The role of substrate characteristics in Populus tremuloides (Michx.) seed germination in post-disturbance black spruce-feathermoss forest in northwestern Quebec

Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides (Michx.)) has become established along a mining road in the lower northern Quebec region (49°39' to 49°45'N and 79°01' to 79°02' W) in areas that have not supported aspen in the past. The primary means of regeneration of aspen is through vegetative root suckers, but it is doubtful that it could progress through this region at such a fast rate solely by asexual reproduction. Aspen are known to produce large amounts of seeds that could account for aspen's rapid progression, but sexual reproduction of aspen is rare; very little is known about Populus tremuloides seed germination and seed survival in natural conditions. The aim of this study was to determine seedbed conditions that facilitate the emergence and survival of Populus tremuloides seedlings, and to identify the key factors involved in these processes. Observations of established saplings and a sowing experiment were conducted on both post harvest and post fire sites. Our data on established saplings showed that there were seed-origin trembling aspen located in both post-harvest and burned areas indicating that Populus tremuloides can and has established from seed in areas where aspen was previously absent. Both our sowing experiment and our greenhouse experiment showed that the emergence of seedlings was relatively low, but that Polytrichum strictum moss and exposed mineral soil depressions were the best seedbeds for seed germination. Extreme temperatures and availability of moisture appeared to be controlling factors on seed germination, but ultimately the physical and biological characteristics of each substrate influenced the substrate's response to these factors in a different way. We conclude that sexual reproduction of trembling aspen may and has occurred in this region, and is promoted by the presence of exposed mineral soil and Polytrichum strictum moss.;Keywords: Bryophytes, Populus tremuloides, Polytrichum, Sphagnum, seedling, seedbed, germination, seed.