The Stability of the Northern Canadian Tree Limit

Elliott‐Fisk, Deborah L.

doi:10.1111/j.1467-8306.1983.tb01859.x

Cited by 52 publications

(19 citation statements)

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“…Hustich (1983) argues that the problems of 'explaining' the treeline were due to a lack of strategically located weather stations; variations in topography;postglacial history; and the tree species involved. Elliott-Fisk (1983) confirms these statements but notes more specifically that 'The tree limit has apparently responded to Northern Hemisphere Holocene climatic changes synchronously and directionally, though lags are recognizable in the data as one moves from western to eastern Canada.' Separating climate from ecologic factors, Hustich warns that the ability of some species to reproduce or expand by vegetative reproduction and to survive long periods of poor climatic conditions must be considered when looking at postglacial movements of the treeline.…”

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confidence: 55%

“…This 'treeline' which Hearne labelled the 'wood's edge' was transposed as accurately as possible onto the map shown in Figure 2 which also has plotted on it the present northern limits of the forest tundra transition called the tree limit by Elliott-Fisk (1983) and similar to the northern limit of 'forest and barren' as defined by Rowe (1972). The tree limit was indicated by Hearne with small fir trees and has been accentuated by this author for clarity.…”

Section: There Are Very Few Written Records From the Period Before 17mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Historical evidence and climatic implications of a shift in the boreal forest tundra transition in central Canada

Ball

1986

Climatic Change

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The line that marks the boundary between the boreal forest and the tundra regions is a relatively abrupt line in central Canada and appears to reflect a clearly defined climate boundary. Research suggests that relatively small changes in the climatic conditions should result in a movement of the treeline. Such a movement was apparently reported in 1772 by Samuel Hearne based upon the observations of generations of Indians who had lived in the area. A map of his voyages indicates a tree limit that was further west in the north/south section of western Canada and further south in the east/west section of central Canada. This location and subsequent movement appears to be logical in relation to the climatic conditions that occurred in the region as a result of the Little Ice Age and the warmer conditions thereafter.The treeline in central Canada indicates a transition from the boreal forest to the tundra and is clearly defined on the west side of Hudson Bay and less clearly defined on the Quebec side. The transition zone on the west side of Hudson Bay is relatively narrow and Larsen (1974) suggests that it is relatively easy to plot the edge of the 'trees' with an accuracy of -+ 25-30 km. He also points out that the region is particularly suitable for determining the effects of climate on the forest because the cdaphic factors of geology and topography are relatively homogeneous. Bryson (1966) suggested that the southern limits of Arctic air in winter and summer correlated with the northern and southern limits, respectively, of the boreal forest in central Canada. In a paper that examined the seasonal location of the Arctic Front over North America, Barry found support for this correlation, particularly 'in northwest Canada where the forest tundra boundary is extremely sharp'. (Barry, 1967, p. 90).Many researchers have studied the relationship between climate and the treeline. Most of these studies use biologic indicators, such as pollen, which tend to have an insensitivity that precludes the measurement of relatively short term changes in climate and the vegetative response. The problem in trying to reconstruct continuous records of climate so that an accurate pattern of the trend and degree of change can be determined stems from the different sources of evidence and methodologies involved. For example, the transition from the instrumental records to the historical records involves a change from the precise objective measurement to the subjective data of weather diaries, proxy data, and other phenological indicators. Along the treeline of North America the problem is exacerbated by the lack of instrumental data and a paucity of historical information. The result is that there is very little evidence to provide an accurate determination of the effects of relatively short term but dramatic changes of climate such as the Little Ice Age.

