Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) at its northeastern range limit: a fire-resilient tree species

Abstract

Botany D r a f t 2 Abstract: The long-standing hypothesis that sugar maple (Acer saccharum) communities are maintained at equilibrium by present climate and small-scale disturbances is questioned as empirical evidence is accumulating about the ability of the species to withstand several stand-scale disturbances. The fire history of a sugar maple site at the northeastern range limit of the species (Gaspé Peninsula, eastern Canada) was documented to test the hypothesis that this forest type is resilient to fire disturbance. The fire history was reconstructed using radiocarbon-dated soil macrocharcoals. Two main fire periods were recorded during the Holocene. The oldest period occurred between 9055 and 8265 cal. years BP, and was characterized by the presence of conifers, including spruce. After 6900 years of fire-free activities, the second period covered the last 1335 years, and was characterized by the presence of sugar maple in the charcoal assemblage. The dominance of sugar maple after more than 1000 years of recurrent fires underlines the species resilience to frequent site disturbances. The soil of the forest stand was heavily disturbed by earthworms. However, the dense seedling and sapling bank of sugar maple suggests that earthworms do not affect negatively the regeneration and survival of the species.

Evidence of capacity for water dispersal in Acer saccharum

“…), and established plants can survive fire and earthworm disturbances at its northern range limit (Payette et al. ). Therefore, water dispersal offers A. saccharum a means of extending its range northward in response to climate change (Boisvert‐Marsh et al.…”

“…Acer saccharum is capable of surviving beyond the northern end of its current range once it disperses there. It lives in riparian areas within its current range (Hedman and van Lear 1995, Rodewald and Bakermans 2006, Pennington et al 2010, seeds can germinate and seedlings can establish in boreal forests (Kellman 2004, Graignic et al 2013, and established plants can survive fire and earthworm disturbances at its northern range limit (Payette et al 2018). Therefore, water dispersal offers A. saccharum a means of extending its range northward in response to climate change (Boisvert-Marsh et al 2014, Karmalkar andBradley 2017).…”

The velocity of postglacial migration of fire-adapted boreal tree species in eastern North America

“…Charcoal sampling was performed at 25–50 microsites in each 500 m 2 site using a soil auger (totaling 750 cm 3 ). Two and sometimes three overlapping soil cores of organic matter (surface horizon) and mineral soil were collected at each microsite to extract wood charcoal pieces ( 102 ). All of the samples were immersed in a NaOH (2–5%) solution, then boiled for at least 12 h to facilitate dispersal of aggregates and eliminate organic matter during sifting ( 102 ).…”

“…Two and sometimes three overlapping soil cores of organic matter (surface horizon) and mineral soil were collected at each microsite to extract wood charcoal pieces ( 102 ). All of the samples were immersed in a NaOH (2–5%) solution, then boiled for at least 12 h to facilitate dispersal of aggregates and eliminate organic matter during sifting ( 102 ). The samples were sifted under a jet of water using 2 and 4 mm mesh screens.…”

ʻAʻaliʻi and wáhta oterontonnì:'a: Symbols of Indigenous innovation for linguistic and cultural resilience

“…The wáhta is also known to grow in a wide variety of soil types, in both sun and shade, as well as not being susceptible to high wind damage. The wáhta is even resilient in highly disturbed environments, such as those impacted by forest fires (Gilman & Watson, 1993;Payette et al, 2018).…”