This chapter explores potential changes in fire regimes and biodiversity given projected changes in climate in the Great Lakes Pine Transition Forest (GLPF), a portion of the southern boreal forest. We have studied how forest structure, composition, and biodiversity changed over nearly 500 years by comparing communities on comparable edaphic locations of various ages since stand-replacing disturbance. Our interpretation of probable future changes is based on how these ecosystems have reassembled after wildfire, blowdown, and insect disturbances in the past and projections of climate change in the next 75 years. Rapid climate change is now introducing different conditions from those to which this ecosystem was historically adapted, and therefore, projections of future change are more subjective.
Part of the book: Mitigating Global Climate Change