normal fires & habitat

[Chris J. Durden]

  To see natural, lightning-started fires burning in sparsely inhabited
territory over the course of a summer, see these pictures from 1998-

http://www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/ccrs/tekrd/rd/apps/em/cchange/ontfire/jamesbaf.h
tml

  This view shows about 48,400 sqare miles of Hudsonian and Canadian Zone
forest, taiga, nuskeg, string-bog, esker sandplains and raised beaches to
the southeast of Cape Henrietta Maria, Ontario. There are patches of
subtundra near the cape and north shore. Forest in the southwest corner is
composed of seven tree species. Few people live in the area. The Weenusk
First Nation live near the northwest shore. The Mushkegowuk Cree
Attawapiskat First Nation live near the southeast shore. European contact
was by Thomas James in 1631. A few Hudsons Bay Company Factors,
missionaries, and military radar personnel have all come and gone. There
are a few recreational canoe trips down the major rivers each summer. See
also -
http:/www.ontarioparks.com/pola.html

 Some of the butterflies of the coast are: *Erynnis borealis*, *Pyrgus
freija*, *Agriades (glandon) lacustris*, *Papilio machaon*, *Coenonympha
(tullia) inornata*. *Oeneis taygete*, *Oeneis (chryxus) calais*, *Boloria
(titania) boisduvalii*, *Boloria eunomia triclaris*, *Colias palaeno*.
 Some of the butterflies of the interior are: *Erynnis icelus*, *Polites
mystic*, *Incisalia niphon*, *I. polios*, *I. augustus*, *Epidemia dorcas*,
*E. epixanthe*, *Cupido amyntula*, *Celastrina lucia*, *Celastrina* sp.,
*Glaucopsyche lygdamus*, *Plebejides saepiolus*, *Lycaeides idas*,
*Pterourus canadensis*, *Erebia (mancina) nephele*, *Oeneis (jutta)
harperi*, *Oe. (jutta) ascerta*, *Phyciodes morpheus arctica*, *Polygonia
satyrus*, *P. progne*, *P. gracilis*, *P. faunus*, *Nymphalis milberti*,
*N. l-album*, *N. antiopa*, *Vanessa atalanta*, *V. virginiensis*,
*Speyeria atlantis*, *Boloria selene*, *B, freija*, *B. titania*, *B.
frigga*, *B. bellona*, *B. eunomia dawsoni*, *Limenitis arthemis
rubrofasciata*, *Pieris oleracea casta*, *Pontia occidentalis*, *Colias
philodice*, *C. interior*, *C. pelidne*.

  Two of these species, *Colias pelidne* and *Lycaeides idas* are dependent
upon maintenance of a "fire-heath" habitat by natural fires, and many of
the others prosper from successional vegetation after fire.  
........Chris Durden