age, so some stands are burned twice within a fire cycle, and others are never burned. In addition, fires do not cause complete mortality; with median estimates for live trees per hectare varying from 0 to 241 trees/ha (Perera et al. 2009, as cited in Bergeron and Fenton 2012).
By some estimates, insects and other nonfire disturbances affect a larger area than fire each year (Sutton and Tardif 2009). Among insects, spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) has the largest impact. Outbreak severity (defined as tree mortality) increases with long fire intervals that allow for the establishment or development of more vulnerable host trees in the stands (Bergeron and Fenton 2012). Other insect pests on conifers include larch sawfly (Pristiphora erichsonii), larch budmoth (Zeiraphera diniana) and two-year budworm (Choristoneura biennis), and jack pine budworm (Choristoneura pinus pinus). Broadleaf species are affected by defoliators, such as forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), the large aspen tortix (Choristoneura conflictana). Although these insects rarely kill the tree outright, repeated outbreaks can weaken the trees.
Although spruce budworm occurs in all provinces throughout Canada, it is the most severe defoliator in Ontario, Québec, and New Brunswick. In eastern Canada, spruce budworm outbreaks are often more important than fire in terms of tree mortality. Outbreaks occur every 25 to 40 years at the supra-regional scale during the 19th and 20th centuries (Morin et al. 2009). The budworm typically kills its host. White spruce and balsam fir are the principal hosts, with black spruce and red spruce less affected. Mature stands of balsam fir are the most vulnerable. Almost all natural balsam fir (Abies balsamea) stands found within certain zones originate from spruce budworm outbreaks, following a cyclical pattern to which balsam is adapted. The budworm cycle may be affected by changes to the fire cycle. A decrease in fire frequency could lead to an increase in budworm effects.
Wind is another important non-fire disturbance, mainly found in coastal or sub-boreal areas where hurricanes generate very strong winds and in continental areas. Return intervals in the sub-boreal region may be quite long, from 450 to 500 years for stand-replacing windthrow events but partial windthrow may be relatively frequent even in interior boreal forests (Bergeron and Fenton 2012).
Finally, fine-scale local level disturbances such as root rot, partial windthrow, and insect mortality, as well as tree senescence, are also observed. In such circumstances, the canopy gaps created are small, corresponding to the growing space of single to multiple canopy trees (Bergeron and Fenton 2012).
Fire is a primary disturbance factor in this region. Current mean fire intervals (i.e. the average period at which a forest burned) are estimated at about 100 years for boreal forests in western Canada (Johnstone et al. 2010, Bergeron and Fenton 2012). Based on the mean fire-return interval, old-growth forests might be expected to be relatively uncommon, but Bergeron and Fenton (2012) used a variety of sources and modeling to estimate the percent of old growth across the Canadian boreal and subarctic woodland ecozones. They found that in the Eastern Boreal Forest ecozones stands >200 years occupied 20-25% of the landscape, and stands >300 years, some 10-15% of the landscape. This is because fires largely act independent of stand age, so some stands are burned twice within a fire cycle, and others are never burned. In addition, fires do not cause complete mortality; with median estimates for live trees per hectare varying from 0 to 241 trees/ha (Perera et al. 2009, as cited in Bergeron and Fenton 2012).
By some estimates, insects and other nonfire disturbances affect a larger area than fire each year (Sutton and Tardif 2009). Among insects, spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) has the largest impact. Outbreak severity (defined as tree mortality) increases with long fire intervals that allow for the establishment or development of more vulnerable host trees in the stands (Bergeron and Fenton 2012). Other insect pests on conifers include larch sawfly (Pristiphora erichsonii), larch budmoth (Zeiraphera diniana) and two-year budworm (Choristoneura biennis), and jack pine budworm (Choristoneura pinus pinus). Broadleaf species are affected by defoliators, such as forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), the large aspen tortix (Choristoneura conflictana). Although these insects rarely kill the tree outright, repeated outbreaks can weaken the trees.
