The effects of surficial deposit–drainage combinations on spatial variations of fire cycles in the boreal forest of eastern Canada
Nicolas Mansuy A E , Sylvie Gauthier B , André Robitaille C and Yves Bergeron D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Centre for Forest Research, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada.
B Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, 1055 du PEPS, PO Box 10380, Stn Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC, G1V 4C7, Canada.
C Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec, Direction des inventaires forestiers, 880 chemin Sainte-Foy, 5e étage, Québec, QC, G1S 4X4, Canada.
D Chaire industrielle en aménagement forestier durable (NSERC-UQAT-UQAM), Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 boulevard de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada.
E Corresponding author. Email: nicolas.mansuy@rncan-nrcan.gc.ca
International Journal of Wildland Fire 19(8) 1083-1098 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF09144
Submitted: 19 December 2009 Accepted: 4 August 2010 Published: 10 December 2010
Abstract
Spatial variations in the fire cycle of a large territory (190 000 km2) located in the boreal forest of eastern Canada were assessed using random sampling points. Our main objective was to determine if regions characterised by a large proportion of dry surficial deposit–drainage (SDD) burn more frequently than regions with a smaller proportion. Through a regionalisation of the landscape units, we analysed the effects of SDD on spatial variations of the fire cycle. A discriminant analysis involving the SDD and other physical variables (precipitation, temperature, aridity index, water bodies, elevation and slope) made it possible to identify a combination of variables characterising each region. A considerable variation in fire cycle was observed among the different SDD types (from 144 to 425 years) and between regions (from 90 to 715 years). Through the discriminant analysis, this study suggests that a combination of possible climatic top-down (precipitation R2 = 0.727, aridity index R2 = 0.663 and temperature R2 = 0.574) and bottom-up factors (xeric undifferentiated till R2 = 0.819 and humid undifferentiated till R2 = 0.691) could explain this variation at the regional scale. Implications of those results for forest protection against fire and regional development are briefly discussed.
Additional keywords: climate, discriminant analyses, disturbance regime, drying potential, random sampling, regional scale, regionalisation, top-down and bottom-up factors.
References
Allison PD (1995) ‘Survival Analysis Using SAS: a Practical Guide.’ (SAS Institute Inc.: Cary, NC)Beaty RM, Taylor AH (2001) Spatial and temporal variation of fire regimes in a mixed conifer forest landscape, Southern Cascades, California, USA. Journal of Biogeography 28, 955–966.
| Spatial and temporal variation of fire regimes in a mixed conifer forest landscape, Southern Cascades, California, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bergeron Y, Gauthier S, Kafka V, Lefort P, Lesieur D (2001) Natural fire frequency for the eastern Canadian boreal forest: consequences for sustainable forestry. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 31, 384–391.
| Natural fire frequency for the eastern Canadian boreal forest: consequences for sustainable forestry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bergeron Y, Flannigan M, Gauthier S, Leduc A, Lefort P (2004a) Past, current and future fire frequency in the Canadian boreal forest: implications for sustainable forest management. Ambio 33, 356–360..
Bergeron Y, Gauthier S, Flannigan M, Kafka V (2004b) Fire regimes at the transition between mixedwood and coniferous boreal forest in northwestern Quebec. Ecology 85, 1916–1932.
| Fire regimes at the transition between mixedwood and coniferous boreal forest in northwestern Quebec.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bergeron Y, Cyr D, Drever CR, Flannigan M, Gauthier S, Kneeshaw D, Lauzon È, Leduc A, Le Goff H, Lesieur D, Logan K (2006) Past, current, and future fire frequencies in Quebec’s commercial forests: implications for the cumulative effects of harvesting and fire on age-class structure and natural disturbance-based management. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 36, 2737–2744.
| Past, current, and future fire frequencies in Quebec’s commercial forests: implications for the cumulative effects of harvesting and fire on age-class structure and natural disturbance-based management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Broncano MJ, Retana J (2004) Topography and forest composition affecting the variability in fire severity and post-fire regeneration occurring after a large fire in the Mediterranean basin. International Journal of Wildland Fire 13, 209–216.
| Topography and forest composition affecting the variability in fire severity and post-fire regeneration occurring after a large fire in the Mediterranean basin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cyr D, Gauthier S, Bergeron Y (2007) Scale-dependent determinants of heterogeneity in fire frequency in a coniferous boreal forest of eastern Canada. Landscape Ecology 22, 1325–1339.
