Composition and Dynamics of the Understory Vegetation in the Boreal Forests of Quebec

Abstract

Abstract The boreal forest of Quebec extends from the 48th to the 58th northern parallels (fig. 10.1). It can be subdivided into four forest domains (from south to north): the Abies balsamea (Mill.) and Betula papyrifera (Marsh.) domain, the Picea mariana (Mill.) and feathermoss domain, the Picea mariana lichen woodland, and the forest-tundra domain (Grondin et al. 1996; Saucier et al. 1998). This chapter will be restricted to the Abies balsamea-Betula papyrifera and the Picea mariana-feathermoss domains, which extend from 48° to 52° north latitude and include much of the closed-canopy, commercial boreal forest in Quebec. In this zone, average annual temperatures range between 1° and -2.5°C, and average annual precipitation is between 600 and 1400 mm. Temperature and precipitation decrease toward the north, and precipitation increases from west to east. The main tree species are Picea mariana, Picea glauca (Moench), Abies balsamea, Pinus banksiana (Lamb.), Larix laricina (Du Roi), Populus tremuloides (Michx.), and Betula papyrifera.