• Visscher, George E.
  University of Maine Graduate School
  

This thesis is part of a broader cooperative study aimed at understanding Paleo-forest dynamics -- namely those of the Eocene period in the Canadian High Arctic. Wood of the dominant tree species - Metasequoia -- that grew on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, Canada is the focus of this research. The first chapter is a direct result of classifyng the fossil wood of Axel Heiberg. The second chapter discusses the xylem strategies of Metasequoia. Because Metasequoia is a tall tree with a high water demand, its wood must be sufficiently strong, and provide the canopy with enough water to meet its needs. The results indicate that Metasequoia possesses unique specific gravity and micruofibril angle trends that may be adaptive strategies for this species at its unique high latitude sites.