Canada’s 15 Canada’s 15 Terrestrial EcozonesTerrestrial Ecozones

What is an Ecozone?What is an Ecozone?

• It is a geographic zone that can be It is a geographic zone that can be defined by similar characteristicsdefined by similar characteristics

• The characteristics can include: The characteristics can include: landforms, climate, soils, vegetation, landforms, climate, soils, vegetation, wildlife, and human activitywildlife, and human activity

• Canada has 15 ecozonesCanada has 15 ecozones

Arctic CordilleraArctic Cordillera

Pond Inlet, Baffin Island

Bylot Island

Ice Tongue, Ellesmere Island

Arctic CordilleraArctic Cordillera

• Northern Nunavut, including sections Northern Nunavut, including sections of Baffin Island and Ellesmere Islandof Baffin Island and Ellesmere Island

• Most inhospitable ecozoneMost inhospitable ecozone• Little to no vegetationLittle to no vegetation• About 1,000 permanent residents, About 1,000 permanent residents,

mostly Inuitmostly Inuit• Too harsh for reptiles, amphibians or Too harsh for reptiles, amphibians or

insectsinsects

Arctic Wolf

Snowy Owl Walrus

Northern ArcticNorthern Arctic

Arctic Landscape during summer months

Barren Land Caribou

Polar Bear Pass, Bathurst Island

Snow Goose

Northern ArcticNorthern Arctic

• Northern Nunavut and NWTNorthern Nunavut and NWT

• Coldest and driest ecozoneColdest and driest ecozone

• There is total permafrost, and this There is total permafrost, and this can extend to over 1km in thicknesscan extend to over 1km in thickness

• Little vegetationLittle vegetation

Southern ArcticSouthern Arctic

Wetlands, Yukon Polar Bear

Arctic Hare

Southern ArcticSouthern Arctic

• Northern edge of continental NWT Northern edge of continental NWT and northern Quebecand northern Quebec

• Landscape formed through glaciationLandscape formed through glaciation

• The tree line is at the very south The tree line is at the very south edge of this ecozoneedge of this ecozone

• Population is around 10,000Population is around 10,000

Taiga PlainTaiga PlainBeaver pond in Northern Alberta

Keg River, Alberta

Western Toad (found only in BC and the Yukon

Moose

Taiga PlainTaiga Plain

• Centred around the Mackenzie RiverCentred around the Mackenzie River

• Population is around 22,000, with Population is around 22,000, with most people making their income off most people making their income off the land – mining, forestry, etc.the land – mining, forestry, etc.

Taiga ShieldTaiga Shield

Osprey

Lynx

American Marten

Taiga ShieldTaiga Shield

• Stretches eastward from NWT to Stretches eastward from NWT to QuebecQuebec

• Part of the Canadian Shield, which Part of the Canadian Shield, which has some of the world’s oldest rock has some of the world’s oldest rock depositsdeposits

• Landforms include: wetlands, shrub Landforms include: wetlands, shrub lands and forestslands and forests

Boreal ShieldBoreal Shield

Lower Laurentians, Quebec

Shawbridge, Quebec

Saguenay Fjord, Quebec

Boreal ShieldBoreal Shield

• Largest ecozone in Canada (reaches Largest ecozone in Canada (reaches across Alberta, Saskatchewan, across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and NewfoundlandNewfoundland

• Glaciers responsible for wetlands, Glaciers responsible for wetlands, lakes in the arealakes in the area

• Many diverse landscapesMany diverse landscapes

Great Blue Heron

Eastern Red Cedar

Beaver

American Black Bear

Atlantic MaritimeAtlantic Maritime

Harbour Seal

(top and left) Gooseberry Bay, Nova Scotia

Atlantic MaritimeAtlantic Maritime

• Comprises the Maritime provincesComprises the Maritime provinces

• Very high precipitation rates – this Very high precipitation rates – this area is home to the most storms in area is home to the most storms in all of Canadaall of Canada

• New Brunswick is densely forested, New Brunswick is densely forested, and that industry is very large in this and that industry is very large in this ecozone, in addition to fisheriesecozone, in addition to fisheries

