Arctic Cordillera:
Location
The Arctic Cordillera runs along the northeastern fringe of Nunavut and Labrador, notably
on Ellesmere and Baffin Islands.
Climate
This ecozone is one of the most inhospitable in Canada. Summer temperatures range
from -2 degrees in the mountains of Ellesmere Island to 6 degrees in northern Labrador,
but winter brings temperatures as low as -35ºC in the north. Precipitation is commonly
snow, and the north has an average of only 200mm of precipitation a year, although in
Labrador it can reach as much as 600mm annually. Although winter is long and dark, the
short growing season is aided by the extremely long days come summer.
Geology and Geography
Containing soaring mountain peaks and desolate valleys, the
northern extent of this ecozone contains mountains that exceed
two kilometres in height, some of the highest in the country. This
is the only major mountain chain in Eastern Canada.
Precambrian rock is the major component of the bedrock. The
drier northern section is largely covered with ice caps while
glaciers are common at the more humid southern end.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
Not much can grow in the harsh conditions, where killing frosts
can come at any time during the year and even soil is rare.
Three-quarters of the land here is bare rock; and even lichen
have a hard time of it. Trees here are barely recognizable stunted
versions of themselves. Plants that do grow here are usually tiny
species that often grow in thick insulating mats to protect
themselves from the cold or are covered in thick hairs that help to insulate and to protect
them from the bitter wind.
Some of the plant species found are arctic black spruce, arctic willow, cottongrass,
kobresia, moss species, wood rush, wire rush, purple saxifrage, Dryas species,
sedges, Diapensia, arctic poppy, mountain avens, mountain sorrel, river beauty, moss
campion, bilberry, and arctic white heather.
Animals
The conditions here are far too harsh for reptiles and amphibians to survive, and insects
are also rare here.
Mammals
Muskoxen and barren-ground caribou are the only large herbivores in this ecosystem,
while polar bears and the arctic wolf are the only large carnivores to be found here.
Smaller herbivores include the arctic hare and the collared lemming. Arctic
foxes and ermines are some of the smaller carnivores found here. Marine mammals
include narwhals,beluga whales, walrus, and ringed and bearded seals.
Birds
The furry-legged rock ptarmigan is a common bird in this desolate place. Characteristic
birds of prey include thegyrfalcon and snowy owl. Some of the more common shore- and
seabirds are the thick-billed murre, black-legged kittiwake, ruddy turnstone, red knot, black
guillemot, common ringed plover, little ringed plover and northern fulmar. Songbirds found
in the Arctic Cordillera include the hoary redpoll, common redpoll, snow bunting,
and lapland longspur. The snow goose, common and king eider, and red-throated loon are
some species of waterfowl that live here.
Humans
Only about a thousand people live permanently in this region and most of the population is
Inuit. Most people live through subsistence activities, such as hunting, trapping and
fishing, although gas and oil exploration also provide a living for some.
Northern Arctic:
Location
Most of the archipelago north of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are included in the
Northern Arctic.
Climate
Extending over most of the arctic islands, this is the coldest and driest part of the country.
Winter nights last for days or even months, and average annual temperature is as low as 3ºC in the northerly part of the region. Precipitation is so low here, only 100 to 200mm a
year, that the region can be classified as an arctic desert. July and August are the only
months in which snow doesn't usually lie on the ground. Permafrost, perpetually frozen
ground, is present everywhere in this ecozone and can extend downwards for over a
kilometre. Only a thin layer at the surface thaws during summer. The waters in the
northern half of the Northern Arctic are permanently frozen, but the southern waters can
be open in the summer, although ice still persists offshore throughout the year.
Geology and Geography
The western section of the ecozone consists of Palaeozoic and
Mesozoic sedimentary rock. Towards the east, the bedrock is
mostly Precambrian granite. Most of the Northern Arctic is flat
or slightly rolling terrain. The west is littered with glacial
deposits and shattered limestone. Plains may extend for
several kilometres inland from the coast; once underwater,
these plains are now rising as the continent rises after having
been pushed down by glaciers during previous ice ages. The
east is characterized by plateaus and rocky hills, which
eventually lead to the Arctic Cordillera ecozone's mountains.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
The entirety of the Northern Arctic lies above the tree line, so
no full-sized tree species can be found here. Very few plant
species can survive in these conditions. Plants are generally
stunted and become more so to the north.
Some plants found here include purple saxifrage, mountain avens, arctic poppy, arctic
willow, Dryas species, kobresia, sedges, cottongrass, moss, dwarf birch, northern
Labrador tea, Vaccinium species, alder, alpine foxtail, wood rush, wire rush, moss
campions, white arctic heather, arctic bladder campion, yellow oxytrope, mastodon flower,
arctic lousewort, mountain sorrel, pygmy buttercup, river beauty, chickweed.
Animals
Mammals
Only about twenty mammal species live here. The largest are the carnivorous polar bear,
andarctic wolf and the herbivourous barren-land caribou and muskox. The smaller
carnivores found here include arctic fox, ermine, and wolverine, while smaller herbivores
include the snowshoe hare, arctic hare, brown lemming and collared lemming. Aquatic
mammals that live in the waters off the coast include walrus, ringed seals, bearded
seals, beluga, narwhal, and various other whales.
Birds
Most of the bird species migrate to the Northern Arctic in spring to mate, leaving in fall.
Birds of prey that can be found in the northern arctic include gyrfalcon, rough-legged
hawk, and snowy owl. Waterfowl include snow goose, brant, Canada
goose, eider, oldsquaw duck, red-throated loon,arctic loon and king eider. Shorebirds and
seabirds include the red phalarope, parasitic jaeger, red knot, dunlin, long-tailed
jaeger, northern fulmar, glaucous gull, white-rumped sandpiper, black-bellied plover,
and ruddy turnstone. Some forest birds of the ecozone are the willow ptarmigan,rock
ptarmigan, hoary redpoll, snow bunting, lapland longspur, and horned lark.
Amphibians and Reptiles
No reptiles or amphibians can survive the conditions here.
Humans
Approximately 15 000 people live in the Northern Arctic, and the majority of the population
is Inuit. Most people live through subsistence activities, such as hunting, trapping and
fishing, though gas and oil exploration also provide a living for some, as does tourism.
Southern Arctic
Location
The Southern Arctic extends across the northern edge of much of the continental
Northwest Territories and Quebec, bordered by the tree line to the south and the Northern
Arctic ecosystem to the north.
Climate
This far north, the summers are short and cool, while winters are long, cold, and dark.
Summers average 5ºC, while winters vary between an average of -28ºC near the
Mackenzie Delta to -18ºC in northern Quebec.
Precipitation in the west is low, approximately 250mm per year, and only rises to 500mm
at the eastern end of the ecozone. Permafrost is found throughout the region, sometimes
only a few centimetres below the surface.
Geology and Geography
The look of the Southern Arctic is largely the result of glaciers. As the
glaciers expanded and moved south, they carried rocks and earth
with them. Exposed bedrock, which may have been exposed by the
scraping of the glaciers, still bears scratch marks from rocks dragged
across them by the glaciers' advance. Rocks up to the size of houses
were torn from the bedrock and carried by the glaciers, sometimes a
few metres and sometimes a few thousand kilometres. When they
ended up far from home, these rocks are appropriately known as
"glacial erratics".
When the glaciers retreated from this area about 8 500 years ago, soil
and rocks were deposited in huge amounts, resulting in all types of
characteristic landscape features. The bedrock here is mostly
Precambrian granite, which is exposed throughout the area.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
The southern edge of the Southern Arctic is the tree line, a transition zone north of which
no full-sized trees are found. Anything north of the tree line is defined as the arctic. The
low temperatures, low precipitation, and high winds in most of the ecozone encourages
low plants. Stunted forms of tree species such as dwarf birch, alder, arctic willow, white
spruce, black spruce, tamarack, least willow, net-veined willow and blue-green willow
grow here.
