Credit: Katie Tripp

Forest fires are recognized as a crucial force in the dynamic ecosystems of the boreal forest due to their revitalizing impacts on the landscape. Fire is also essential for certain plants and vegetation communities to grow and thrive – this is the case for Quetico’s iconic red and white pines. Red and white pine are fire-adapted species that require fire to produce the environmental conditions necessary for them to reproduce and germinate. Frequent fires in the boreal forest also increases spatial, structural, and biological diversity, and reduces forest fuel loads thus preventing large, intense burns.

Credit: Katie Tripp

Both this summer and last summer Quetico Foundation summer research staff have worked with the park biologist to better understand Quetico Provincial Park’s terrestrial ecosystems and how an increase in fire activity will benefit these ecosystem dynamics. This year, Quetico Foundation Biology Interns Katie Tripp and Jared Stachiw spent five days on Wicksteed Lake establishing 22 pre-burn vegetation plots on several red and white pine dominated islands. These plots assess vegetation communities, structural diversity of the forest, and fuel loads. The information gleaned from this research will help address several questions asked by Quetico Provincial Park’s Management Plan. Namely, how does the pre-fire vegetation community influence post-fire vegetation, red and white pine regeneration, red and white pine survival, and the health of traditional sacred plant species?

Credit: Jared Stachiw

Fire should be considered advantageous to the forest due to the numerous ecosystem services it provides and has the potential to be used as a management tool to increase the health and ecological integrity of Quetico Park’s magnificent forests.

Credit: Katie Tripp

By: Jared Stachiw (Quetico Foundation Biology Intern)