This work investigates the impacts of climate change on boreal forest expansion and wildfire intensity/magnitude in high latitude North America. The PI will quantify vascular plant-derived biomarkers and pyro-markers derived from the incomplete combustion of plant biomass in Hudson Bay sediments from different locations and ages expanding periods of contrasting climate. The concentrations and ratios of these products will be used to develop vegetation and fire indices and build historical records for different regions of central and eastern Canada over the Holocene. Combined with analyses of modern samples, these data will be used to quantitatively assess the latitudinal extent and rates of expansion of boreal forest and wildfire during past periods of warm climate (e.g., Holocene Thermal Maximum, Medieval Warm Period, last 100 years) and compare these distributions to those during cold periods (e.g., Little Ice Age). The proposed investigations will foster interdisciplinary interactions among climate scientists, terrestrial and marine biogeochemists. The award supports a female postdoctoral researcher, and will expand international collaborations among Canadian and U.S. scientists and engage the public through outreach activities in local communities.