Other plant species that grow in the Southern Arctic include the heath, lichen, northern
Labrador tea, Dryas, sedge species, sphagnum moss, cottongrass, ericaceous
shrubs, Vaccinium, fragrant shield fern, shrub birch, crowberry, bearberry, moss campion,
blueberry, mountain cranberry, cloudberry, and alpine club moss.
Animals
North of the tree line, life becomes difficult for animals as well as plants. Most impressive
of the animals here is the caribou and their massive migrations. Many birds also migrate,
though they fly over the ecozone as much as land in it.
Mammals
Larger carnivores in the Southern Arctic include the grizzly bear, black bear and polar
bear as well as wolves. The most common large herbivores are barren-ground
caribou, woodland caribou,moose, and muskox. Smaller carnivores, such as the red
fox, arctic fox, lynx, coyote, weasels,wolverine and ermine prey on smaller herbivores,
which include the arctic ground squirrel, brown lemming, showshoe hare, arctic
hare masked shrew, tundra redbacked vole , and beaver. Aquatic mammals
include walruses, various seals, belugas, and narwhals.
Birds
Many birds migrate here in the spring to breed, but spend the long cold winters further
south. Many others pass over the Southern Arctic during their migrations to breed still
further north. Four characteristic birds of prey include the snowy owl, gyrfalcon, osprey,
and rough-legged hawk. Waterfowl that can be found here include Canada goose, yellowbilled loon, arctic loon, red-throated loon, tundra swan, whistling swan, snow
goose, oldsquaw duck and sea ducks. Some common shorebirds and seabirds in the
Southern Arctic are the semi-palmated plover, red-necked phalarope, lapland
longspur, parasitic jaeger, and semi-palmated plover. Songbirds also live here, including
the snow bunting, raven, American tree sparrow, and hoary redpoll. Willow ptarmigan,rock
ptarmigan and spruce grouse are a few of the ground-dwelling birds.
Reptiles and Amphibians
This ecozone is too harsh for either reptiles or amphibians to live in.
Molluscs
Three species of molluscs that live in the Southern Arctic are the muskeg
stagnicola, arctic-alpine fingernail clam, and globular pea clam.
Humans
Extremely few people (only about 10 000) live here, and the majority of the population is
Inuit. Most people live through subsistence activities, such as hunting, trapping and
fishing, though gas and oil exploration also provide a living for some, as does tourism.
Taiga Plains:
Location
The Taiga Plains are centered around the Mackenzie River in the western Northwest
Territories, bordered by the mountains to the west, the arctic to the east, and the boreal
forests of the boreal plains to the south.
Climate
Like the Taiga Shield to its east, the Taiga Plains has short, cool summers and long, cold
winters. Mean summer temperatures range from 7ºC in the north to 14ºC in the south.
Winter brings averages of -26ºC in the Mackenzie delta and a relatively mild -15ºC in the
portion contained in Alberta and British Columbia. Snow and freshwater ice lasts for six to
eight months, and permafrost is widespread. There is generally little rainfall here, only
200-500mm a year.
Geology and Geography
Geologically, this ecozone is primarily horizontally layered
sedimentary rock; limestone, shale, and sandstone. The
largest river in the country, the Mackenzie, flows through this
ecozone and dominates its west, while the east is in turn
dominated by the Great Slave and Great Bear lakes. Most of
the terrain is flat or slightly rolling, but where the river or its
tributaries have cut through the ground, canyons hundreds of
metres deep can be found. The permafrost leads to large
areas being waterlogged and remnants of glacier activity
make the landscape more varied.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
Fires are fairly common, and many species are especially
adapted to it, resulting in a patchwork of forest types where
each patch is at a different stage of recovery from fire. Trees
in the Taiga Plains include paper birch, willows, trembling aspen,tamarack, green
alder, white spruce, balsam poplar, lodgepole pine, jack pine, dwarf birch, black spruce,
and balsam fir. Some of the smaller plants that grow here are fire snag, wild rose,
Labrador tea, bearberry, sedges, eriacaceous shrubs, cottongrass, moss, sphagnum
moss, feathermoss, bog cranberry, and blueberry.
Animals
Mammals
The black bear, lynx, and wolf are the only large carnivores to be found here; smaller
carnivores include red fox, ermine, and marten. Large herbivores include woodland
caribou, wood bison,moose, and barren-ground caribou, while snowshow hare, red
squirrel, arctic ground squirrel are some of the smaller herbivores.
Birds
Some of the most common birds of prey here, the bald eagle, peregrine falcon,
and osprey, are fish-eaters, though the hawk owl is not. Waterfowl, most of whom migrate
to the Taiga Plains in spring and summer, include the red-throated loon, ring-necked
duck, greater scaup, canvasback, and all manner of other ducks, geese and swans. Some
ground-dwelling birds are the sharp-tailed grouse and willow ptarmigan, while some
common birds of the forest include the raven, gray jay,boreal chickadee, common raven,
and common redpoll.
Reptiles and Amphibians
This region is too far north for reptiles, but the western toad, striped chorus frog, and wood
frog can be found here.
Fish
Fish that can be found in the lakes and rivers of the region include arctic lamprey, lake
trout, lake and mountain whitefish, arctic cisco, longnose sucker, arctic grayling, dolly
varden, burbot, walleye, and northern pike.
Invertebrates
The large numbers of insects in this ecozone provide food for the insectivorous birds that
come here to feed and breed. Molluscs like the muskeg stagnicola, arctic-alpine fingernail
clam, andglobular pea clam live in the waters of this ecozone.
Humans
Most settlements in the Taiga Plains are located by rivers, and most of the landscape has
been virtually untouched by human activity. A majority of the 22 000 people who live here
make their living through subsistence activities, but petroleum exploration, mining, and
forestry also take place.
Taiga Shield:
Location
This ecozone stretches eastward from the Taiga Plains, just south of the Southern Arctic.
It is interrupted by Hudson Bay and the Hudson Plains, but then continues to the Atlantic.
Climate
This ecozone has short summers with long days and cold, long winters with long nights.
Average annual temperatures are just below freezing, and mean summer temperatures
are at most 11ºC. Precipitation ranges from 200mm a year in the west to 1000mm on the
Labrador coast.
Geology and Geography
As part of the Canadian Shield, the bedrock here is extremely old, and the region north of
Great Slave Lake contains the oldest rock on the planet, over four billion years old. The
terrain here is either flat or rolling hills. Advancing and retreating glaciers have scraped the
ground bare at several points in the past, and the millions of depressions that have been
left are now lakes. Much of the flat lands are temporarily or permanently waterlogged.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
A patchwork of wetlands, forests, meadows, and shrublands covers this area. The
northern edge of the ecozone is delineated by the tree line, and it is north of this that the
more typical arctic tundra begins.
Trees in the Taiga Shield include black spruce, jack pine, green alder, paper birch,
willow,tamarack, white spruce, balsam fir, trembling aspen, balsam poplar, white birch,
and dwarf birch.
Other plants in the area include ericaceous shrubs, cottongrass, lichen, moss, sedge,
sphagnum moss, Labrador tea, feathermoss, northern Labrador tea, yellow pond lily,
cattail, water parsnip, water smartweed, water horsetail, water arum, marsh five-finger,
ground juniper, kinnikinick, lichens, goldenrod, grass of Parnassus, shrubby cinqfoil, sweet
gale, northern commandra, wild rose, wood horsetail, wild chives, twinflower, feathermoss,
soapberry, cupidberry, crowberry, bearberry, high-bush cranberry, fireweed, fire snag,
rock harlequin, fragrant shield fern, creeping juniper, prickly saxifrage, mountain
cranberry, and gooseberry.