Mixedwood PlainsMixedwood Plains

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Raccoon

Groundhog

Killdeer

Mixedwood PlainsMixedwood Plains

• Southern Ontario and QuebecSouthern Ontario and Quebec

• Most heavily populated ecozoneMost heavily populated ecozone

• Major land use is agricultureMajor land use is agriculture

• Smallest ecozoneSmallest ecozone

• Highly changeable weather patternsHighly changeable weather patterns

Boreal PlainBoreal PlainBuffalo Jump Prov. Park, Alberta

Great Horned Owl

Alberta landscape

American Badger

Boreal PlainBoreal Plain

• Population around 750,000 scattered Population around 750,000 scattered in small communitiesin small communities

• Canada’s oil and gas industryCanada’s oil and gas industry

• Located in the central to northern Located in the central to northern sections of the Prairie Provincessections of the Prairie Provinces

• Rocky Mountains create rainshadow Rocky Mountains create rainshadow effecteffect

Prairie PlainPrairie PlainAlberta Hay Field

Long-tailed Weasel

Canola Field

The Bad Lands

Prairie PlainPrairie Plain

• Southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and ManitobaManitoba

• Major land use is agricultureMajor land use is agriculture• 80 per cent of the population resides 80 per cent of the population resides

in citiesin cities• Glaciers formed landscape – the Glaciers formed landscape – the

“Bread Basket” created when an “Bread Basket” created when an inland lake dried up leaving fertile inland lake dried up leaving fertile landland

Taiga CordilleraTaiga Cordillera

Mountain Goat

Gyrfalcon

American Pika

Taiga CordilleraTaiga Cordillera

• The border between Yukon and NWTThe border between Yukon and NWT

• This area represents the most This area represents the most northern section of the Rocky northern section of the Rocky MountainsMountains

• Landforms consist of mountains and Landforms consist of mountains and valleysvalleys

Boreal CordilleraBoreal Cordillera

Glacier in YukonKluane Lake, Yukon

Kaskawalsh Glacier, Kluane

Boreal CordilleraBoreal Cordillera

• Southern Yukon and northern British Southern Yukon and northern British ColumbiaColumbia

• Mining is a primary industry Mining is a primary industry (Klondike Gold Rush)(Klondike Gold Rush)

• Landforms include: mountains, Landforms include: mountains, plateaus and valleysplateaus and valleys

Kluane Lake, Yukon

Whitebark Pine

Arctic Ground Squirrel

Pacific MaritimePacific Maritime

California Sea Lion

Mountain Lion (Cougar)

Salmon Glacier, BC

BC Rainforest

Pacific MaritimePacific Maritime

• Comprises BC’s west coastComprises BC’s west coast

• This ecozone has the wettest This ecozone has the wettest weather and tallest trees in Canadaweather and tallest trees in Canada

• Climate is dictated by Pacific OceanClimate is dictated by Pacific Ocean

• There are still glaciers found in high There are still glaciers found in high elevationselevations

Montane CordilleraMontane CordilleraBurstall Pass

Jasper Provicial Park

Helmcken Falls (Wells Gray National Park, BC)

California Big Horn Sheep

Wolverine

Montane CordilleraMontane Cordillera

• Southern BC and western AlbertaSouthern BC and western Alberta

• The most diverse ecozone because of The most diverse ecozone because of its 2 mountain rangesits 2 mountain ranges

• Susceptible to orographic (relief) Susceptible to orographic (relief) precipitationprecipitation

• Many national parks (e.g., Banff, Many national parks (e.g., Banff, Jasper)Jasper)

Hudson PlainsHudson PlainsBearded Seal

Balsam PoplarAmerican Mink

Hudson PlainsHudson Plains

• Area surrounding Hudson BayArea surrounding Hudson Bay

• This area represents the largest This area represents the largest system of natural wetlands in the system of natural wetlands in the worldworld

• Large vegetation (trees) found only Large vegetation (trees) found only at higher and drier elevationsat higher and drier elevations

Source:Source:

Canadian Biodiversity Website. (2012). Canadian Biodiversity Website. (2012). Retrieved from:Retrieved from:

http://canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/index.htm