THE PHYTOSOCIOLOGY OF THE DECIDUOUS FORESTS OF EXTREME SOUTHERN ONTARIO
A phytosociological analysis of the deciduous forest region of extreme southern Ontario is presented. One hundred and thirty-one stands were sampled quantitatively to determine the composition of the tree and sapling strata. A series of environmental characteristics were also measured or were carefully observed where measurement was impractical. The composition of the tree layer was expressed in terms of a series of importance values determined from measures of frequency, density, and dominance or basal area, on a relative basis, with the importance values for all trees in a stand summing to 300. An analysis of the relationship of the quantitative characteristics between all stands indicated the futility of the distinct association or distinct community approach to an understanding of forest ecological relationships in the region. An ordination of stands in relation to site moisture characteristics gave expression to the ecological tolerance of individual tree species and emphasized the continuous characteristics of forest patterns in the vegetational complex of the area.The forests of southern Ontario were related quantitatively to those of southern Wisconsin utilizing an index of regional influence based on overall importance for all tree species, in an attempt to interpret regional patterns within the Deciduous Forest Formation of North America.