Animals
Mammals
About fifty species of mammals are found in the Taiga Shield, including the large
herbivoresbarren-ground caribou, woodland caribou,
and moose. Wolves, black and grizzly bears and thelynx are the larger predators. Smaller
predators include the coyote, red and arctic fox, muskrat,wolverine, weasel, mink, marten,
otter, and least weasel. The smaller herbivores include thesnowshoe hare, beaver, brown
lemming, red-backed vole, northern red-backed vole, and red squirrel.
Birds
Spring migration brings a multitude of bird species through this region, including various
ducks, geese, loons and swans. Some stay, but others continue north to the arctic to
breed. Representative birds of prey are the osprey and bald eagle. Shorebirds and
seabirds found here include northern phalarope, Bonaparte’s gull, arctic tern, greater
scaup, mew gull, Characteristic waterfowl are the arctic, pacific, and red-throated
loons, red-breasted merganser, and the green-winged teal. Forest birds in the ecozone
include northern shrike, tree sparrow, gray-cheeked thrush, raven, red-breasted
merganser, red-winged blackbird, yellow warbler, common redpoll,white-crowned
sparrow, flicker, and yellow-rumped warbler. Two representative ground-dwelling birds are
the spruce grouse and willow ptarmigan.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Three species of amphibians, the mink frog, wood frog, and blue-spotted salamander live
here, but there are no reptiles.
Invertebrates
The American copper butterfly is found here, as are the molluscs muskeg
stagnicola, arctic-alpine fingernail clam, and globular pea clam.
Humans
This ecozone is more developed than others to the north of it, thanks to hydroelectric
development and mining. It is also more densely populated, with 340 000 people, 60% of
whom are First Nations. Settlements along the coast arose during the time of the fur trade,
but later settlement has been largely dictated by mining. Most of the urban areas still have
untouched land nearby, and subsistence activities such as hunting, trapping and fishing
are still common.
Taiga Cordillera:
Location
This ecozone extends along most of the border between the Yukon and Northwest
Territories.
Climate
The Taiga Cordillera contains the northernmost of the Rocky mountains in Canada and
also some of its highest waterfalls, deepest canyons and wildest rivers. Mountains block
much of the precipitation, which averages 250 to 300mm per year. Its northerly position
gives it cold winters (-22ºC average temperature) with very short days and short cool
summers (average temperature 8ºC). Snow lasts on the ground for six to eight months of
the year.
Geology and Geography
Most of the ecozone is covered with steep mountains and narrow valleys, although the
northwest contains wetlands and rolling hills and the north contains tundra; this tundra is
above the treeline, so only smaller plants are found there.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
Location on the slopes of the ecozone determines which plants are to be found. Westernfacing slopes recieve more precipitation than those that face the east, while southern
slopes are warmer, brighter and drier than north-facing slopes. Distinct zones also occur
as altitude increases.
Some of the trees found here include paper birch, alpine fir, lodgepole pine, black
spruce, white spruce, trembling aspen, balsam poplar, water birch, Alaska paper birch,
blue-green willow, Bebb willow, and net-veined willow. Other plants include mountain
aven, eriacaceous shrubs, sedge, cottongrass, Labrador tea, fire snag, larkspur, forgetme-not, wooly lousewort, arnica, hedysarum, white camas, purple mountain saxifrage,
yellow mountain saxifrage, alpine bearberry, arctic white heather, alpine bearberry and
prickly saxifrage.
Animals
As with the plants, the animal species to be found depend upon their location in the
ecozone. Alpine regions, lowland forests and wetlands all have characteristic species.
Mammals
Large carnivores that are found here include black bear, grizzly bear, wolf and lynx. The
large herbivores include Dall’s sheep, caribou, moose, and mountain goat. Small
carnivores such ascoyote, red fox, least weasel, mink, wolverine, muskrat,
and marten can be found here, preying in part on arctic ground squirrel, American
pika, hoary marmot, beaver, and brown lemming.
Birds
Some of the characteristic birds of prey are gyrfalcon, golden eagle, bald
eagle, osprey, northern goshawk, boreal owl, short-eared owl, red-tailed hawk, northern
harrier, American kestrel, andmerlin. Shorebirds and seabirds that are found here
include spotted sandpiper, common snipe,wandering tattler, herring gull, and mew gull.
The songbirds of the Taiga cordillera includecommon redpoll, rusty blackbird, graycheeked thrush, tree swallow, dark-eyed junco, varied thrush, raven, white-winged
crossbill, Lincoln’s sparrow, Townsend’s solitaire, water pipit, violet-green swallow,
and gray jay. Waterfowl such as Canada geese, northern pintail, mallard,canvasback,
and arctic loon are found here. Ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, northern flicker, willow
ptarmigan, rock ptarmigan, and white-tailed ptarmigan are some of the birds of the forest.
Amphibians and Reptiles
The Taiga Cordillera is too far north for amphibians and reptiles.
Fish
Predators such as the northern pike feed on species including lake whitefish and lake
chub. Chinook salmon and chum salmon come in from the ocean to spawn.
Mollucscs
Two of the mollusc species found in this ecozone are the muskeg stagnicola and arcticalpine fingernail clam.
Humans
Only a few hundred people live here, and subsistence activities are the norm. Otherwise,
there is some tourism, but no major urban centres or industries exist here.
Boreal Shield:
Location
The Boreal Shield covers a wide swath from Alberta to Newfoundland, south of the Taiga
Shield and Hudson Plains and north of various ecozones, including the Boreal Plains,
Mixedwood Plains, and Atlantic Maritime.
Climate
Largest of Canada's ecozones, the Boreal Shield provides the images of exposed
bedrock, endless forests, and rushing rivers that characterize the image that much of the
world (as well as many Canadians) has of Canada. Summers have roughly the same
average temperature throughout the area, about 13ºC. The maritime influence in the east
gives it a milder winter, with a mean temperature of about -1ºC, while the western edge
suffers through average winter temperatures of -20ºC. Precipitation in the west is low,
about 400mm a year, but it can be a high as 1600mm a year in some areas of
Newfoundland, largely due to its position in the Atlantic.
Geology and Geography
This ecozone is named after the intersection of the boreal
forest and the Canadian Shield, and the Precambrian granite
bedrock of the latter is commonly exposed here. This may
have once been a soaring mountain range, judging by its
tumultuous geological past, but that was a billion years ago,
and all that is left now is rolling hills. Glaciers swept over this
area many times, and the resulting series of depressions
and deposits have given rise to the millions of lakes and
wetlands in the region.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
Forest fires create a patchwork of forest types in different
stages of recovery from the fire. Trees to the north are
coniferous, but broadleaf trees appear further south and
trees normally found in much warmer climates, such as the
yellow birch and sugar maple, can be found in the south of
the ecozone. Bogs and other wetlands, some of the most diverse and productive areas in
the Boreal Shield, cover one-fifth of the land. Tree species that can be found here include
the white spruce, black spruce, balsam fir, tamarack, trembling aspen, balsam poplar,
white pine, red pine, jack pine, eastern white pine, red maple, mountain maple, eastern
red cedar, eastern hemlock, black ash, speckled alder, pin cherry, paper birch and white
birch. Some of the other plants that grow here are ericaceous shrubs, sphagnum moss,
willow, alder, Labrador tea, blueberry, bog rosemary, feathermoss, cottongrass, sedges,
kalmia heath, high bush cranberry, baneberry, wild sarsaparilla, bunchberry, shield fern,
goldenrod, water lilies and cattails.
