Aspen Bibliography

The phytosociological structure of upland forest at Candle Lake, Saskatchewan

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of Ecolology

Volume

54

Issue

1

First Page

13

Last Page

40

Publication Date

1966

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the phytosociological structure of the natural, upland forest in the Candle Lake region of Saskatchewan and to obtain preliminary information concerning the relationships between this structure and selected attributes of the environment. The reproduction of tree species is not treated here, since it will be the subject of a later paper. Quantitative data for trees, herbs, shrubs, mosses and environmental characteristics were collected in thirty-two forest stands. Ordination techniques were used to analyse forest structure. A three-dimensional ordination, based on the densities of eight tree species, was used to illustrate canopy structure, while frequency values for eighty-four herbs and shrubs were used to demonstrate sub-canopy structure. Forest structure appears to be best described as a pattern of continuous variation in different parts of which individual species achieve peak performance. Abies balsamea and Picea mariana dominate stands having a dense moss cover and a poorly developed vascular understorey while Betula papyrifera, Picea glauca, Pinus banksiana and Populus tremuloides dominate stands having a scant moss cover and a rich complement of understorey vascular species. Canopy and sub-canopy structures are shown to be closely interrelated, some understorey species having distribution patterns specifically related to individual canopy species. A comparison of tree species patterns on both the tree and herb and shrub ordinations suggests that both ordinations are similar. The interrelationships between forest structure and environmental characteristics were analysed by superimposing measured or estimated environmental values at the stand locations of both ordinations. The stand distribution on the tree ordination suggests that soil texture and disturbance-succession gradients are related to canopy structure. Other environmental measurements, including soil moisture, appeared to bear no detectable relationships to canopy structure. Relationships between sub-canopy structure and shade density, soil pH and soil texture were suggested by stand distributions on the herb and shrub ordination. It was not possible to demonstrate a relationship between sub-canopy structure and soil moisture.

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