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Geography Department  - Biogeography Lab

Northern Illinois University

PROJECT HOME PAGE

Project Overview:

 

 

The focus of this three year project (2007-2010) is to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic climate change on sugar maple seedlings and seeds at the species’ northern limit.  Given the significant status of sugar maple in the forests of North America, we seek to assess the vulnerability of young sugar maple to alterations in air temperature and soil moisture.  As a dominant species in these forests (and throughout eastern North America), sugar maple may drive much of the ecological change under modified climates.  Specifically, we propose to address two objectives:  1) Determine the impact that future air temperature and precipitation regimes (based on Regional Climate Model [RCM] predictions) may have on in situ sugar maple seedlings at sugar maple’s current northern limit in central Ontario, Canada and 2) Determine the degree to which seeds from two source regions germinate and grow under field conditions in warmer and cooler climates within sugar maple’s current range.  

 

To simulate expected future climates, and to identify the separate effects of changes in air temperature and growing season moisture regimes, we are manipulating rainfall input as well as air temperature. To achieve this we are using replicated experimental structures.  Using the structures we are altering the air temperature (affecting both soil and leaf temperature) and precipitation regimes (thus altering soil moisture) of in situ sugar maple seedlings at their current northern limit in central Ontario, Canada to mimic RCM-modeled conditions projected for the region in the 2060s.  There are two heat treatments (2.5º and 5º C) and three moisture treatments (wet, average, and dry).  Seedling response to environmental manipulation will be assessed by monitoring growth rates, mortality, and photosynthetic activity.

 

Project funding provided by National Science Foundation  (Geography and Regional Science Program, 2007-2010; Award: 0724526) to Lesley Rigg and David Goldblum

The Impact of Simulated Climate Change on Sugar Maple at the Hardwood/Boreal Tree Ecotone