Animals
Mammals
Some of the characteristic large herbivores of the region include woodland
caribou, barren-ground caribou, white-tailed deer, and moose. The larger carnivores in the
Boreal Shield are the black bear, lynx, bobcat, and wolf. Small herbivores and herbivores
include raccoon, striped skunk,eastern chipmunk, beaver, muskrat, showshoe hare, redbacked vole, red squirrel, least chipmunk,porcupine, woodchuck, southern bog
lemming and arctic hare. They are in turn preyed upon such smaller carnivores as
the marten, short-tailed weasel, fisher, ermine, mink, river otter, coyote, andred fox.
Aquatic mammals found off of the eastern coast of the ecozone include grey seal, harp
seal,hooded seal, ringed seal , sperm whale, orca, Atlantic pilot whale, fin whale, blue
whale, northern right whale, bowhead whale,and humpback whale.
Birds
Birds of prey in this ecozone include the boreal owl, great horned owl, hawk owl, bald
eagle, red-tailed hawk, turkey vulture, and broad-winged hawk. The yellow rumped
warbler, blue jay, evening grosbeak, gray jay, common nighthawk, raven, mourning
dove, cardinal, wood thrush, rock ptarmigen, willow ptarmigan and white-throated
sparrow are just a few of the songbirds found here. The forests hold such species
as spruce grouse, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, and thepileated woodpecker. Spring
brings large flocks of waterbirds to nest and breed in the wetlands or just to feed for the
rest of their migration further north. They include the common loon, sandhill
cranes, hooded merganser, American black duck, wood duck, Canada goose, great blue
heron,ring-necked duck, and bufflehead. Shorebirds and seabirds found off the eastern
coast include theherring gull, double-crested cormorant, and Atlantic puffin, along with
various murre, eider, tern and pelican species.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Many species of reptiles and amphibians live in the Boreal Shield. Some of the frogs and
toads include the spring peeper, wood frog, mink frog, and northern leopard frog. Yellowspotted salamanders, blue-spotted salamanders, eastern redback salamanders,
and eastern newts can be found in moist areas. The common snapping turtle and painted
turtle are two of the turtle species that live in the ecozone. Two types of garter snake,
the maritime garter snake and common gartern snake, as well as the redbelly snake,
make their home here.
Fish
Predatory fish in the ecozone include the lake sturgeon, brook trout, lake trout, northern
pike, muskellunge, largemouth bass, sauger, and walleye. Some of the fish that they prey
upon include cisco, (lake herring), blackfin cisco, lake whitefish, rainbow smelt, lake chub,
golden shiner, and yellow perch. Anadramous fish, which live in the ocean but enter
freshwater to spawn, include the silver lamprey, northern brook lamprey, american brook
lamprey, sea lamprey, alewife and Atlantic salmon.
Molluscs
The valve snail, ordinary spire snail, eastern elliptio, arctic-alpine fingernail clam,
and globular pea clam are just a few of the mollusc species in the Boreal Shield.
Insects
Insects are common in the Boreal Shield; some of the species include the German
cockroach, red turpentine beetle, boreal spittlebug, spring azure, American copper,
monarch butterfly, mourning cloak, and bush katydid.
Humans
The extensive waterways in the Boreal Shield were the roads of the fur trade. More
recently, some rivers have been altered and degraded by mining, hydroelectric
development, and logging practices, though many are still relatively unaffected. Insect
control, monoculture tree plantings, control of natural forest fires and acidification of the
lakes and soil all affect the natural system, but in many cases the long-term effects are
unclear. The current population is approximately three million.
Boreal Plains:
Location
The Boreal Plains are found in the centre of Alberta, extending east through the centre of
Saskatchewan and slightly south of centre Manitoba.
Climate
A more northerly extension of the Prairie ecozone to its south, the Boreal Plains ecozone
endures mean annual temperatures of around freezing. Summers are short and warm,
winters cold. The Rocky Mountains block much of the moisture, resulting in precipitation of
300mm in the west to 625mm in the east.
Glaciers from many ice ages have flattened the landscape, and the large ancient lakes
that resulted from their meltwater have left many dunes and are still present in many
cases as smaller lakes.
Geology and Geography
Flat or slightly rolling terrain is the rule here, and
thick soil deposits overlay Cretaceous shale
bedrock.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
Much of the Boreal Plains are covered with
forests despite heavy logging. Fires are common,
and many species are very well adapted to them.
Dominant tree species include white spruce, black
spruce, balsam fir, jack pine, tamarack, white
birch, water birch, Alaska paper birch, mountain
alder, trembling aspen, Pacific willow, Bebb
willow, pussy willow, Manitoba maple, and balsam
poplar. The deciduous species are most
commonly found in the south, the coniferous
species to the north. The Saskatoon berry bush is
one of the other plant species found here.
Animals
Extensive logging has reduced the population and ranges of many species. Wetlands and
rivers have also suffered from pollution, increased water use and other human activities.
Mammals
Large carnivores in the ecozone include the black bear, wolf, and lynx. The most common
large herbivores are elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose, caribou, and bison. Smaller
carnivores include the coyote, least weasel, river otter, badger, striped
skunk, muskrat, marten, and fisher. There are many rodents, such as the northern pocket
gopher, beaver, woodchuck, Richardson's ground squirrel, thirteen-lined ground
squirrel, Franklin's ground squirrel, least chipmunk,porcupine, eastern cottontail,
and snowshoe hare.
Birds
Characteristic birds of prey include the great horned owl, boreal owl, northern saw-whet
owl, short-eared owl, Cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk, broad-winged hawk, and turkey
vulture. Some of the songbirds found here are the blue jay, evening grosbeak, rosebreasted grosbeak, ruby-throated hummingbird, cedar waxwing, whip-poor-will, purple
finch, brown creeper, sedge wren, and thecommon crow. Some other birds of the forest
are ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, northern flicker,downy woodpecker, and pileated
woodpecker. Waterfowl include Franklin’s gull, American white pelican, common loon,
sandhill crane, western grebe, wood duck, ring-necked duck, northern pintail, blue-winged
teal, mallard, gadwall, redhead, canvasback, Canada goose, and whooping cranes, which
nest in wetlands in the extreme north of the ecozone.
Amphibians and reptiles
Two of the amphibian species here are the wood frog and american toad. The common
garter snake can also be found.
Fish
Predatory fish here include lake sturgeon, brown trout, lake trout, northern pike,
and walleye. They prey on such species as cisco (lake herring), lake whitefish, goldeye,
lake chub, emerald shiner, and yellow perch.
Insects
A few of the insect species found here are the boreal spittlebug, spring azure, American
copper, monarch butterfly, mourning cloak, and American cockroach.
Molluscs
Two species of molluscs found in the Boreal Plains are the arctic-alpine fingernail
clam and theglobular pea clam.
Humans
When first settled, the Boreal Plains were important for trading companies and the fur
trade. For the past fifty years oil and gas has been the major economic focus in Alberta.
Other natural resources have been important as well, especially forestry. The threequarters of a million people who live in this ecozone are scattered in small communities
rather than the larger urban concentrations found in most southern ecozones.
Boreal Cordillera:
Location
This ecozone contains the mountainous southern Yukon and northern British Columbia.
Climate
The mountains in the west of the Boreal Cordillera stop much of the precipitation that
would normally fall, so the region tends towards dryness, with less than 300 mm of
precipitation in the west. Precipitation rises to the east, with up to 1500 mm falling on
some slopes. From one third to two-thirds of the precipitation falls as snow. Average
winter temperatures are -18ºC, while the short summer averages 10ºC.
Geology and Geography
Mountains and plateaus are the dominant features, separated by lowlands and valleys.
Debris and deposits from glaciers cover the plateaus and valleys, and even the lower
slopes of the mountains have deposits.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
Trees grow in the lowlands and on the lower slopes. As elevation increses, trees become
stunted and above the treeline only shrubs, moss, lichen and herbs are found. Much of the
upper slopes is bare rock, snow and ice. Trees of the area include white spruce, black
spruce, Engelmann spruce,alpine fir, lodgepole pine, whitebark pine, trembling aspen,
balsam poplar, white birch, water birch, scrub birch, and Bebb willow. Some of the other
plants in the ecozone are Labrador tea, mountain aven, eriacaceous shrubs, sphagnum
moss, cottongrass, and mountain hemlock.
