| Abstract Detail
Ecology / Ecologie (CBA/ABC) Wyszynski, Emily [1], Vasseur, Liette [2]. Assessing Population Demography of Eastern White Cedar in the Sudbury region. There has been a long history of disturbance within the Greater Sudbury region and it is likely due to the consequences of the mining industry. For years this area was exposed to tons of sulfur dioxide as well as other heavy metals such as copper and nickel deposition in addition of other outside sources of acid precipitation. The health of most forest systems were severely threatened and only began to recover with the introduction of new emission control measures including the super stack in 1975. Studies in the past may have examined the recovery of certain vegetation types, but no research has been conducted on the population health of Thuja occidentalis, more commonly known as Eastern White Cedar. This species is of particular interest to the First Nations people in this area who use it as a traditional material, and more importantly in their medicines. Using a biodiversity permanent monitoring plots protocol, two cedar stands communities were surveyed both being located near the two smelter sites. Trees seedlings, saplings and mature individuals as well as other vegetation composition were measured. For the mature trees, they were examined in terms of height, dbh, abundance and physical condition. This preliminary study shows that both cedar populations show no significant differences for most of the variables. Abundance of cedar however was greater in Garson than Lively for trees and saplings. Species richness and diversity were also found to be not significantly different between the two stands. This preliminary study will be part of a larger one which will include control plots in other non-affected regions as well as on First Nations lands, in order to better understand the cedar stands health in Northern eastern Ontario through the establishment of permanent biodiversity monitoring plots.
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1 - Laurentian University, Biology, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada
2 - Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada
Keywords:
forest
population structure
Diversity
plant community
monitoring.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Ball Room & Party Room/SUB
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2008
Time: 12:30 PM
Number: PEG003
Abstract ID:699 |
