Summary:
Published in Canadian Journal of Forest Research 41: 654-659
We respond to the comment by Messier et al. (2011. Can. J. For. Res. 41: 649–653) on our recent paper questioning the possible influence of the base status of soils in the present-day expansion of American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) in Quebec (2009. Can. J. For. Res. 39: 2273–2282). From our observations, as well as from a large body of scientific evidence reporting on the high sensitivity of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) to the acid–base status of soils, we hypothesized that soil base cation depletion, caused in part by atmospheric deposition, is among the main factors involved in the present-day expansion of American beech over large areas in Quebec. Clearly, we suggested in our paper that acid deposition might act with other factors to explain the expansion of American beech. In this context, our conclusions are far from any oversimplified explanation, as stated by Messier et al., but rather, they point out a level of complexity above the one currently discussed.
Sector(s):
Forests
Catégorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Ecosystems and Environment, Forest Ecology, Forestry Research, Forests
Departmental author(s):
Author(s):
DUCHESNE, Louis and Rock OUIMET
Year of publication:
2011
How to get the publication:
Keyword(s):
érable, hêtre, dynamique, écologie écosystèmes et environnement, article scientifique de recherche forestière, composition, structure, Fagus, Acer, écologie forestière, écosystèmes et environnement, ecosystems and environment, forest ecology, maple, beech, dynamic