Animals
Mammals
Some of the large herbivores are caribou, moose, Dall’s sheep, mountain goat, and bison.
Large carnivores that are found here include black bear, grizzly bear, lynx, and wolf. The
smaller herbivores include hoary marmot, woodchuck, arctic ground
squirrel, beaver, brown lemming,collared lemming, American pika, and snowshoe hare.
Smaller carnivores such as marten, least weasel, river otter, striped
skunk, mink, coyote, muskrat, and red fox are found here.
Birds
Some of the characteristic birds of prey are the snowy owl, boreal owl, short-eared
owl, northern goshawk, red-tailed hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, Swainson's hawk,
and common nighthawk. Shorebirds and seabirds that can be found here include common
snipe, wandering tattler, herring gull, mew gull, and Bonaparte's gull. The birds of the
forest include willow ptarmigan, rock ptarmigan, white-tailed ptarmigan, blue
grouse, spruce grouse, ruffed grouse, northern flicker, anddowny woodpecker. Waterfowl
such as northern pintail, blue-winged teal, mallard, canvasback, and Canada goose can
be found in the Boreal Cordillera. The songbirds of the area include raven,red-winged
blackbird, purple finch, American dipper, rusty blackbird, common yellowthroat, andvaried
thrush.
Amphibians and Reptiles
Although the climate here is too hostile for most amplibian and reptile species the wood
frog can be found.
Fish
Predatory species such as the northern pike prey on species that include lake whitefish
and white chub. Several species, including white sturgeon, pink salmon, chum salmon,
coho salmon, and sockeye salmon, come inland to spawn.
Molluscs
Three of the molluscs found here are the valve snail, muskeg stagnicola, and arctic-alpine
fingernail clam.
Humans
Mining has historically been economically important for this ecozone, the Klondike gold
rush being the best known incident. Most mines have closed down recently, and forestry is
becoming more important. Wherever mines have been, their toxic tailings and
environmental damage have long-lasting effects.
Montane Cordillera:
Location
This ecozone covers most of southern British Columbia and some of southwestern
Alberta.
Climate
This is the most diverse of the country's ecozones in all respects. The effects of two
mountain ranges means that climate varies in all three dimensions. The average annual
temperatures in the north of the ecozone is 0.5ºC, in the south 7.5ºC. The dry summers
and wetter winters alike are mild, though increased elevation brings lower temperatures.
The Coast Mountains force air masses to rise, where they cool off and lose their moisture
as rain or snow, a phenomenon known as orographic precipitation. The western side of
the Coast Mountains receives 1200 to 1500mm of precipitation in this way, while the
eastern side receives only 300mm in the south and 500 to 800mm in the north and interior
due to the dry air that makes it over the mountains. The Rocky Mountains at the eastern
edge of the ecozone again catch precipitation, bringing 1200mm of precipitation annually
to the western side of the mountains.
Geology and Geography
The mountains that make up much of the ecozone are formed of faulted sedimentary rock.
The plains and valleys here often consist of glacial moraine or deposits from ancient
lakes.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
Plants in the ecozone are as varied as the landforms they grow on. Vegetation that may
be common in one area are often completely absent from another. Trees in the area
includeEngelmann spruce, alpine fir, interior Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, western white
pine, Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine, trembling aspen, western hemlock, Rocky
Mountain red cedar, balsam poplar, paper birch, black spruce, white spruce, and western
larch. Some of the other species found here are sagebrush, rabbitbrush, antelopebush, mountain avens, bunchgrass, pine grass, and bluebunch wheat grass.
Animals
Mammals
The large herbivores include caribou, mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose, mountain
goat,California bighorn sheep, and American elk. The large carnivores are the black
bear, grizzly bear,wolf, lynx, bobcat, and cougar. Some of the small herbivores here
are hoary marmot, yellowbelly marmot, Columbian ground squirrel, beaver, goldenmantled squirrel, yellow pine chipmunk,redtail chipmunk, beaver, northern bog lemming,
and pika. Small carnivores that are found here include coyote, red
fox, marten, wolverine, muskrat, badger, marten, mink, pallid bat, and striped skunk.
Birds
Birds of prey such as northern saw-whet owl, short-eared owl, long-eared owl, burrowing
owl,cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, northern goshawk, and turkey
vulture are found here. The shorebirds and seabirds of the area include long-billed
curlew, spotted sandpiper,american bittern, common snipe, killdeer, and black
tern. Songbirds of the Montane Cordillera include Stellar’s jay, black-billed magpie, sage
thrasher, white-throated swift, red-winged blackbird, cedar waxwing, cassin's finch, house
finch, purple finch, brown creeper, and American dipper. Waterfowl that are found here
include sandhill crane, northern pintail, blue-winged teal,mallard, gadwall, redhead, ringnecked duck, canvasback, and Canada goose. The birds of the forest include blue
grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, spruce grouse, chukar, California quail, Lewis' woodpecker,
and downy woodpecker.
Amphibians and Reptiles
Some of the characteristic frogs and toads of the area are the wood frog, spotted frog,
and western toad. One of the salamander species present here is the long-toed
salamander. Snakes found in the region include rubber boa, common garter
snake, racer, western rattlesnake, night snake, andwestern terrestrial garter snake. One of
the lizards found here is the western skink.
Fish
Fish species that live in the ecozone include lake whitefish, chiselmouth, lake chub,
peamouth, leopard dace, and redside shiner. White sturgeon and sockeye salmon both
come to freshwater to spawn.
Molluscs
Molluscs found here include pig-toe, western-river pearl mussel, western floater,
and arctic-alpine fingernail clam.
Insects
A few of the insects that live here are red turpentine beetle, boreal spittlebug, spring
azure,mourning cloak, and migratory grasshopper.
Humans
Cattle grazing, forestry and mining are three of the major activities here. These and
population growth all put pressure on the natural systems and even the many provincial
parks in the ecozone through encroachment and habitat fragmentation. Tourism is also
having an increasingly large effect on the area.
Hudson Plains:
Location
The Hudson Plains stretch from Manitoba to Quebec along the southern edge of Hudson
Bay.
Climate
Canada contains a quarter of the world's wetlands, and the Hudson Plains ecozone's poor
drainage has resulted in the largest continuous wetlands in the world. Hudson's Bay
moderates the temperature in summer, but the ice that covers it in winter prevents most of
this; average summer temperatures are 11ºC, but in winter the average temperature is 18ºC. Precipitation ranges from 400mm in the northwest to 800mm in the southeast.
Geology and Geography
The terrain here is flat, and the poor drainage encourages the creation of wetlands and
bogs. Palaeozoic and Proterozoic sedimentary bedrock slopes gradually towards Hudson
Bay.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
Vegetation here follows two basic patterns. The first ranges from north to south; in the
north, the terrain is treeless tundra, but in the more southern taiga trees appear, getting
thicker as one keeps moving south. The second pattern follows altitude. Because the
drainage here is poor, trees are only found at the drier higher altitudes, while the lower
altitudes lack trees. This results in belts of trees following the ridges in striking patterns.
Some characteristic tree species are black spruce,white spruce, tamarack, balsam
poplar, dwarf birch, paper birch, shining willow, Bebb willow, andtrembling aspen. Other
plants include eriacaceous shrubs, cottongrass, sphagnum moss, northern Labrador tea,
lapland rosebay, black crowberry, blueberry, cloudberry, arctic aven, purple saxifrage,
prickly saxifrage, lousewort, reindeer moss, and caribou lichen.
