NPP Boreal Forest: Schefferville, Canada, 1974

Data Citation

Cite this data set as follows:

Rencz, A. N., and A. N. D. Auclair. 2001. NPP Boreal Forest: Schefferville, Canada, 1974. Data set. Available on-line [http://www.daac.ornl.gov] from Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.

Description

Biomass and nutrient content of a boreal ecosystem (subarctic lichen woodland) was determined at Schefferville, Canada, during the 1974 growing season. The main objective was to describe a "typical" lichen woodland, a vegetation type found in the transitional zone between boreal forest and tundra on well-drained, nutrient-poor podzolic soils. Such areas are occupied sparsely by black spruce trees (Picea mariana) with low growth rates compared with closed boreal forest (typically 0.1-0.2 mm/year radial growth), together with some shrubs (e.g., Betula glandulosa) and a full ground cover of lichen (Cladonia alpestris). Lichen woodland is generally not subject to attack by herbivory, but fires are common.

The 0.2-ha plot (45.2 x 45.2 m) was located 22 km northeast of Schefferville (54.72 N, 67.70 W) in the province of Quebec. This area is characterized by short cool summers and long cold winters with mean monthly temperatures ranging from -22 C in January to 12 C in July. The mean annual precipitation is 730 mm with 400 mm in the form of rain.

Between June and September 1974, fifteen trees, all the shrubs, and all the ground lichen were harvested on the principal plot to estimate above-ground and below-ground biomass. The plant samples along with organic layer and soil samples, collected during this period, were evaluated for nutrient and mineral content. To confirm the "typical" nature of the site, species composition and density were evaluated for the principal plot and compared to that of fifteen other plots.

Trees, shrubs, and lichen contributed a total biomass of 2636, 833, and 939 g/m2, respectively.

Contact Information

Contact: Dr. A. N. Rencz
Geological Survey of Canada, Mineral Resources Division
Natural Resources Canada
601 Booth Street, Rm 692
Ottawa
Ontario K1A 0E8
CANADA

Telephone: +1 (613) 995-4786
Fax: +1 (613) 996-3726
E-mail: rencz@gsc.nrcan.gc.ca

Alternative Contact: Dr. A. N. D. Auclair
Science and Policy Associates Inc./ RAND
Suite 400, West Tower
1333 H Street NW
Washington DC 20005-4707
U.S.A.

Telephone: +1 (202) 789-1201/ 296-5000
Fax: +1 (202) 296-7960
E-mail: correspondence@rand.org

Click on the following linked phrase to view references and summaries for the Schefferville site.