Although spruce budworm occurs in all provinces throughout Canada, it is the most severe defoliator in Ontario, Québec, and New Brunswick. In eastern Canada, spruce budworm outbreaks are often more important than fire in terms of tree mortality. Outbreaks occur every 25 to 40 years at the supra-regional scale during the 19th and 20th centuries (Morin et al. 2009). The budworm typically kills its host. White spruce and balsam fir are the principal hosts, with black spruce and red spruce less affected. Mature stands of balsam fir are the most vulnerable. Almost all natural balsam fir (Abies balsamea) stands found within certain zones originate from spruce budworm outbreaks, following a cyclical pattern to which balsam is adapted. The budworm cycle may be affected by changes to the fire cycle. A decrease in fire frequency could lead to an increase in budworm effects.
Wind is another important non-fire disturbance, mainly found in coastal or sub-boreal areas where hurricanes generate very strong winds and in continental areas. Return intervals in the sub-boreal region may be quite long, from 450 to 500 years for stand-replacing windthrow events but partial windthrow may be relatively frequent even in interior boreal forests (Bergeron and Fenton 2012).
Finally, fine-scale local level disturbances such as root rot, partial windthrow, and insect mortality, as well as tree senescence, are also observed. In such circumstances, the canopy gaps created are small, corresponding to the growing space of single to multiple canopy trees (Bergeron and Fenton 2012).
Environmental Description: These boreal forests are most common found on Podzols (Canadian system, Spodosols in U.S. system). These soils are a result of podsolization, which is a consequence of low temperatures and excess precipitation above that expended on evapotranspiration. In this process, iron and aluminum and organic materials are leached out of the upper horizon and deposited in the lower horizon. Nutrients are also leached out, resulting in low bases such as calcium. With low temperatures, soil microorganisms are unable to decompose organic matter effectively, resulting in acidic soils and low nitrogen and mineral levels. Soil conditions and permafrost development can inhibit tree growth. Other soil types include immature Regosols (Entisols), wetland Fibrisols (Histosols), and gray-wooded and grey-brown podsols (Elliott-Fisk 2000).
Permafrost is not abundant, only sporadic, in the closed-crown boreal forest of the East, except for higher elevations (>800 m or more). It becomes more abundant in the subarctic woodlands, where there is discontinuous permafrost around latitude 54 to 56. (J.-P. Saucier pers. comm. 2014).
Permafrost is not abundant, only sporadic, in the closed-crown boreal forest of the East, except for higher elevations (>800 m or more). It becomes more abundant in the subarctic woodlands, where there is discontinuous permafrost around latitude 54 to 56. (J.-P. Saucier pers. comm. 2014).
Geographic Range: No Data Available
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: LB, MB, MI, MN?, NB?, NF, ON, QC, WI?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.872650
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.4 Boreal Forest & Woodland Formation | F001 | 1.B.4 |
| Division | 1.B.4.Na North American Boreal Forest & Woodland Division | D014 | 1.B.4.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.4.Na.1 Eastern North American Boreal Forest Macrogroup | M495 | 1.B.4.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.4.Na.1.g Paper Birch - Balsam Fir - Quaking Aspen Ontario-Québec Boreal Mesic Forest Group | G638 | 1.B.4.Na.1.g |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Balsam Fir: 5 (Eyre 1980)
>< Black Spruce: 12 (Eyre 1980)
< Boreal Forest (Curtis 1959) [Some of Curtis''s concept may fit with this type, but he also included stands further inland in Wisconsin, that appear to contain a large abundance of northern hardwoods.]
> Fir-Birch (Heinselman 1996)
> Jack Pine - Black Spruce (Heinselman 1973)
> Jack Pine - Fir, Black Spruce - Feathermoss (Heinselman 1973)
>< Jack Pine: 1 (Eyre 1980)
? Perhumid Boreal Forests of Eastern Canada (Clayden et al. 2011)
> White Spruce: 201 (Eyre 1980)
>< Black Spruce: 12 (Eyre 1980)
< Boreal Forest (Curtis 1959) [Some of Curtis''s concept may fit with this type, but he also included stands further inland in Wisconsin, that appear to contain a large abundance of northern hardwoods.]
> Fir-Birch (Heinselman 1996)
> Jack Pine - Black Spruce (Heinselman 1973)
> Jack Pine - Fir, Black Spruce - Feathermoss (Heinselman 1973)
>< Jack Pine: 1 (Eyre 1980)
? Perhumid Boreal Forests of Eastern Canada (Clayden et al. 2011)
> White Spruce: 201 (Eyre 1980)
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