Animals
Diversity is highest in summer, when migrating birds appear in huge numbers to breed.
The region is more famous for its biting insect population, which takes advantage of the
poor drainage to breed in huge numbers. A single hectare is estimated to be able to
produce ten million black flies, no-see-ums and other biting insects!
Mammals
Characteristic large herbivores include caribou, mule deer, white-tailed
deer, moose, mountain goat, and California bighorn sheep. Large carnivores that are
found here include black bear,grizzly bear, polar bear, wolf, and lynx. The small
herbivores include hoary marmot, Columbian ground squirrel, brown lemming, snowshoe
hare, beaver. The small carnivores of the Hudson Plains include coyote, red fox, arctic
fox, fisher, marten, mink, wolverine, hoary bat, red bat, andriver otter. Some aquatic
mammals that can be found are bearded seals, harbour seals, ringed seals, beluga,
and bowhead whales.
Birds
Some of the characteristic birds of prey are northern goshawk, boreal owl, short-eared
owl, red-tailed hawk, common nighthawk, and merlin. Shorebirds and seabirds that are
found here includesemipalmated sandpiper, spotted sandpiper, pectoral
sandpiper, american bittern, common snipe,killdeer, and yellow rail. The songbirds of the
region include Stellar’s jay, black-billed magpie,Smith's longspur, common
redpoll, common crow, rusty blackbird, and tree swallow. Waterfowl such as Canada
goose, snow goose, American black duck, northern pintail, tundra swan, green-winged
teal, mallard, American black duck, and ring-necked duck are found here. Birds of the
forest include blue grouse, ruffed grouse, willow ptarmigan, northern flicker, and downy
woodpecker.
Amphibians and Reptiles
Three frog species that live in the Hudson Plains are the striped chorus frog, northern
leopard frog, and wood frog.
Fish
Predators such as lake sturgeon, brook trout, northern pike, and walleye prey on such
species as lake herring, lake whitefish, lake chub, pearl dace, and ninespine stickleback.
Molluscs
Both the muskeg stagnicola and arctic-alpine fingernail clam can be found here.
Insects
The Hudson Plains are notorious for their populations of biting insects.
Humans
A lack of timber and minerals means that tourism and subsistence activities are the means
by which the 10 000 people who live here make their living.
Prairies:
Location
The Prairies cover the south of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Climate
The Prairies are the northernmost branch of the Great Plains of North America and the
most altered of the ecozones. The mountains to the west block much of the precipitation
that would otherwise fall. That and the high winds make this ecozone very dry, although
precipitation does generally increase towards the east. Temperatures are extreme due to
the lack of access to the ocean's buffering. Winter temperatures average -10ºC and
summers average 15ºC.
Geology and
Geography
Glaciation has left its mark on the
Prairies, flattening the landscape
and leaving deposits from inland
seas left behind by melting
glaciers. These deposits are now
the fertile plains that largely define
the Breadbasket of Canada. Huge
numbers of small temporary
wetlands form in years with high
precipitation. Gas and oil is
plentiful in the region.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
Almost 95% of the Prairies have
been converted into farmland, with
predictable effects on the original
plant populations. Trees and
shrubs are most commonly found
in the eastern region. Trees found
in the Prairies include white
spruce, black spruce, balsam fir, tamarack, water birch, Bebb willow, peachleaf willow,
wolf willow, lodgepole pine, box elder, choke cherry, black cottonwood,eastern
cottonwood, bur oak, trembling aspen, and balsam poplar. Just a few of the other plants
that grow here are spear grass, wheat, blue grama grass, sagebrush, yellow cactus,
prickly pear, buckbrush, chokecherry, Saskatoon berry bush, alkali grass, wild barley, red
sampire, sea blite, Parry oat grass, June grass, yellow bean, sticky geranium, bedstraw,
chickweed, needle grass, thread grass, snowberry, American silverberry, rose, silverberry,
dryland sedge, black hawthorn, greasewood, plains larkspur , death camas, wild lupine,
smooth aster, prairie sedge, and cattail .
Animals
The widespread alteration of the natural habitat has resulted in diminished populations
and ranges of many animals, and the Prairies contain a disproportionate number of
threatened and endangered species.
Mammals
The only large carnivore in the Prairies is the black bear. Large herbivores
include whitetail deer (a recent invader), mule deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, and moose.
Small carnivores include coyote,badger, red fox, longtail weasel, mink, river otter, blackfooted ferret, and striped skunk. Rodents are numerous, such as the black-tailed prairie
dog, white-tailed jack rabbit, snowshoe hare,Richardson’s ground squirrel, Franklin’s
ground squirrel, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, least chipmunk, northern pocket
gopher, olive-backed pocket mouse, Ord's kangaroo rat, white-footed mouse and beaver.
Birds
Some of the birds of prey are the ferruginous hawk, red-tailed hawk, Swainson’s
hawk, burrowing owl, northern saw-whet owl, short-eared owl, long-eared owl, and turkey
vulture. Songbirds include black-billed magpie, northern oriole, Audubon’s
warbler, grasshopper sparrow, lark sparrow, ruby-throated hummingbird, cedar
waxwing, lark bunting, chestnut-collared longspur, andblack-billed cuckoo. Birds of the
forest that are found here include ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, sage
grouse, northern flicker, downy woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, and western
meadowlark. Some of the waterfowl found here are the American avocet, great blue
heron, snow goose, Canada goose, northern pintail, blue-winged
teal, mallard, gadwall, redhead, western grebe, lesser scaup, ring-necked
duck, canvasback, Eskimo curlew, piping plover, and whooping crane.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Among the amphibians that can be found here are the northern leopard frog, striped
chorus frog,plains spadefoot, American toad, great plains toad, and tiger salamander. The
area has several species of snakes and lizards, including the plains garter snake, gopher
snake, western rattlesnake, western terrestrial garter snake, short-horned lizard,
and prairie skink.
Fish
Predatory fish in the Prairie waterways include northern pike, carp, and sauger. They prey
on such fish as the lake whitefish, goldeye, lake chub, brassy minnow, emerald shiner
and yellow perch.
Insects
Just a few of the insects are the German cockroach, boreal spittlebug, silver-spotted
skipper, spring azure, American copper, monarch butterfly, mourning cloak, eastern black
swallowtail,migratory grasshopper, and pallid-winged grasshopper.
Molluscs
Three of the mollusc species in the Prairies are the valve snail, umbilicate promenetus,
andglobular pea clam.
Humans
The Prairies are the most altered of the ecozones. Agriculture covers almost all of the
land, and almost none of the original ecosystems are left aside from tiny remnants.
Despite the huge amounts of land given over to farming, farmers comprise less than 10%
of the four million people, and 80% of the population lives in urban areas. Mining and
services are the employers of most of the population.
Mixedwood Plains:
Location
The Mixedwood Plains extends along the Quebec City-Windsor corridor, including the
densely-populated region of southern Ontario.
Climate
Smallest of the ecozones, the Mixedwood Plains is nonetheless home to half of Canada's
population. Its cool winters (average temperature -5ºC) and warm summers (average
temperature 17ºC) are prone to highly changeable weather, as the ecozone is in one of
the major storm tracks of North America.
Geology and Geography
Plains and gently rolling hills are found here. Several major waterways and lakes, from
three of the great lakes to the St. Lawrence river and its tributaries, dominate much of the
region. Deposits from ancient water bodies and glaciers make the soil here the most
productive in Canada. Carbonate-rich Paleozoic bedrock characterizes the geology of the
Mixedwood Plains.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
Urbanization and agriculture have reduced the ancient forests drastically. A mix of
coniferous and deciduous trees are found here. Some of the coniferous trees
include white pine, red pine, eastern hemlock, black spruce, eastern red cedar,
and eastern white cedar. Sugar maple, red maple, striped maple, silver maple, red
oak, white oak, chestnut oak, chinquapin oak, white elm, slippery elm, yellow birch, paper
birch, black walnut, butternut, eastern cottonwood, trembling aspen,balsam poplar,
basswood, blue ash, black ash, sassafras, tulip tree, sycamore, cucumber-tree,shagbark
hickory, bitternut hickory, red mulberry, and Kentucky coffee-tree are some of the
deciduous trees. Other plants include the downy serviceberry.
