ON158: Frontenac Forests

The Frontenac Forests Key Biodiversity Area is an extensive area of rich deciduous and mixed forest interspersed with numerous small wetlands, lakes, and rocky outcrops. The area is situated in the heart of the Frontenac Arch World Biosphere Reserve. The Arch is a southward extension of the Canadian Shield to the Adirondack Mountains; it connects the boreal forest of the Canadian Shield to the richer deciduous forests of the south. The Frontenac Forests KBA is centred on two key properties – Frontenac Provincial Park and Queen’s University Biological Station – and also includes the intervening and surrounding forested lands, as these are important for maintaining the values of the KBA and may represent future breeding sites for forest species at risk. The area is largely comprised of intact forest, with sparse residential and recreational properties dotted throughout, and small communities mainly along County Roads 10 and 19. Parts of the site are successional forest, once farmed but later abandoned and now naturally regenerating. Regions within this KBA historically had lime kilns and were mined for iron, feldspar, and mica. Additionally, several waterways within this site are part of the Rideau Canal system, which was historically important in linking Kingston to Ottawa. 

This area supports one of the richest forest-breeding bird communities in Canada and is important for the population of breeding Cerulean Warblers. Cerulean Warbler is listed as globally Near Threatened (IUCN) and nationally Endangered (COSEWIC). According to COSEWIC (2010), 90 pairs of Cerulean Warblers breed within the Queen’s University Biological Station, up to 180 pairs within Frontenac Provincial Park; and an additional 50-60 pairs in close proximity. This represents approximately half of the Canadian population and one of the largest breeding concentrations anywhere in the world.

In addition, this area holds nationally significant proportions of the national populations of Pale-bellied Frost Lichen, Gray Ratsnake - Great Lakes St. Lawrence population, Northern Map Turtle, and Blanding's Turtle - Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population.

Several other forest birds at-risk are found in the Frontenac Forests, including Least Bittern, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Evening Grosbeak, Barn Swallow, Wood Thrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, and a large population of Golden-winged Warbler. The Prairie Warbler (rare, but not considered at-risk) is found in low density in areas of rock barrens within the KBA. In addition, this is one of the best places in the province to see Red-shouldered Hawk, both species of cuckoo, Yellow-throated Vireo, and many other birds of southern forests. Though not a species at risk, Common Loons benefit from the nesting habitat found along quiet lakes in this area. 

Smooth Shadow-crust Lichen (Hyperphyscia syncolla), Cupped Fringe Lichen (Heterdermia hypoleuca), and a lichen (Lempholemma syreniarum) are reported to have been found in this region, however not enough information about them exists to assess them as KBA trigger species at this time. Common Five-lined Skink - Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Population (Plestiodon fasciatus pop. 2), Northern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis saurita septentrionalis), Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta), and Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) are also known to be present at this site, however not at concentrations high enough to meet KBA criteria at this time. West Virginia White (Pieris virginiensis) is also found at the site but not in high enough concentrations to meet KBA criteria. Other biodiversity that have been assessed at the site but do not meet criteria include the Blunt-lobed Woodsia (Woodsia obtusa) and Purple Twayblade (Liparis liliifolia). 

The area's importance to a wide range of biodiversity is recognized by a number of conservation designations. The core of the KBA is protected by Frontenac Provincial Park, Queen’s University Biological Station, and almost 10,000 acres of land owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Frontenac Provincial Park is primarily used for all-season, low-impact backcountry recreational use (e.g., hiking, canoeing, backcountry camping, etc.). The KBA's location within UNESCO's Frontenac Arch World Biosphere Reserve confirms the importance of the area to nature and people, including its value for recreation, scientfic research, and history. More recently, the area has been recognized for its importance as a critical natural area, connecting two very large conservation tracts in the Algonquin to Adirondack region. The site also falls within The Land Between, an ecotone straddling the Canadian Shield and the St. Lawrence Lowlands. Both initiatives have active conservation programs within the region. The Province of Ontario has designated multiple Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSIs) within this KBA, including Hamilton Lake, Hebert Fen, Holleford Lake, Slide Lake, Salmon Lake, Hardwood Bay, and Moulton Lake. Provincially-significant wetland complexes are also present, such as Massassauga Creek, Murphy's Bay, Benson-Mosquito-Loon Lakes, Loon Lake-Dead Creek, and the Beaver Tail. Birds Canada, Frontenac Bird Studies, Kingston Field Naturalists, Queen's University, Ontario Parks, and others are actively engaged in research and conservation projects within the KBA and surrounding region.

Despite enjoying a relatively high degree of protection compared to the highly disturbed and fragmented deciduous forests elsewhere in southern Ontario, Frontenac Forests is not without its own conservation challenges. In recent years, interest in developing and expanding campgrounds, cottages, and waterfront properties has increased significantly. As a result, recreation pressures on lakes have grown, including on Opinicon Lake, which is part of the Rideau Waterway and includes Chaffey's Lock. Recently, there has been an increase in cottage lot severance, which could increase forest fragmentation and be detrimental to forest interior species.

Intensification of the tourist/recreation sector in the area could negatively affect forests here by opening up the landscape to heavy disturbance, road construction, forest fragmentation, and clearing for construction of new buildings. Increased recreation can lead to additional impacts on wildlife such as disturbance from motor boats on lakes, road mortality, and shoreline modification. Forest harvesting within the KBA is currently not a threat but intensification or changes to selective cutting practices could also have severe consequences to the forest and its ability to support the species here, particularly Cerulean Warblers, which require large tracts of extensive, mature deciduous forests. The spread of invasive pests and pathogens further threatens forest species. Emerrald Ash Borer has killed trees and changed forest composition, which may adversely affect Cerulean Warblers. Butternut Canker has similarly killed most Butternut trees in the area, and outbreaks of Spongy Moths (Lymantria dispar dispar) alter forest structure. Additionally, large fires that could profoundly alter forest ecosystems are a growing risk at this site.

Industrial development, such as large scale solar farms, is of potential concern in rock barrens and successional fields. Such barren habitats are already under growing stress due to increasingly dry periods during the summer. As a result, industrial development would likely have negative impacts on plant species that rely on open habitats, impact at-risk species that depend on edge habitat (e.g., Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Golden-winged Warbler) and could encroach upon forest interior habitats that are important for species like Cerulean Warblers.