Soils and Vegetation in the Q.U.B.S. region
The Queen’s University Biological Station has several distinct landholdings within Frontenac
and Leeds counties in southeastern Ontario. This region contains a variety of soils ranging from
very shallow, acidic, well-drained sandy loams through to moderately deep, calcareous, poorly
drained clays. The vegetation of the region is classified within the Mixedwood Plains ecozone
where agriculture is a major land-use (Wiken 1996). Mixed coniferous-deciduous forest is
common, as are successional shrub communities in lands that have been abandoned from
agriculture, and wetlands (Crowder et al. 1996). Finally, the region contains several alvars which
support a distinctive flora that is characteristic of seasonally dry environments associated with
very shallow soils on the edges of limestone plains (Crowder et al. 1996).
What are the principal factors contributing to variation in soil-types across the region?
a) Geology. The northern part of the region is composed primarily of Precambrian Canadian
Shield granites and gneisses with some inclusions of metamorphosed sedimentary rocks
such as crystalline limestone. By contrast, younger (Ordovician) limestone rocks
generally underly the soils of the southern part of the region (Corlett 1986). More
detailed geological descriptions indicate a scattered mosaic of differing bedrocks
including granites, gneisses, granulites, sandstones and limestones within 15 km of QUBS
(Wynne-Edwards 1967). Nevertheless, at the broadest scale, sandy soils tend to overly
the Canadian Shield and clays and loams overly the southern part of the region.
b) Post-glacial history. Events during and after the most recent glaciation which ended
~10,000 years ago have had a profound impact on the landforms and associated surficial
deposits of the region (Anonymous 2003; Corlett 1986). The harder Canadian Shield
rocks resisted the grinding action of the glaciers to a greater degree than the softer
sedimentary rocks to the south (Gilbert 1994). Furthermore, the glaciers in this region
generally advanced in a southwesterly direction, moving eroded material off the Shield
and on to the limestone (Corlett 1986). As a result of the glaciers and their meltwaters,
patches of tills and other sediments such as glaciofluvial sand and gravel are scattered
widely across the region (Anonymous 2003; Gilbert 1994), and moraines, drumlins and
eskers are found to the south. Finally, large water bodies such as glacial lake Iroquois and
the later connection to the Champlain sea resulted in substantial lacustrine and marine silt
and clay deposits in the southeast of the region (Gilbert 1994). In theory, the markedly
different physical and chemical properties of the Canadian Shield and limestone bedrocks
would be expected to strongly influence soil development, and may well do so when
directly adjacent to bedrock that is exposed above the post-glacial deposits (Curtis 1946).
In practice however, development of the different soil-types across much of the region has
been much more strongly influenced by the patchy distribution of underlying post-glacial
surficial deposits than by bedrock-type.
c) Land-use history. Human impacts on soils of the region are likely to have been
substantial. European colonization began in the 1780s (Gillespie et al. 1966; Osborne
1978) and was initially focused on the southern limestone plains close to the edge of Lake
Ontario. The mature forests that would have covered most of the region at that time were
logged and cleared for agriculture (Keddy 1993). These actions, and deliberate burning to
produce potash fertilizer (Osborne 1982), would undoubtedly have resulted in soil losses
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via erosion as well as changes in soil biogeochemical properties and destruction of soil
horizons (Foote & Grogan 2010). The lack of roads northward restricted initial
movement of settlers on to the agriculturally less favorable Canadian Shield surfaces
(Barber & Fuchs 1997; Osborne 1978). However, continuing population growth and
demand for new farmland in the 1850s pushed settlers to clear the flatter and less rocky
tracts of these lands for agriculture (Osborne 1982), while the more rocky areas were
logged to provide wood for building construction, fuel, and export down the Rideau and
other rivers (Osborne 1978). Logging and clearance were so intense across Eastern
Ontario that most townships had <30% forest cover by 1880, and wood was apparently so
scarce by 1900 that many townhouses were heated primarily by coal (Keddy 1993).