Animals
Mammals
The largest carnivores in the ecozone are the black bear, wolf and bobcat, while the large
herbivores are the moose and white-tailed deer. The smaller carnivores that can be found
includecoyote, muskrat, raccoon, skunk, red fox, and river otter. Some of the smaller
herbivores here are the grey squirrel, black squirrel, red squirrel, southern flying
squirrel, eastern cottontail, snowshoe hare, beaver, white-footed mouse, southern bog
lemming, and groundhog (woodchuck). The only marsupial is the opossum. Various
whales, including the beluga, can be seen in the waters of the St-Lawrence seaway.
Birds
Characteristic birds of prey include red-shouldered hawk, cooper's hawk, broad-winged
hawk,northern goshawk, screech owl, northern saw-whet owl, short-eared owl, long-eared
owl, andturkey vulture. Among the numerous songbirds are the red-winged
blackbird, grasshopper sparrow, Baltimore oriole, Carolina wren, ruby-throated
hummingbird, cedar waxwing, whip-poor-will, Henslow’s sparrow, purple
finch, cardinal, blue jay, brown creeper, and sedge wren. Some of the birds of the forest
include ruffed grouse, wild turkey, northern flicker, northern bobwhite, wood
thrush, mourning dove, downy woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, and pileated
woodpecker. Waterfowl include Canada goose, green heron, great blue heron, American
black duck, wood duck, northern pintail, blue-winged teal, and mallard. Some of the
shorebirds are the spotted sandpiper, upland sandpiper, american bittern, common
snipe, killdeer, black tern, and yellow rail.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Many species of reptiles and amphibians are found here. The frogs and toads that live in
the Mixedwood Plains include the tetraploid gray treefrog, striped chorus frog, northern
leopard frog,wood frog, bullfrog, green frog, pickerel frog, American toad, and spring
peeper. Several salamander and newt species, such as the mudpuppy, eastern
newt, blue-spotted salamander,Jefferson salamander, yellow-spotted salamander,
and eastern redback salamander, live here. Eight species of turtles are common to the
area, including stinkpot, common snapping turtle, wood turtle, map turtle, spotted
turtle, spiny softshell, blanding's turtle, and painted turtle. The most common snake is
the eastern garter snake, but other snakes include eastern ribbon snake, Butler's garter
snake, northern water snake, redbelly snake, smooth green snake, ringneck snake, brown
snake, eastern hognose snake, massasauga, and queen snake. The sole lizard is the fivelined skink.
Fish
The large number of introduced fish is largely the result of shipping and canals, which
have allowed invasive species to move through the area. Lampreys are the most famous
of the invasive fish in the Great Lakes. Predatory fish in the waters of the area include lake
sturgeon, longnose gar, walleye, bowfin, white perch (introduced), brown trout, brook
trout, lake trout, common carp (introduced), Atlantic tomcod, northern pike, muskellunge,
and largemouth bass. They prey on such fish as the cisco (lake herring), lake whitefish,
central mudminnow, and golden shiner. The anadramous fish, who live in the ocean but
come into freshwater to breed, include kokanee (sockeye) salmon, rainbow smelt
(introduced), alewife, sea lamprey (introduced), American brook lamprey, silver lamprey,
and northern brook lamprey.
Molluscs
The molluscs include the brown mystery snail, valve snail, ordinary spire snail, river-bank
looping snail, great lakes horn snail, oval lake-limpet, black sand-shell, eastern elliptio,
and olive hickory-nut. The zebra mussel, a relatively recent invader, has caused
widespread damage to natural and human systems in the Great Lakes.
Insects
Some of the insects found here are the German cockroach, American cockroach, eastern
metallic green wood borer, red turpentine beetle, European earwig, boreal
spittlebug, silver-spotted skipper, spring azure, american copper, monarch
butterfly, mourning cloak, eastern black swallowtail, European mantis, migratory
grasshopper, and walking stick.
Humans
Half of Canada's population lives here, and it contains the country's two largest cities,
Toronto and Montreal. Agricultural land is steadily being covered by cities, and the
population density has led to some of the highest levels of pollution in the country.
Ecological degradation is extensive, due to industry and the population size. Many species
have been introduced to the ecozone and some, most notably the sea lamprey and zebra
mussel, are very detrimental to other species.
Pacific Maritime:
Location
The Pacific Maritime ecozone lies along British Columbia's coast and its border with
Alaska.
Climate
The Pacific Maritime ecozone is Canada's western coastline. Here is where one finds the
wettest weather, tallest trees, and deepest fjords in the country. Being so close to the
Pacific Ocean, the climate is extremely altered. Summers are cooler, winters more mild.
Summer temperatures average 13ºC, while winters average -1.5ºC; there is less
difference between winter and summer temperatures here than elsewhere in the country.
The mountains block most of the precipitation that clouds would bring to the interior, so
precipitation can exceed 4000 mm a year in the north, although some areas get far less
than that. The Gulf Islands in the south by contrast receive only 600 mm a year.
Geology and Geography
The Coast Mountains rise steeply from the fjords and channels on the coast, and glaciers
are found at higher elevations. These mountains are still young, and even where they are
not very tall, as on the Queen Charlotte Islands and Vancouver Island, they are still
extremely rugged. As part of the "Ring of Fire" that surrounds the Pacific Ocean, magma
is close to the surface here. Instead of dangerous volcanoes, hot springs are the rule.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
The rainfall and mild temperatures lead to record-breaking trees, both in size and age.
Temperate rain forests are common at lower altitudes, but high altitudes lead to stunted
trees, and eventually no trees at all above the treeline. Some of the tree species found
here are western red cedar, yellow cedar, western hemlock, mountain hemlock, western
yew, coast Douglas fir, amabilis fir, grand fir, coast redwood, Sitka spruce, red
alder, lodgepole pine, western white pine , shore pine, Engelmann spruce, Garry oak,
andpacific dogwood. Other plants in the ecozone include salal, Oregon
grape, arbutus, sword fern, skunk cabbage, salmonberry, devil’s club, western bleeding
heart, red huckleberry, old man’s beard, red elderberry, calypso orchid, and Viola
langsdorfii
Animals: Mammals
Some of the characteristic large herbivores include black-tailed deer, mule
deer, elk, moose,caribou and mountain goat. The large carnivores of the Pacific Maritime
are black bear, grizzly bear, wolf, and mountain lion, Smaller herbivores such
as beaver, snowshoe hare, American pika,applodontia, hoary marmot, Vancouver
marmot, townsend chipmunk, and chickaree can be found here. The small carnivores
include wolverine, mink, river otter, spotted skunk, raccoon, red fox, andmarten. Aquatic
mammals here include northern sea lion, northern fur seal, Alaska fur seal,harbour
seal, elephant seal, California sea lion, giant beaked whale, sperm whale, grey whale,
orca, Pacific pilot whale, and blue whale.
Birds
Some of the characteristic birds of prey are northern pigmy owl, northern saw-whet
owl, short-eared owl, long-eared owl, turkey vulture, bald eagle, and red-tailed hawk.