| Scale-dependent determinants of heterogeneity in fire frequency in a coniferous boreal forest of eastern Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Flannigan MD, Harrington JB (1988) A study of the relation of meteorological variables to monthly provincial area burned by wildfire in Canada (1953–80). Journal of Applied Meteorology 27, 441–452.
| A study of the relation of meteorological variables to monthly provincial area burned by wildfire in Canada (1953–80).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Flannigan MD, Wotton BM (2001) Climate, weather, and area burned. In ‘Forest Fires: Behavior and Ecological Effects’. (Eds EA Johnson, K Miyanishi) pp. 351–373. (Academic Press: New York)
Fullerton DS, Bush CA, Pennell JN (2003) ‘Map of Surficial Deposits and Materials in the Eastern and Central United States (East of 102° West Longitude).’ (US Department of the Interior and US Geological Survey: Washington, DC).
Gauthier S, Leduc A, Harvey B, Bergeron Y, Drapeau P (2001) Les perturbations naturelles et la diversité écosystemique. Naturaliste Canadien 125, 10–17..
Gauthier S, Chabot M, Drolet B, Plante C, Coupal J, Boivin C, Juneau B, Lefebvre F, Ménard B, Villeneuve R, Gagnon L (2005) Groupe de travail sur les objectifs opérationnels de la SOPFEU: Rapport d’analyse. SOPFEU internal report. (Québec)
Gedalof Z, Peterson DL, Mantua NJ (2005) Atmospheric, climatic, and ecological controls on extreme wildfire years in the northwestern United States. Ecological Applications 15, 154–174.
| Atmospheric, climatic, and ecological controls on extreme wildfire years in the northwestern United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gillett NP, Weaver AJ, Zwiers FW, Flannigan MD (2004) Detecting the effect of climate change on Canadian forest fires. Geophysical Research Letters 31, L18211
| Detecting the effect of climate change on Canadian forest fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Girardin MP (2009) Wildfire risk inferred from tree rings in the Central Laurentians of boreal Quebec, Canada. Dendrochronologia 28, 187–206.
| Wildfire risk inferred from tree rings in the Central Laurentians of boreal Quebec, Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | [Published online ahead of print 24 November 2009]
Harden JW, Meier R, Silapaswan C, Swanson DK, McGuire AD (2001) Soil drainage and its potential for influencing wildfire in Alaska. In ‘Studies by the US Geological Survey in Alaska, 2001’. Chapt. 12. (Ed. JP Galloway) US Geological Survey, Professional Paper 1678, pp. 139–144. Available at http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/prof-paper/pp1678/AK2001_Chpt12_alt.pdf [Verified 6 December 2010]
Heinselman ML (1973) Fire in the virgin forests of Boundary Waters Canoe area, Minnesota. Quaternary Research 3, 329–382.
| Fire in the virgin forests of Boundary Waters Canoe area, Minnesota.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Heyerdahl EK, Brubaker LB, Agee JK (2001) Spatial controls of historical fire regimes: a multi-scale example from the Interior West USA. Ecology 82, 660–678.
| Spatial controls of historical fire regimes: a multi-scale example from the Interior West USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hirsch K, Kafka V, Tymstra C, McAlpine R, Hawkes B, Stegehuis H, Quintilio S, Gauthier S, Peck K (2001) Fire-smart forest management: a pragmatic approach to sustainable forest management in fire-dominated ecosytems. Forestry Chronicle 77, 357–363..
Johnson EA (1992) ‘Fire and Vegetation Dynamics: Studies from the North American Boreal Forest.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK)
Johnson EA, Gutsell SL (1994) Fire frequency models, methods and interpretations. Advances in Ecological Research 25, 239–287.
| Fire frequency models, methods and interpretations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Johnson EA, Larsen CPS (1991) Climatically induced change in fire frequency in the southern Canadian Rockies. Ecology 72, 194–201.
| Climatically induced change in fire frequency in the southern Canadian Rockies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Johnson EA, Van Wagner CE (1985) The theory and use of two fire history models. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 15, 214–220.
| The theory and use of two fire history models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kasischke ES, Stocks BJ (2000) ‘Fire, climate change, and carbon cycling in the Boreal Forest’, Ecological studies, vol. 138. (Eds ES Kasischke, BJ Stocks) (Springer: New York)
Kasischke ES, Williams D, Barry D (2002) Analysis of the patterns of large fires in the boreal forest region of Alaska. International Journal of Wildland Fire 11, 131–144.
| Analysis of the patterns of large fires in the boreal forest region of Alaska.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kushla JD, Ripple WJ (1998) Assessing wildfire effects with Landsat thematic mapper data. International Journal of Remote Sensing 19, 2493–2507.
| Assessing wildfire effects with Landsat thematic mapper data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Larjavaara M, Kuuluvainen T, Tanskanen H, Venäläinen A (2004) Variation in forest fire ignition probability in Finland. Silva Fennica 38, 253–266..