Rural populations peaked around 1881, after which an ongoing pattern of abandonment of
agricultural land began (Gillespie & Wicklund 1968; Osborne 1978) that continues to this
day. In summary, many of the soils in the region are likely to have been significantly
affected by the initial land clearance and then by subsequent agricultural practices. The
more productive soils remain affected and are primarily in the southern parts of the region
(Gillespie & Wicklund 1968; Gillespie et al. 1966), whilst the soils in abandoned lands
are in a state of slow recovery as the vegetation naturally regenerates back toward mature
forests (Foote & Grogan 2007)(Foote & Grogan 2010).
In what ways do the soils influence the region’s natural vegetation?
Mature forests in the area are generally dominated by sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.)
and red oak (Quercus rubra L.) with some white oak (Quercus alba L.), red maple (Acer rubrum
L.), basswood (Tilia americana L.), eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis L.), white pine (Pinus
strobus L.), ironwood (Ostrya virginiana (P. Mill) K. Koch), and blue beech (Carpinus
caroliniana Walt.) (Ecological Stratification Working Group 1995; Wiken 1996). In accordance
with the climatic gradient toward the boreal zone, the coniferous component tends to increase in
dominance in the northernmost parts of Frontenac and adjoining counties (Beschel et al. 1962).
However, proximity to Lake Ontario modulates the climate within South Frontenac and Leeds
counties, resulting in a mild north-south temperature gradient (Gillespie et al. 1966). The
composition and productivity of the forest vegetation within this area do not broadly correlate
with climatic or geological patterns (Beschel et al. 1962). Instead, it would appear that variations
in soil properties and in land-use histories have been the primary determinants of the current
vegetation distribution (Crowder et al. 1996).
The capacity of the soil-types in this area to hold and supply moisture seems to strongly
influence both vegetation productivity and composition. This capacity is related to two
properties: soil depth and soil texture. Relatively deep and fine-grained soils generally hold more
water, and support relatively high plant growth rates. For example, the Luvisol soils of Wolfe
and Howe Islands are the most agriculturally productive in Frontenac county and are used
primarily to grow hay, oats, and to a lesser extent corn to support the livestock industry (Gillespie
et al. 1966). Larger scale studies of the whole northern Great Lakes region also indicate that the
distributions and relative abundances of the major forest plant species is determined primarily by
variability in soil moisture rather than climate or geology (Maycock & Curtis 1960).
The water holding capacities of soils across the region vary substantially at several spatial
scales because of strong heterogeneities in both soil depth and soil texture. At the landscape
scale, topographical depressions in a watershed tend to accumulate greater depths of post-glacial
deposits and soil organic materials. Precipitation inputs also accumulate in depressions on the
landscape, resulting in moist conditions especially if the underlying bedrock is Canadian Shield
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and therefore poorly drained. However, even at scales of 10-100 m, strong spatial heterogeneity
in both soil texture and depth have been observed within hayfields on the Canadian Shield
(Crowder & Harmsen 1998), presumably as a result of small-scale patchiness in glacial and postglacial deposits. Such heterogeneities lead to substantial variation in vegetation composition. For
example, Rumex spp. are much more prevalent in sandy well-drained than in clay-dominated
patches of hayfields on the Shield (Grogan, pers. obs.).
The composition and productivity of vegetation in the region is probably also strongly
influenced by the supply of nutrients from soil. Nutrient availability to plants undoubtedly varies
due to the differences in soil moisture described above that would affect rock weathering and soil
biogeochemical cycling. In addition, chemical composition of bedrock and surficial deposits may
be important. Phosphate and mica mines are scattered across the Shield area, presumably
modifying local nutrient availability. Soil pH may also influence the supply of nutrients to plants.
The distribution of certain calciphilic plant species in the region is clearly related to exposed
limestone (e.g. alvars). However, just as for texture, soil pH is highly variable at small spatial
scales (Grogan, pers. obs.), and often unrelated to the chemical composition of the underlying
bedrock (Foote & Grogan 2007; Foote & Grogan 2010).
