Changes to preindustrial forest tree composition in central and northeastern Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Preindustrial forest composition for >180 000 km 2 throughout central and northeastern Ontario was recreated from Ontario Crown land survey notes and compared with existing forest composition derived from current Forest Resource Inventories (1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009) in each of Site Regions 3E, 4E, and 5E. A validation analysis was performed using the Forest Resource Inventory data to test the assumption that sampling the land survey tree species composition along township boundaries is adequate in describing the composition of the whole forest. The majority of tree species in each of the three site regions validated successfully. A binary logistic regression model allowed birch genera to be classified at the species level to aid in the interpretation of survey notes. All analyses showed significant reductions in conifers (especially red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.), white pine (Pinus strobus L.), and eastern larch (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch)) and significant increases in maple (Acer spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), and poplar (Populus spp.).Résumé : La composition forestière préindustrielle d'une aire de plus de 180 000 km 2 dans le centre et le nord-est de l'Ontario a été reconstituée à partir de notes d'inventaire des terres publiques de l'Ontario (1816-1955) et comparée à la composition forestière actuelle déterminée à partir des inventaires des ressources forestières (1998-2009) dans chacune des régions écologiques 3E, 4E et 5E. Une analyse de validation a été effectuée avec des données de l'inventaire des ressources forestières pour tester l'hypothèse que l'échantillonnage de la composition forestière de l'inventaire des terres le long des limites de comté est adéquat pour décrire la composition de l'ensemble de la forêt. La majorité des espèces d'arbre dans chacune des trois régions écologiques ont été validés avec succès. Un modèle de régression logistique binaire a permis de classifier les bouleaux à l'espèce pour faciliter l'interprétation des notes d'inventaire. Toutes les analyses ont montré qu'il y avait une réduction significative des conifères (en particulier le pin rouge (Pinus resinosa Ait.), le pin blanc (Pinus strobus L.) et le mélèze laricin (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch)) et une augmentation significative des érables (Acer spp.), des chênes (Quercus spp.), du bouleau à papier (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) et des peupliers (Populus spp.).[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Applying research for enhanced productivity on the Canadian Ecology Centre – Forestry Research Partnership forests

“…BSP), eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.), and tamarack (Larix laricina [Du Roi] K. Koch) predominate (Table 1), which has changed to some extent since industrial harvesting began. A reconstruction of pre-industrial forest composition was done from Ontario Crown land survey notes for the CMRF for the 1898 to 1931 period using the method and data described in Pinto et al (2008). Comparison with current forest inventory data along the same surveyed township boundaries indicates balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.…”

“…The pre-industrial forest composition for the GCF was reconstructed from Ontario Crown land survey notes for the period 1889 to 1925 (Pinto et al 2008). This analysis indicates balsam fir, cedar, poplar and spruce are now more frequent; while birch and pine (Pinus), are less frequent than in the previous century (F. Pinto, OMNR, unpublished data).…”

“…The pre-industrial forest composition was reconstructed from Ontario Crown land survey notes for the SRFF for the period 1898 to 1923 using the method described by Pinto et al (2008). This analysis suggests there are higher frequencies of poplar and spruce and a decrease in larch in the current inventory, as compared to the historic survey records (F. Pinto, OMNR, unpublished data).…”

“…), which are more typical GLSL forests, are often present in mixed stands on the southern portion of the management unit. Pre-industrial forest composition for the RMF was reconstructed from Ontario Crown land survey notes for the period 1889 to 1930, using the method described in Pinto et al (2008). This analysis showed total pine and balsam fir occur less frequently now than in the last century, with birch, poplar, maple and spruce occurring more frequently now.…”

“…The pre-industrial forest composition for the MF was reconstructed from Ontario Crown land survey notes for the period 1889 to 1923 (Pinto et al 2008). This analysis showed a significant decrease over time in some conifer forest types, with a corresponding increase in shade-intolerant hardwoods, i.e., balsam fir and pines are less frequent, while birch, cedar, maple, poplar and spruce are more frequent in today's inventory (F. Pinto, OMNR, unpublished data).…”