Shorebirds and seabirds that are found here include American black oystercatcher, tufted
puffin, glaucous-winged gull, pelagic cormorant, spotted sandpiper, common snipe, pigeon
guillemot, rhinoceros auklet, and killdeer. The waterfowl of the region include great blue
heron, wood duck, northern pintail,blue-winged teal, mallard, Canada goose, trumpeter
swan, and sandhill crane. Some of the songbirds that are found here are chestnut-backed
chickadee, Steller’s jay, northwestern crow,red-winged blackbird, cedar waxwing, purple
finch, brown creeper, American dipper, and brewer's blackbird. The birds of the forest
include California quail, mountain quail, spruce grouse, ruffed grouse, blue grouse, Lewis'
woodpecker, band-tailed pigeon, and downy woodpecker.
Amphibians and Reptiles
The moist conditions of the Pacific Maritime allow many amphibians to thrive. A few of the
frog and toad species are the western toad, red-legged frog, pacific treefrog, wood frog,
and tailed frog. Some of the characteristic salamanders and newts are the roughskin
newt, long-toed salamander,northwestern salamander, pacific giant salamander, western
redback salamander, andEschscholtz's salamander. The turtles of the ecozone
include leatherback turtle and green turtle. Some snakes and lizards that are found here
are the garter snake, western terrestrial garter snake,sharptail snake, northwestern garter
snake, and northern aligator lizard.
Fish
Pacific salmon, pacific herring, pacific halibut, steelhead, cutthroat trout, dolly varden,
rainbow smelt, peamouth, and coastrange sculpin are some of the fish that live here.
Some of the species that enter freshwater to spawn are western brook lamprey, pacific
lamprey, river lamprey, green sturgeon, white sturgeon, pink salmon, chum salmon, coho
salmon, and sockeye salmon.
Molluscs
The oval lake-limpet, western-river pearl mussel, western floater and arctic-alpine
fingernail clamare some of the molluscs that live here.
Insects: A few of the insects that are found here are red turpentine beetle, Nicrophorus
sayi, European earwig, spring azure, American copper, monarch butterfly, mourning cloak,
and migratory grasshopper.
Humans: Human activities have an enormous effect on the Pacific Maritime ecozone.
Two and a half million people live in this ecozone, and the population continues to grow by
leaps and bounds. The resulting urban growth has severely strained ecosystems in the
areas around the major urban centres. Forestry also threatens many systems and
overfishing does much the same in the coastal waters.
Atlantic Maritime:
Location
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island are completely within the Atlantic
Maritime ecozone, along with the Gaspe peninsula.
Climate
Covering Quebec's Gaspé peninsula and the entirety of Prince Edward Island, Nova
Scotia, and New Brunswick, this ecozone's climate is strongly influence by the Atlantic
Ocean, which produces cooler summers and warmer winters. Winter temperatures
average -5ºC and summers average 14ºC, with coastal areas having slightly warmer
winters and cooler summers than inland. The Atlantic also provides moisture to the region,
producing mean precipitation of 900mm a year inland and over 1500mm a year on the
coast; this high precipitation also means that the region has more storms than anywhere
else in the country.
Geology and Geography
Geologically, this region is a mix of sedimentary and
igneous bedrock. Inhospitable igneous highlands form
much of the interior of the many peninsulas that form this
ecozone. Acid soils found here support vast forests, but are
poor for agriculture, and the cold wet climate prevents
many people from living in this part of the ecozone. The
coastal lowlands, overlying sedimentary bedrock, are far
more accessible, have better soils for agriculture, and a
milder climate. Not surprisingly, the lowlands are where
most of the ecozone's human population lives.
Flora and Fauna
Plants
Little old growth forest remains in this ecozone after
centuries of farming and agriculture. Nevertheless, it is very
densely forested with second- and third-growth forests. The
forests include such conifers as red spruce, black spruce, white spruce, balsam fir, red
pine, jack pine, eastern white pine, tamarack, eastern white cedar, andeastern hemlock.
The deciduous trees here include yellow birch, white birch, paper birch, sugar maple, red
maple, striped maple, balsam poplar, pin cherry, speckled alder, beech, black ash,white
ash, butternut, ironwood, basswood, white elm, and red oak. Just a few of the other plants
in the Atlantic Maritime are the steeplebush, blueberry, sphagnum moss, kalmia heath,
smooth serviceberry (smooth juneberry), violets, wild lupins, starflower, trailing arbutus,
lady slipper, pitcher plant, ostrich fern, and purple loosestrife, which was introduced and
has become quite a problem in the area's waterways.
Animals
Mammals
The only large carnivores found here are the black bear, lynx, and bobcat. The most
common large herbivores are the whitetail deer and moose. Small carnivores in the area
include red fox, muskrat,raccoon, striped skunk, marten, fisher, coyote, mink and river
otter. Many small herbivores, including the eastern
chipmunk, beaver, porcupine, snowshoe hare, northern flying squirrel,woodchuck,
and southern bog lemming. The numerous species of aquatic mammals found in the
waters off the coast are extremely popular among tourists, and include harbour seal, gray
seal,hooded seal, harp seal, orca, northern bottlenosed whale, and blue whale.
Birds
Characteristic birds of prey include osprey, Cooper's hawk, broad-winged hawk, common
nighthawk, northern goshawk, northern saw-whet owl, short-eared owl, and long-eared
owl. A few of the many songbirds are the red-winged blackbird, ruby-throated
hummingbird, cedar waxwing,whip-poor-will, purple finch, brown creeper, black-billed
cuckoo, blue jay, eastern bluebird, rose-crested grosbeak, and cardinal. Other birds of the
forest include the ruffed grouse, spruce grouse,northern flicker, downy woodpecker,
and pileated woodpecker. Waterfowl include the great blue heron, Canada
goose, American bittern, common snipe, ring-necked duck, wood duck, American black
duck, northern pintail, and blue-winged teal. Seabirds and shorebirds of the Atlantic
Maritime ecozone include the great cormorant, double-crested cormorant, Atlantic
puffin, common murre,thick-billed murre, black guillemot, razorbill, herring gull, spotted
sandpiper, common snipe, andkilldeer.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Frogs and toads of the region are the American toad, northern leopard frog, mink
frog, green frog,pickerel frog, wood frog, and the tiny but extremely vocal spring peeper.
Five species of salamanders and newt are found here: yellow-spotted salamander, bluespotted salamander,dusky salamander, eastern redback salamander, and eastern newt.
There are more species of marine turtles (loggerhead turtle, leatherback turtle,
and Atlantic ridley) than freshwater turtles (common snapping turtle and wood turtle) here.
All four species of snakes are harmless to humans. They include the maritime garter
snake, smooth green snake, redbelly snake, andringneck snake.
Fish
Some of the predatory fish of the ecozone are brook trout and Atlantic tomcod. They prey
upon the rainbow smelt, golden shiner, common shiner, creek chub, and mummichog,
among others. A few of the marine species that return to freshwater to spawn include sea
lamprey, Atlantic sturgeon, alewife, Atlantic salmon, and American eel. Species that are
found in the marine waters off the coast are covered in the Atlantic Marine and Northwest
Atlantic Marine ecozones.
Crustaceans
The waters of the region are well known for their many lobster, crab and shrimp fisheries.
Molluscs
A few of the species found here are the brown mystery snail, valve snail, ordinary spire
snail,eastern physa, and eastern elliptio. In addition, the waters off the coast are known for
their clams and scallops.
Insects
Some of the insects in the Atlantic Maritime, both famous and obscure, are the German
cockroach,American cockroach, eastern metallic green wood borer, European
earwig, boreal spittlebug,spring azure, American copper, monarch butterfly, mourning
cloak, eastern black swallowtail, andmigratory grasshopper.
Humans
Fishing was the base of the economy in this ecozone for centuries, until overfishing
caused the crash of several major fish stocks. Agriculture is only possible where good soil
is available (potato farms on PEI are the most famous), but is still an important part of the
economy. Forestry has also been important economically, and most of the forests here
have been logged at least once. Half of the 2.5 million people who live here live in rural
areas, far above the national average.