Holocene vegetation history of the boreal forest near Chibougamau, central Quebec

Abstract

A pollen diagram from a small lake in the region of Chibougamau (49°41′N, 74°35′W; elevation 380 m), central Quebec, is divided into four pollen assemblage zones. Before 7600 BP the landscape was open shrub tundra and the pollen input to the lake was primarily from long-distance sources. Larix, and to a lesser extent Populus, were important colonizers of the newly deglaciated land, and Picea was also present. Betula papyrifera and Picea dominated the open forests between 7600 and 4700 BP. After 4700 BP the forest became more dense and the importance of Betula papyrifera suggests relatively warm and dry climatic conditions. Around 3900 BP Picea, Ericaceae, and Sphagnum increased in abundance at the expense of Betula, suggesting cooler, wetter conditions. Pinus banksiana increased during this period but was never very abundant. The modern boreal forest thus developed relatively late in this region and has been present for only the past 2000–3000 BP. Key words: paleoecology, Quebec, Holocene, boreal forest, Betula papyrifera, Picea.