Macrofossil and Tree-Ring Evidence for a Long-Term Forest Succession and Mid-Holocene Hemlock Decline

Abstract

Paludified dune fields in southern Québec provided a unique opportunity to analyze a mid-Holocene forest succession, ranging from xero-mesophilous forests to treed peatlands, which registered the hemlock decline, a major biostratigraphic event in eastern North America. Our fossil-tree chronology established from 66 radiocarbon dates of tree stems indicates that white pine and hemlock were present at the study site about 6000-5700 yr B.P. Hemlock reached a maximum 4900-4800 yr B.P. and then declined between 4600 and 3800 yr B.P.; the species recovered around 3700 yr B.P. and then decreased when white pine and eastern latch dominated the site after 3000 yr B.P. and between 2600 and 2200 yr B.P., respectively. Tree-ring signatures of fossil hemlocks suggest the continuous influence of biotic factors, possibly insect defoliators, throughout the record, as shown by recurrent suppressed-growth pattern. Microscopic examination of the hemlock fossil stems disclosed no evidence of fungal disease. The hemlock decline was probably caused by regional posthypsithermal climatic changes, toward moister conditions.