Developing an Ecological Land Classification for the Fundy Model Forest, southeastern New Brunswick, Canada

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Forest Science
• Geospatial Analysis

Background:

• Understanding forest ecosystem distribution and composition is crucial for effective land management.
• Previous classification methods may lack the hierarchical structure needed to link diverse ecological scales.
• Southern New Brunswick's forested landscape requires a systematic approach to analyze ecosystem drivers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a methodology for developing and mapping a hierarchical Ecological Land Classification (ELC).
• To systematically explain the distribution and composition of southern New Brunswick's forested landscape.
• To establish a framework for efficient data collection and analysis of forest ecosystems.

Main Methods:

• Developed a hierarchical Ecological Land Classification (ELC) with nested ecosystem linkages.
• Applied the ELC methodology within the Fundy Model Forest region.
• Focused on describing and mapping forest ecosystems controlled by climate, geomorphology, and regolith.

Main Results:

• The hierarchical ELC successfully described and mapped forest ecosystems based on abiotic factors.
• The nested structure efficiently linked ecosystems from forest stands to climate regions.
• Preliminary classification confirmed the achievability of spatial referencing at the Site Level.

Conclusions:

• The developed ELC methodology provides a systematic framework for understanding forest ecosystems.
• The hierarchical approach enhances the efficiency of data analysis and confidence in results.
• The ELC is effective in identifying and mapping climate, geomorphologic, and regolith-controlled forest ecosystems.