Using a multi-proxy approach in fire history studies: Some advantages and challenges from Jasper National Park

Emma Davis, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, Michael FJ Pisaric, Brock University, St Catharines, ON, Canada, Colin J Courtney Mustaphi, York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems (KITE), University of York, Environment Department, York, United Kingdom, Jesse C Vermaire, Carleton University, Environmental Science, Ottawa, ON, Canada and Katrina A Moser, University of Western Ontario, Dept of Geography & Environment, London, ON, Canada

Contact First Author: Emma Davis; edavis02@uoguelph.ca

Previously Published Material: The results presented here have been presented in various forms at other academic conferences -AAG 2014 - Tampa, FloridaCAG 2014 - Brock University, Ontario, Canada PALS 2014 - Québec City, Québec, Canada

Abstract ID#: 35518

 

English Abstract:
Using a multi-proxy approach is an effective strategy for studying processes operating on multiple temporal and spatial scales such as those controlling wildfires. The research presented here uses a recently completed fire history study from Jasper National Park that incorporates lake sediment and tree ring records to exemplify some of the advantages and challenges of using a multi-proxy approach to develop and interpret fire history records.

A 3,600-year record of fire events and vegetation change was established for the area surrounding Little Trefoil Lake, Jasper, AB, using a combination of lake sediment analysis (macroscopic charcoal and pollen analyses) and fire scar and cohort establishment dates from tree-ring data. Combining macroscopic charcoal and tree-ring fire evidence enabled a thorough characterization of the local fire history that addressed aspects of both frequency and severity. Moreover, high-severity fires recorded in the tree-ring record were used to calibrate the sedimentation rates for Little Trefoil Lake and provided support for the interpretation of peaks in charcoal accumulation as being representative of local fire events. Through a pollen analysis performed on the same sediment core, the relationship between vegetation composition and the local fire history was assessed and determined to be of secondary importance to climatic and human influences. Although integrating proxy records representative of different spatial and temporal scales is challenging, using multiple lines of evidence to understand the processes controlling fire activity inspires a greater level of confidence in the interpretation of the results.

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