Plant and insect diversity in eastern Manitoba’s changing pine forests

Canada’s boreal forest ecosystems support an abundance of wildlife and plants and provide a wide range of terrestrial ecosystem processes. In south eastern Manitoba boreal forests were historically dominated by Jack pine and spruce species, with small localized stands of Red pine. Red pine and Jack pine are often grown and managed for saw log and pulpwood production. There has been considerable debate in Canada regarding the impacts on biodiversity caused by forest harvesting and intensive management of some tree species over other tree species. Over the last 50 years there has been a steady increase in the volume of Red pine grown in managed plantations in southern Manitoba, often replacing Jack pine stands endemic to the area since pre-European settlement. Little is known about the impacts on natural forest biodiversity resulting from the increasing prevalence of Red pine in Manitoba’s southeastern forests. I will discuss the results of studies comparing plant and insect diversity between these two forest types in southeastern Manitoba and the long term implications.

Presented by: Dr. Richard Westwood  Chair, Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences & Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg