Canada’s Vegetation Regions… at a glance

Prepared by: Miss Hetu

What region do you think this is?Think about the following characteristics that determine this vegetation region:Vegetation typesTemperaturePrecipitation Soil

NunavutNunavutTundraTundrawww.beringair.com/gallery/ tundra.jpg www.beringair.com/gallery/ tundra.jpg

North West Territories Tundra

http://www.protect-the-arctic.com/arctic_refuge.html

Tundra Vegetation Types:

Small shrubs, mosses, lichens Temperature:

Very cold, short growing season (above 6°C) Precipitation:

Very dry (actually!) Soil Type:

Thin soil, waterlogged/poor drainage, and frozen/permafrost

Where in Canada could this be?

Again…think about these factors:Vegetation typesTemperaturePrecipitation Soil

B.C.B.C.West Coast ForestWest Coast Forestwww.danielareif.de/westcoastusaFrame.htmwww.danielareif.de/westcoastusaFrame.htm

Douglas Fir

B.C. West Coast Forest

www.sonic.net/~kerry/ forest.html

West Coast Forest Vegetation Types:

Rainforest, VERY large coniferous trees Temperature:

Mild climate (avg. 10°C) Precipitation:

Heavy rainfall Soil Type:

Lots of humus (layer of decomposing organic matter i.e. leaves, fallen trees, carcasses, etc.)

View from the top of the Rockies… Vegetation types Temperature Precipitation Soil

B.C./Alb.B.C./Alb.Cordilleran VegetationCordilleran Vegetationhttp://www.ecoexplorer.ca/cordillera.htmlhttp://www.ecoexplorer.ca/cordillera.html

Below the mountain…

B.C. Cordilleran Vegetation

http://www.pfc.forestry.ca/ecology/ferns/sicamous/index_e.html

Cordilleran Vegetation Types:

Variable: grasses in dry/hot valleys, coniferous trees in lower valleys, and tundra-like above the tree line

Temperature:

Warmer in valleys, dry/hot valleys on the rain- shadow side of mountains, and cooler higher up

Precipitation:

Heavier rain on the windward side and lower down the mountains

Soil Type:

Variable/Soils of all types

What region do all these coniferous trees belong to? Vegetation types Temperature Precipitation Soil

Northern On.Northern On.Boreal and Taiga ForestBoreal and Taiga Forestridge.icu.ac.jp/gen-ed/ biogeog-jpgs/taiga.jpg ridge.icu.ac.jp/gen-ed/ biogeog-jpgs/taiga.jpg

Notice how ‘stunted’ and scattered the trees are…

Manitoba (Near the ‘treeline’)Boreal and Taiga Forest ridge.icu.ac.jp/gen-ed/biogeog jpgs/taiga.jpg

Boreal and Taiga Forest Vegetation Types:

Coniferous trees, some deciduous in south Temperature:

Cold, short growing season (above 6°C) Precipitation:

Wet climate Soil Type:

Thin soil/little humus, acidic soil, leaching , and waterlogged/poor drainage in many parts

Few trees in this region… Vegetation types Temperature Precipitation Soil

Southern Man.Southern Man.GrasslandsGrasslandswww.laprensa-sandiego.org/www.laprensa-sandiego.org/

Some here and there maybe…

Southern Sask.

Grasslands

www.tarleton.edu/.../ shortgrassprairie.html

Grasslands Vegetation Types:

Long and short grasses, cactus, trees in valleys Temperature:

Cold winter, hot summer Precipitation:

Very dry to dry, high evaporation Soil Type:

Limited humus, calcified soils, good humus in southern parts

A little more ‘variety’ in this region… Vegetation types Temperature Precipitation Soil

Southern Que.Southern Que.Mixed ForestMixed Forest

www.greenhoot.com/summer.htmwww.greenhoot.com/summer.htm

Land cleared for agriculture…

Southern Ont. Mixed Forest

http://www.pfc.forestry.ca/canforest/canf/taiga1_e.html

Mixed Forest (HERE!!!) Vegetation Types:

Coniferous and Deciduous trees Temperature:

Temperate climate (not too hot, not too cold) Precipitation:

Regular and abundant rain Soil Type:

Good humus, little leaching, perfect for farming

The back yard…Vegetation typesTemperaturePrecipitationSoilHardly a trace remains of the this region’s unique forest, because of massive clearing in the last 200 years for agriculture and more and more for urbanization. Toronto - Southern Ont.Toronto - Southern Ont.

Deciduous ForestDeciduous Forestwww.life.uiuc.edu/.../04Ecosystems/ Deciduous.gifwww.life.uiuc.edu/.../04Ecosystems/ Deciduous.gif

Deciduous Forest Vegetation Types:

Deciduous trees Temperature:

Long hot summer, mild winter Precipitation:

Lots of rain Soil Type:

Humus-rich!, some leaching, most fertile soil in Canada

Technicolour Forest