Larsen CPS (1996) Fire and climate dynamics in the boreal forest of northern Alberta, Canada, from AD 1850 to 1989. The Holocene 6, 449–456.
| Fire and climate dynamics in the boreal forest of northern Alberta, Canada, from AD 1850 to 1989.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lauzon È, Kneeshaw D, Bergeron Y (2007) Reconstruction of fire history (1680–2003) in Gaspesian mixedwood boreal forests of eastern Canada. Forest Ecology and Management 244, 41–49.
| Reconstruction of fire history (1680–2003) in Gaspesian mixedwood boreal forests of eastern Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Le Goff H, Flannigan MD, Bergeron Y, Girardin MP (2007) Historical fire regime shifts related to climate teleconnections in the Waswanipi area, central Quebec, Canada. International Journal of Wildland Fire 16, 607–618.
| Historical fire regime shifts related to climate teleconnections in the Waswanipi area, central Quebec, Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Le Goff H, Girardin MP, Flannigan MD, Bergeron Y (2008) Dendroclimatic inference of wildfire activity in Quebec over the 20th century and implications for natural disturbance-based forest management at the northern limit of the commercial forest. International Journal of Wildland Fire 17, 348–362.
| Dendroclimatic inference of wildfire activity in Quebec over the 20th century and implications for natural disturbance-based forest management at the northern limit of the commercial forest.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lecomte N, Bergeron Y (2005) Successional pathways on different surficial deposits in the coniferous boreal forest of the Quebec Clay Belt. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 35, 1984–1995.
| Successional pathways on different surficial deposits in the coniferous boreal forest of the Quebec Clay Belt.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lefort P, Gauthier S, Bergeron Y (2003) The influence of fire weather and land use on the fire activity of the lake Abitibi area, eastern Canada. Forest Science 49, 509–521..
Lefort P, Leduc A, Gauthier S, Bergeron Y (2004) Recent fire regime (1945–1998) in the boreal forest of western Québec. Ecoscience 11, 433–445..
Legendre P, Legendre L (1998) ‘Numerical Ecology.’ 2nd edn. (Elsevier Science BV: Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
Lertzman K, Fall J (1998) From forest stands to landscapes: spatial scales and the role of disturbance. In ‘Ecological Scale: Theory and Applications’. (Eds DL Peterson, VT Parker) pp. 339–367. (Columbia University Press: New York)
Lesieur D, Gauthier S, Bergeron Y (2002) Fire frequency and vegetation dynamics for the south-central boreal forest of Quebec, Canada. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 32, 1996–2009.
| Fire frequency and vegetation dynamics for the south-central boreal forest of Quebec, Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Létourneau JP, Matejek S, Morneau C, Robitaille A, Roméo T, Brunelle J, Leboeuf A (2008) ‘Norme de cartographie écoforestière du Programme d’inventaire écoforestier nordique.’ (Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec: Québec, QC)
Létourneau JP, Bard A, Lambert J (2009) ‘Normes de cartographie écoforestière: troisième inventaire écoforestier.’ (Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec: Québec, QC)
Li C (2003) Estimation of fire frequency and fire cycle: a computational perspective. Ecological Modelling 154, 103–120..
Li LM, Song W-G, Ma J, Satoh K (2009) Artificial neural network approach for modeling the impact of population density and weather parameters on forest fire risk. International Journal of Wildland Fire 18, 640–647.
| Artificial neural network approach for modeling the impact of population density and weather parameters on forest fire risk.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mantua NJ, Hare SR, Zhang Y, Wallace JM, Francis RC (1997) A Pacific interdecadal climate oscillation with impacts on salmon production. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 78, 1069–1079.
| A Pacific interdecadal climate oscillation with impacts on salmon production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mermoz M, Kitzberger T, Veblen TT (2005) Landscape influences on frequency and spread of wildfires in Patagonian forests and shrublands. Ecology 86, 2705–2715.
| Landscape influences on frequency and spread of wildfires in Patagonian forests and shrublands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
MNRF (2000) Limite nordique des forêts attribuables. Ministère des Ressources naturelles, Rapport final du comité. (Québec) Available at http://www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/publications/forets/consultation/partie1.pdf [Verified 6 December 2010]
Nash CH, Johnson EA (1996) Synoptic climatology of lightning-caused forest fires in subalpine and boreal forests. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 26, 1859–1874.
