Holocene history of forest trees on the Bruce Peninsula, southern Ontario

During the mid- and late Holocene, the southern portion of the peninsula supported a rich deciduous forest, dominated by Acer saccharum and Fagus grandifolia, while the northern portion was dominated by a forest with a much higher proportion of conifers. The two sites are compared numerically with a site on Manitoulin Island. Despite similar bedrock, soils, climate, and topography, the three pollen sequences show a remarkable divergence of Holocene forest history. The role of historical factors in determining forest composition may be much greater than previously appreciated. -from Author