Climate and the southern limit of the western Canadian boreal forest

Four species of boreal forest conifers share a similar southern limit of natural distribution in the three Prairie Provinces of western Canada. The southern boundaries of boreal forest and aspen parkland were compared with geographic patterns of several climate variables to provide a preliminary ass...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Forest Research
Main Author: Hogg, Edward H.
Format: Text
Language:unknown
Published: Hosted by Utah State University Libraries 1994
Subjects:
forest trees
temperature
precipitation
forest fires
climatic change
vegetation types
boreal forests
geographical distribution
climate
latitude
climatic factors
alberta
saskatchewan
manitoba
forest zonation
Forest Sciences
Northwest Territories
Canada
Parkland
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/aspen_bib/2161
https://doi.org/10.1139/x94-237
Description
Summary:Four species of boreal forest conifers share a similar southern limit of natural distribution in the three Prairie Provinces of western Canada. The southern boundaries of boreal forest and aspen parkland were compared with geographic patterns of several climate variables to provide a preliminary assessment of how global climate change could affect forest distribution in the future. Forest zonation corresponded most closely with climatic moisture regimes (annual precipitation minus potential evaporation). In contrast, thermal characteristics of climate (mean July and annual temperature, growing degree-days) showed an inconsistent relationship with forest zonation. It is postulated that moisture limitations prevent conifer regeneration south of the present limit of natural distribution. Alternatively, the more arid climates south of the boreal forest may have promoted higher fire frequencies historically, thus preventing conifers from achieving sufficient longevity to regenerate. The driest areas of boreal forest in the region occur at low elevations in west-central Manitoba, throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta, and the southwestern Mackenzie District, Northwest Territories; these areas may be most vulnerable to increased climatic dryness. Climatically induced losses of forest cover from these low-elevation areas could eventually lead to the fragmentation of the boreal forest in western Canada.

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