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I About Mont St. Hilaire I Diversity of Habitats I Diversity of Organisms I
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Mont Saint-Hilaire is a prime
example of a mature forest ecosystem which has remained Given the area's natural qualities, the long period of protective management, and the success of recent scientific and educational initiatives, Mont Saint-Hilaire was designated in 1978 as Canada's first UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Man & Biosphere (MAB) Reserve. The MAB sites are a worldwide network of benchmark reserves critical to deciding the needs for the sustainable development. For more information, go to the McGill Mont St. Hilaire website: http://www.mcgill.ca/Biology/research/msh/
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Text compiled and written by Torsten Bernhardt |
almost untouched since European colonization. Bowl-shaped, with numerous
peaks along the outer edge and a lake at its centre, it is one of the
rarest forests in Québec and has a rich variety of habitats. Owned privately
until 1958, the 2300 acres were bequeathed to McGill University by Andrew
Hamilton Gault "...as a great heritage for the benefit and enjoyment
of the youth of Canada". The property is divided into two zones, the
east side of the mountain, to be preserved and used for research, and
the west side, to be used for public recreation and nature interpretation.
has an approximate area of 0.3 square kilometres and a maximum depth
of 9 metres. Rain and melted snow nourish the brooks of the inner basin,
and it is this water that fills Lac Hertel. This clean and unpolluted
shallow lake acts as an auxilliary drinking water reservoir for neighbouring
communities. The bottom of the lake is muddy and the shallow waters
support a thick growth of rooted aquatic plants, forming an aquatic
jungle for teeming populations of fish, frogs and invertebrates. Trees
and shrubs bordering this area shelter birds and small mammals. South
Creek, the outlet from Lac Hertel, dwindles from a spring flood to a
mere trickle by the end of summer. It provides a variable seasonal habitat
for larval insects and for other invertebrates, which in turn are food
for a variety of fish, birds and mammals. 
Where
open lake and forest meet is an overlapping band of moisture-tolerant
trees and shrubs which crowd to the water's edge seeking sunlight. The
mixed conditions here offer added opportunities for living organisms,
thus attracting a greater variety of species. The marshy area of Botany
Bay at the eastern edge of the lake acts as a breeding site for the
rare pickerel and chorus frogs. 
Almost
the entire mountain harbours a mature hardwood forest composed mainly
of beeches and maples with occasional pockets of other deciduous trees
or evergreens. The forest canopy forms a distinct habitat extending
between 10-20 metres above the ground, where insects flourish. It also
provides safe nesting, perching and feeding sites for many species of
birds, as well as a playground for squirrels. Shade from the canopy
profoundly affects the plants of the understorey and consequently the
activities of all the animals which make their home on the forest floor.
plants
which require strong sunlight to blossom and seed are visible at this
time. Fallen leaves and twigs form the top layer of the soil and along
with humus and other organic matter play an important role in soil fertility.
Below this is a dark-coloured layer of decaying material occupied by
small organisms such as bacteria, fungi and mites. These organisms are
all working to break down the litter into nutrients which can be used
by plants and trees. 
In
certain areas of the mountain, fire or human settlement has drastically
affected the environment. In the case of the large meadow, the forest
was cleared in the early days to create an apple orchard which failed
to adapt to the poor soil. Now this area has become a temporary meadow
in which sun-loving plants have taken hold. In about 50 years this open
field will mature into forest. 
At
the exposed summits, 400 meters above the surrounding plain, strong
winds and cooler temperatures combine to limit the vegetation. Only
lichens cover the rocks and the three-toothed cinquefoil (Potentilla
tridentata) grows in between the crevices. 
Many
rare and interesting bird species are found at the summits. Since
1985, a pair of peregrine falcons has nested on a cliff near Dieppe
peak. Mont Saint-Hilaire is one of only ten peregrine nesting sites
known in Québec. Conditions have to be just right, with the nesting
area providing protection from wind and rain, and easy access to other
birds such as pigeons, since peregrines capture their prey in the
air. Near this site, a pair of ravens nest in early spring. Large
hawks as well as golden and bald eagles fly around the peaks in early
spring, but do not nest on the mountain. Rufous-sided towhee, a rare
bird in Québec, has also been sighted on the summits. Other rare sightings
include the colourful indigo bunting and cerulean warbler. In addition,
at least two pairs of turkey vultures nest in caverns created by rock-falls.
Approximately 10 - 20 individuals gather and swoop through the warm
air currents at the higher altitudes during the summer. The 
red-shouldered
hawk, listed as vulnerable in Québec, and the barred owl, are found
in the forest. There are at least two couples of barred owls that
reside on the mountain year round and feed on small mammals and amphibians.
Three species of woodpecker, the downy, hairy and pileated, are common
in areas with larger trees. Migratory insectivorous birds such as
the yellow-bellied sapsucker and the northern flicker are also common.
Black-capped chickadees are common in coniferous trees and the ruffed
grouse is found rummaging in the forest litter. 
are
often defoliated to the 2.5 - 3 metre level. A handful of active dens
of the red fox have been found. Other predators include two species
of weasel, the mink and the ermine. The most common hibernating mammals
to be found are the chipmunk and the raccoon. Although groundhogs
are common in the banks of open areas such as the meadow they are
capable of burrowing anywhere. The porcupine, common in the hemlock
groves, does not hibernate and can be seen year round. Rabbits are
also active year-round in open meadow areas, and snowshoe hares frequent
the higher slopes. 
he
Beech is commonly found on moist, well-drained slopes and ridges and
is usually mixed with other native hardwoods. Sites including stands
composed almost entirely of beech are also found. Beech is a tree
with persistent and acid leaves; they fall to the ground and decompose
very slowly. The sugar maple is one of the tallest hardwoods in Canada,
sometimes reaching a height of 40m and a diameter of 1.5m. The trunk
is usually long and straight in the forest, short and branched in
the open.
e
tallest and most stately of all conifers in Eastern Canada. It sometimes
reaches a height of 55m and a diameter of 1.5m It will grow on a
wide range of sites from dry sandy ridges to wet sphagnum bogs,
but does best on a moist, sandy soil. At Mont St-Hilaire it reaches
its greatest size on rich loams with eastern hemlock, yellow birch
and sugar maple. 
showcases
a total of 551 different taxa of plants. Of these 551 taxa, 34 are
trees, 65 are shrubs, 6 are lianas, and 421 are herbs. 23 species
are more or less restricted to aquatic environments. 
areas
where they are expected, but also in the sun-baked meadow. Individuals
of the genus Botrichium are often so tiny, less than 15cm in height,
that they can be difficult to find amongst grass; in contrast, the
ostrich fern and cinnamon fern can reach heights of 1.5m by late summer.
Thirty-eight species of fern are found on Mont St-Hilaire, some practically
everywhere and some in only a half-dozen sites.