| A white spruce tree at its southern distribution limit in Spruce Woods Provincial Park, southwestern Manitoba
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| Investigators |
| Sophan Chhin (M.Sc. candidate), Department of Botany, University of Manitoba
Dr. G. Geoff Wang, Associate Professor and Chair in Forest Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg
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What is the Issue? |
| INVESTIGATING CLIMATIC CHANGE ON BOREAL FOREST ECOSYSTEMS |
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Recent analysis of world climatic data shows that over the last century the Northern Hemisphere has experienced warming trends of up to 5ð, and these temperature changes are believed to be ongoing. Warmer temperatures will impact on boreal forests through soil moisture reduction and there is concern that boreal forest areas will eventually experience prairie conditions. It is crucial that boreal species such as the white spruce are investigated in order to discover true population dynamics of the species. This information will help scientists to understand how future climatic change will affect the distribution and growth of boreal forests throughout the next century.
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What is our goal? |
| UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL CLIMATIC CHANGE ON THE BOREAL FOREST THROUGH THE POPULATION DYNAMICS OF WHITE SPRUCE.
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Where we currently stand. |
| This project commenced at the beginning of May, 2000 and will continue through April, 2002. Analysis of white spruce population dynamics is being undertaken at their southern distribution limit in Spruce Woods Provincial Park in southwestern Manitoba. Fieldwork was conducted on 30 white spruce islands distributed over 3 prairie sites. In each prairie site, the spruce islands were mapped relative to each other and to the forest edge. Trees were mapped relative to the oldest tree in the spruce island. They were cored and measured for height, diameter, and core height. Saplings and seedlings were mapped in defined areas and measured for height, root-collar diameter, and age. Three saplings and seedlings from each spruce island were sampled for detailed growth analysis. Data analysis is scheduled to start in January, 2001. Outcomes from this research will include two honours theses and a peer-reviewed publication.
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You can help this project - find out how. |
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