Evaluating disturbance-mediated vegetation change and climate-change refugia potential across Alberta boreal forest lands

缓冲了人为气候变化。特别是，我们将集中在泥炭地-高地 界面，以及泥炭地的反馈如何缓冲气候变化的影响（阻力），因为它们 在日益干旱的气候中产生和保持水分的能力。泥炭地也改变了野火的模式 进一步增强当地生态系统功能的抵抗力和复原力， 生物多样性我们建议使用遥感和实地研究相结合的方法来检查这些因素， 将评估野火模式、森林特征和功能（生产力、生长和再生）， 在阿尔伯塔日益分散和受到威胁的北方森林中建立避难所模型和绘制地图。提出 研究将导致开发支持气候智能型生态系统（森林）的管理工具 管理和保护规划，并解决加拿大的两个关键优先事项。 为了实现这些研究目标，并支持我们的合作伙伴组织-加拿大森林的活动 服务和阿尔伯塔生物多样性监测研究所-我们将与我们的合作伙伴， 研究生和研究助理的研究和培训的优先事项与应用 我们的合作伙伴组织的管理优先事项。这包括开发一套工具、地图， 可用于解决围绕气候变化的环境管理优先事项的知识 适应加拿大的北方森林。

buffered against anthropogenic climate change. In particular, we will concentrate on the peatland-upland interface and how feedbacks in peatlands can buffer the effects of climate change (resistance) due to their ability to generate and retain moisture within an increasingly arid climate. Peatlands also alter wildfire patterns in burns (frequency and intensity) that further promote resistance and resilience of local ecosystem function and biodiversity. We propose to examine these factors using a combination of remote sensing and field studies that will assess wildfire patterns, forest characteristics and function (productivity, growth, and regeneration), and refugia modeling and mapping within Alberta's increasingly fragmented and threatened boreal forest. Proposed research will lead to development of management tools that will support climate-smart ecosystem (forest) management and conservation planning and address two key priorities for Canada. To achieve these research objectives and to support activities of our partner organizations-Canadian Forest Service and Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute-we will work with our partners to integrate academic priorities of research and training of graduate students and research assistant with that of the applied management priorities of our partner organizations. This includes development of a set of tools, maps, and knowledge that can be used to address environmental management priorities surrounding climate change adaptation for Canada's boreal forest.