Ecophysiological Reconstruction of High Latitude Fossils

Régions: Sahtu Settlement Area, Dehcho Region

étiquettes: fossils, paleoclimatology, paleontology, ancient forests, forestry, dendrochronology

chercheur principal: Jagels, Richard (1)
Nᵒ de permis: 13155
Organisation: University of Maine
Année(s) de permis: 2000
Délivré: juil. 26, 2000
Équipe de projet: George Visscher

Objectif(s): The NWT component of this study is to examine how the anatomical features of wood from the genus Larix, vary with changes in latitude. This will be compared to work done on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut where a fossil forest of mummified wood approximately 45 million years old was found. Certain features of wood can provide clues to assess winter temperatures but these features vary with latitude. Therefore, assessing a set of Larix laricina from the full latitudinal range of this species will help determine the variability of modern Larix to fossil wood.

Description du projet: The NWT component of this study is to examine how the anatomical features of wood from the genus Larix, vary with changes in latitude. This will be compared to work done on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut where a fossil forest of mummified wood approximately 45 million years old was found. Certain features of wood can provide clues to assess winter temperatures but these features vary with latitude. Therefore, assessing a set of Larix laricina from the full latitudinal range of this species will help determine the variability of modern Larix to fossil wood. Increment cores will be taken from trees of varying diameters. Access to sampling sites will be by float plane. For more details on the collection of samples please consult the licence issued by RWED under the Forest Management Act.