| Synoptic climatology of lightning-caused forest fires in subalpine and boreal forests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Payette S (1992) Fire as a controlling process in the North American boreal forest. In ‘A System Analysis of the Global Boreal Forest’. (Eds HH Shugart, R Leemans, GB Bonan) pp. 144–169. (Cambridge University Press: New York)
Proulx H, Jacques G, Lamothe AM, Litynsky J (1987) ‘Climatologie du Québec meridional.’ (Ministère de l’Environnement du Québec, Direction de la Météorologie: Québec, QC)
Reed WJ, Larsen CPS, Johnson EA, MacDonald GM (1998) Estimation of temporal variations in historical fire frequency from time-since-fire map data. Forest Science 44, 465–475..
Robitaille A, Allard M (2007) ‘Guide pratique d’identification des dépôts de surface au Québec.’ 2e éd. (Les Publications du Québec: Québec, QC)
Robitaille A, Saucier JP (1996) Land district, ecophysiographic units and areas: The landscape mapping of the Ministère des Ressources naturelles du Québec. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 39, 127–148.
| Land district, ecophysiographic units and areas: The landscape mapping of the Ministère des Ressources naturelles du Québec.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robitaille A, Saucier JP (1998) ‘Paysages régionaux du Québec méridional.’ (Les Publications du Québec: Sainte-Foy, QC)
Saucier JP, Bergeron JF, Grondin P, Robitaille A (1998) ‘Les régions écologiques du Québec méridional (troisième version).’ English version. (Ministère des Ressources naturelles du Québec: Québec, QC)
Skinner WR, Stocks BJ, Martell DL, Bonsal B, Shabbar A (1999) The association between circulation anomalies in the mid-troposphere and area burned by wildland fire in Canada. Theoretical and Applied Climatology 63, 89–105.
| The association between circulation anomalies in the mid-troposphere and area burned by wildland fire in Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Skinner WR, Shabbar A, Flannigan MD, Logan K (2006) Large forest fire in Canada and the relationship to global sea surface temperatures. Journal of Geophysical Research 111, D14106
| Large forest fire in Canada and the relationship to global sea surface temperatures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stocks BJ (1991) The extent and impact of forest fires in northern circumpolar countries. In ‘Global Biomass Burning: Atmospheric, Climatic, and Biospheric Implications’. (Ed. JS Levine) pp. 197–202. (MIT Press: Cambridge, MA)
Stocks BJ, Mason JA, Todd JB, Bosch EM, Wotton BM, Amiro BD, Flannigan MD, Hirsch KG, Logan KA, Martell DL, Skinner WR (2003) Large forest fires in Canada, 1959–1997. Journal of Geophysical Research 108, 8149
| Large forest fires in Canada, 1959–1997.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Syphard AD, Radeloff VC, Keuler NC, Taylor RS, Hawbaker TJ, Stewart SA, Clayton MK (2008) Predicting spatial patterns of fire on a southern California landscape. International Journal of Wildland Fire 17, 602–613.
| Predicting spatial patterns of fire on a southern California landscape.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taylor AH, Skinner CN (2003) Spatial patterns and controls on historical fire regimes and forest structure in the Klamath Mountains. Ecological Applications 13, 704–719.
| Spatial patterns and controls on historical fire regimes and forest structure in the Klamath Mountains.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Turetsky MR, Amiro BD, Bosch E, Bhatti JS (2004) Historical burn area in western Canadian peatlands and its relationship to fire weather indices. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 18, GB4014
| Historical burn area in western Canadian peatlands and its relationship to fire weather indices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Turner MG, Hargrove WW, Gardner RH, Romme WH (1994) Effects of fire on landscape heterogeneity in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Journal of Vegetation Science 5, 731–742.
| Effects of fire on landscape heterogeneity in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Van Wagner CE (1987) Development and structure of the Canadian forest fire weather index system. Canadian Forestry Service, Petawawa National Forestry Institute, Forestry Technical Report No. 35. (Chalk River, ON)
Wallenius TH, Kuuluvainen T, Vanha-Majamaa I (2004) Fire history in relation to site type and vegetation in Vienansalo wilderness in eastern Fennoscandia, Russia. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 34, 1400–1409.
| Fire history in relation to site type and vegetation in Vienansalo wilderness in eastern Fennoscandia, Russia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Weir JMH, Johnson EA, Miyanishi K (2000) Fire frequency and the spatial age mosaic of the mixed-wood boreal forest in western Canada. Ecological Applications 10, 1162–1177.
| Fire frequency and the spatial age mosaic of the mixed-wood boreal forest in western Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
