Landscape Patterns and Forest History in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Minnesota: A Pollen Study From Hug Lake

Paleoecological studies of the past 400 yr indicate that the mosaic of vegetation patterns in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northeastern Minnesota USA appears to be related to topography and presence of large lakes, and to the ways in which these features influence periodic forest fires. Pollen and charcoal analyses from a site (Hug Lake) located in primarily deciduous forest were compared to those from Lake of the Clouds which is located in a region dominated by coniferous forest. The results showed that the average interval between fires at both sites was similar (70 yr), but the absence of conifers in the area surrounding Hug Lake probably was related to the lack of effective firebreaks such as steep topography and large lakes that are essential for the survival of conifers when regional fire frequency is high. The deciduous character of the forests around Hug Lake has existed for at least 400 yr and was not the result of several large fires that occurred in the area during the 1800's.