Preindustrial reconstruction of a perhumid midboreal landscape, Anticosti Island, Quebec

Research on Anticosti Island, Quebec, reveals that preindustrial balsam fir forests exhibited rare stand-initiating events over the past 160 years, challenging the conventional cyclic disturbance model. Using historical forest maps and dendrochronology, scientists reconstructed a landscape dominated by overmature softwood stands with sporadic younger inclusions, suggesting an alternative dynamics model for maritime eastern Canada's balsam fir ecosystems. This finding implies that sustainable forest management should align with this natural variability to preserve ecological integrity.

Barrette, M., Bélanger, L., & De Grandpré, L. (2010). Preindustrial reconstruction of a perhumid midboreal landscape, Anticosti Island, Quebec. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 40(5), 928–942. https://doi.org/10.1139/x10-040