Soil and vegetation characteristics of a peatland near Lake Édouard in Mauricie National Park, Québec, Canada

Abstract

The majority of plant communities within the peatland near Lake Édouard belongs to the poor fen group. They are containing poor fen species such as Myrica gale, Carex rostrata, Glyceria canadensis, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex canescens, Carex stricta, Alnus rugosa and Sphagnum subsecundum. Members of these taxa grow in association with a group of marsh species and with Chamaedaphne calyculata and Sphagnum majus, species characteristic of bogs. The soil are of the humisol great group, being well decomposed and relatively rich in nutrient elements but ranging from extremely to strongly acidic. Four new associations are noted: Sphagno-Juncetum brevicaudati, Sphagno-Hypericetum boreale, Sphagno-Glycerietum canadensis and Carici canescenti-Sphagnetum maji. The distribution of vegetation appears dependent on ground relief and, consequently, on the level and quality of water in the peatland.