Ecology of a Managed Terrestrial Landscape: Patterns and Processes of Forest Landscapes in Ontario

Patrick Colgan is the former executive director of the Canadian Museum
of Nature.

Featuring contributions from a wide range of forestry experts, this book
is a sweeping yet deep examination of Ontario’s forests within the
broad framework of landscape ecology. As such, it is an applied ecology
text well oriented to practitioners and students.

Section 1 reviews forest landscape ecology (“barely a decade old”)
in terms of such organizing concepts as structure and function, scale,
classification, and sources of disturbances. The geology, climate,
soils, and hydrology of the physical setting are clearly laid out.
Forest vegetation and vertebrates are examined in terms of regions,
distributions, individual species, human influences, and ultimate and
proximate factors. Theories of landscape equilibrium are laudably
contrasted, as are methodologies for spatial patterns. The roles of fire
and harvesting are appropriately highlighted.

Section 2 deals with ecological processes. Of particular interest is
one expected result of climate change: a northward shift of forest zones
by some 500 kilometres. Direct influences such as temperature and
indirect influences such as insect pests are lucidly discussed, as are
the dynamics of fire regimes. Forest productivity is fully investigated
and vertebrate responses to landscape change are carefully examined in
terms of such factors as habitat and climate.

Section 3, on planning and policy, includes excellent reviews on
history, evolving strategies at the landscape level, and complexities of
adaptive management, featuring the 1994 Crown Forest Sustainability Act
and 1997 Lands for Life program. The reader will certainly share concern
over staff reductions in the Ministry of Natural Resources. Included in
the book are plentiful and excellent illustrations, a helpful glossary,
an index, and a pullout map.

The book is rich in detail, providing comparisons with forests
elsewhere and conceptual analysis. The chapters are well linked and the
complexities of making predictions are appropriately stressed. The
beneficial impact of both geographical information systems and
ecological modeling is clear. Alternative interpretations of findings
are critically considered throughout the volume, as are key issues such
as being data-rich but information-poor. Above all, the book superbly
demonstrates Ontario as a natural entity—a perspective missed by many
of its inhabitants—and hence is highly recommended for anyone
interested in forests or living in Ontario.