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confidence: 55%

Section: There Are Very Few Written Records From the Period Before 17mentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical evidence and climatic implications of a shift in the boreal forest tundra transition in central Canada

Ball

1986

Climatic Change

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“…Thus 27 quadrats (distance of 20 m from each other) were used for the analysis over a distance of 1.08 km from the forest limit to the uppermost tundra. The forest limit is an oldgrowth forest similar in structure to a nearby forest (Elliott-Fisk 1983), and composed of all-sized living and dead trees suggesting the long-term maintenance of the tree habit. In each quadrat selected, all spruce individuals were recorded (diameter, height, growth form) and sampled for age determination at the root collar.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasted Dynamics of Northern Labrador Tree Lines Caused by Climate Change and Migrational Lag

Payette

2007

Ecology

132

154

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The northern Québec-Labrador tree lines are the most climatically stressed tree ecosystems of eastern North America. In particular, white spruce (Picea glauca) tree line populations distributed between 56 degrees N and 58 degrees N and 61 degrees W and 66 degrees W show contrasted responses to recent changes in climate according to their geographic position relative to the Labrador Sea. Along the coast, the northernmost latitudinal and altitudinal tree lines responded positively to warming over the last 50 years with invading spruce several tens of meters above the current tree line. In contrast, white spruce tree lines across the wind-exposed Labrador plateau are located much higher in altitude and have receded a few tens of meters beginning around AD 1740-1750 and have not yet recovered. Whereas no field evidence of recent fire and insect damage was found, all inland tree line stands were progressively damaged likely due to mechanical defoliation of wind-exposed trees. Massive tree death in the 19th century caused a reduction in the number of seed-bearing trees, and declining tree lines were not replenished by seedlings. Recent warming reported for northern latitudes has not been strong enough to change the regressive tree line trajectory in interior Labrador. However, white spruce expansion above coastal tree line in the northernmost forest site in Labrador is in line with current climatic trends. It is hypothesized that the species is still advancing toward its potential tree line higher in altitude due to delayed postglacial migration. The slow advance of white spruce in northernmost coastal Labrador is likely caused by the rugged topography of the Torngat-Kaumajet-Kiglapait mountains.

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“…In the northern treeline ecotone, the northern limit of production of viable seeds is often far south of the northernmost tree stands (e.g. Holtmeier, 1974, 1994b, 1995, 2003; Nichols, 1975a,b; Elliott & Short, 1979; Black & Bliss, 1980; Elliot‐Fisk, 1983; Larsen, 1989; Szeicz & MacDonald, 1995; Payette et al ., 2001). In mountains south of the northern (latitudinal) limit of production of viable seeds, supply of the treeline ecotone with fertile seeds is less critical because of the shorter distance from the seed sources at lower elevation.…”

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Sensitivity and response of northern hemisphere altitudinal and polar treelines to environmental change at landscape and local scales

Holtmeier

Broll

2005

Global Ecology and Biogeography

577

538

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The sensitivity and response of northern hemisphere altitudinal and polar treelines to environmental change are increasingly discussed in terms of climate change, often forgetting that climate is only one aspect of environmental variation. As treeline heterogeneity increases from global to regional and smaller scales, assessment of treeline sensitivity at the landscape and local scales requires a more complex approach than at the global scale. The time scale (short-, medium-, long-term) also plays an important role when considering treeline sensitivity. The sensitivity of the treeline to a changing environment varies among different types of treeline. Treelines controlled mainly by orographic influences are not very susceptible to the effects of warming climates. Greatest sensitivity can be expected in anthropogenic treelines after the cessation of human activity. However, tree invasion into former forested areas above the anthropogenic forest limit is controlled by site conditions, and in particular, by microclimates and soils. Apart from changes in tree physiognomy, the spontaneous advance of young growth of forest-forming tree species into present treeless areas within the treeline ecotone and beyond the tree limit is considered to be the best indicator of treeline sensitivity to environmental change. The sensitivity of climatic treelines to climate warming varies both in the local and regional topographical conditions. Furthermore, treeline history and its after-effects also play an important role. The sensitivity of treelines to changes in given factors (e.g. winter snow pack, soil moisture, temperature, evaporation, etc.) may vary among areas with differing climatic characteristics. In general, forest will not advance in a closed front but will follow sites that became more favourable to tree establishment under the changed climatic conditions.

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The Stability of the Northern Canadian Tree Limit

Cited by 52 publications

References 51 publications

Historical evidence and climatic implications of a shift in the boreal forest tundra transition in central Canada

Historical evidence and climatic implications of a shift in the boreal forest tundra transition in central Canada

Contrasted Dynamics of Northern Labrador Tree Lines Caused by Climate Change and Migrational Lag

Sensitivity and response of northern hemisphere altitudinal and polar treelines to environmental change at landscape and local scales

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