Soil fauna may also influence vegetation structure and productivity. For example,
earthworms generally enhance nutrient cycling, and are frequently observed in soil cores from
forests and fields throughout the region (Foote & Grogan 2010). However, populations of the
invasive nightcrawler earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris, L.) are spreading within the region. This
earthworm species in particular tends to move litter from the ground surface down into deeper
soil layers, thereby changing the forest floor environment (Bohlen et al. 2004). Recent studies in
mature forests of the QUBS region indicate infrequent surface litter layer cover (Foote & Grogan
2010), leading to the concern that understory plant species germination and tree seedling survival
may be adversely affected.
What other factors influence the region’s natural vegetation?
Herbivory by animals such as white-tailed deer, beavers and meadow voles undoubtedly have
substantial impacts on the region’s vegetation (Brdar, pers. comm.; Grogan, pers. obs.;(Cote et al.
2004; Horsley et al. 2003). Furthermore, fluctuations in deer and beaver population numbers
associated with eradication of predators (e.g. wolves) as well as varying intensities of hunting and
trapping over the past two centuries have probably had strong impacts on vegetation development.
Wildfires have also been an ongoing feature of the region, influencing local vegetation
succession, and promoting blueberry heath and Jack pine stands in particular.
The importation of alien (mostly Eurasian) invasive species is altering the composition and
structure of the region’s vegetation. Eurasian grasses and weeds are very common in roadside
and agricultural areas. Mature forests outside Kingston seem to be largely unaffected so far, but
nevertheless are clearly threatened by potential invasions of tree species such as European
buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.), vines (e.g. Vincetoxicum and Cynanchum spp.), and herbs
such as Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata L.). Furthermore, several imported fungal pathogens
and insect pests such as Dutch elm disease and Emerald ash borer can have severe impacts on
certain native tree species, thereby altering forest vegetation composition.
Finally, airborne pollutants such as acid rain and atmospheric nitrogen deposition are likely to
have influenced both vegetation and soils of the region over the past ~50 years.
What specific soil-types are present within the QUBS landholdings?
3
The following characterizations are based on the Ontario Soils Survey maps (Gillespie &
Wicklund 1968; Gillespie et al. 1966), but do not encompass the substantial small-scale variation
described above.
Bracken tract: Clays (Napanee series - Humic gleysol); Sandy loams (Monteagle and
Tennyson series - Gray-Brown podsol); Upland sands (Podsol)
Massassauga property: Sandy-loam (Monteagle series - Gray-Brown podsol); Wetland peat
(Muck – Organic)
Opinicon road properties: Sandy-loam (Monteagle series Gray-Brown podsol); Wetland peat
(Muck – Organic); Uplands sands (Podsol). More detailed soil studies directly around the station
including Cow island (where the eastern part is underlain by sandstone, while the western part is
crystalline limestone) clearly demonstrate strong small-scale variation in soil horizon structure
and nutrient contents (Curtis 1946).
Useful resources:
Soils maps of Frontenac and Leeds counties:
http://sis.agr.gc.ca/cansis/publications/on/index.html
Surficial and bedrock geology maps of Frontenac and Leeds counties
Geological map of the Westport area (Wynne-Edwards,
1967)http://apps1.gdr.nrcan.gc.ca/mirage/show_image_e.php?client=mrsid2&id=108032&image
=gscmap-a_1182a_e_1967_mn01.sid
Local geology field trip guide. http://geol.queensu.ca/ESSSA2008/field_trip_manual.pdf
Aerial photographs of the region (Available series are for 1925-30 (1:15 000), 1953 (1:15 840),
1978 (1:10 000) and 1991 (1:30 000) (Map and Air Photo Collection at Queen’s University
Library)
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Adele Crowder, Dolf Harmsen, Dale Kristensen and Floyd Connor for
comments on a previous version of this document.
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