ajci
the Connection
isozones
1UDY
GV4Z
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
• identify Canada’s ecozones and the
• relate the landforms, climate, 4
vegetation
criteria by which they were determined
and human activities to ecozones in
• describe and compare Canada’s ecozones
different parts of the country
• identify two characteristics that identify
why ecozones are useful
Key Term
ecozone
xamine Fig. 13-1. Each of these photographs
shows a different part
E
of Canada.The location of each photo is show
n on the map.A trav
eller
from a distant country would look at these
pictures and quickly
realize that each one represents a very different
kind of terrain that offers
a special combination of opportunities and chall
enges to the people who
live there. In the previous chapters, you
had a chance to learn about
Canada’s geologic history, landforms, clim
ate, soil, and natural vegeta
tion regions. In this chapter, you will have
the opportunity to see how
these natural regions, together with the ways
in which people and other
animals live in them, form new kinds of regio
ns called ecozones.
Areas can be grouped as separate ecological
zones based on the way Eccog s e st’ic o ‘v:rg
geologic, landform, soil, vegetation, climate,
ey
water, wildlife, and human
factors are linked to each other. Change
t eaci o’rjr c -e rñ-cj
in one part of the system will nant
result in adjustment in the rest of the syste
m. For example, a shift in
temperature within an ecosystem will affec
t the growth of plants which
jA
will in turn affect animals’ ability to obta
in food. Ecozones represent
such ecological units.
c 1an rno bt
The idea of dividing Canada into ecozones
is fairly recent. In fact, the zos
first map of Canadian ecozones was
not published until 1986, so it is
very unlikely that your parents or teach
ers would have learned about ‘‘?ecess’ =o”
them when they were in high school.
PHYSICAL
CONNECTIONS:
CANADAS
ECOZONES
COMPARING REGIONS
1.:
Completing Fig. 13-2 may help YOU to understand how Canada’s ecozones
were determjned.To do this, follow these steps for each of the photos in
Fig. 13-1, which represents a sampling of Canada’s 15 ecozones.
1. On the map in Fig. 13-1, check the location of each one of the
photos.
2. Determine which landform region is located here (see Fig. 10-1).
Copy Fig. 13-2 into your notebook and write this information.
3. Repeat this process for climate regions (Fig. 11—21), and soil
regions (Fig. 12—1) vegetation regions (Fig. 12—5).
4. Next, list any human activities you see in the photo.
1•
z Fig. 13-1 Clearly there are
enormous djfferences among
the djfferent landscapes of
Canada. In tills chapter, you
will hajie
tile
chance to learn
to use the idea of ecozones to
organize what we knou’ about
Canada’s land and how
people use it.
CHAPTER
13:
MAKING
THE
CONNECTIONS:
CANADA’S
5. Suggest any other human activities you are aware of that would
be common in this region.
6. How do you know that each photo represents a different
region?
V Fig. 13-
Photo
-
bndform
Region
Climate
Vegetation
Region
Soil
Region
Activities
Region
Shown’
2
3
:
*
Human activities shown in the photograph
Other human activities not shown in the photograph
**
As you have seen, each one of these photos represents a region that
is quite distinct; in fact, each represents one of Canada’s ecozones.
CANADA’S ECOZONES
Canada has an almost infinite number of different natural environments.
How can these be grouped into a manageable number of ecological
regions? In doing this, we face a variation of Goldilocks’ problem: how
many is too many, and how many is too few? We must decide on a
number that is “just right.” If too few zones are created, the result is inac
curate: any given zone will have environments within it that are very
different. On the other hand, if too many zones are created, the result
could be confusing: no one could hope to keep 30 or more zones clear
in their mind.
Scientists decided on 15 ecozones as a reasonable compromise
(Fig. 13-3).Any ecozone differs from its neighbours because of a combi
nation of several factors, including landforrns, climate, natural vegetation,
soils, wildlife, and human acdvities.To see how this works, let’s compare the
Boreal Shield ecozone and the Mixedwood Plains ecozone (Fig. 13-4).
We can see significant differences in factors such as the landforms and
human activities found in each. For other factors though, such as soil char
acteristics, there are few, if any, important differences. In other parts of
Canada, human activities might be relatively unimportant in establishing
ecozone boundaries.This would be the case, for example, with the Northern
Arctic and Southern Arctic ecozones. Here, however, there are differences
in climate, since the Northern Arctic is colder.
L
ir
Li
tl1
r ec Lr
-
PHYSICAL
CONNECTIONS:
CANADA’S
ECOZONES
1 Fig. 13-3 Canada’s
ecozones
Factor
Boreal Shield
Landforms
Climate
Vegetation
Soils
Wildlife (examples only)
Canadian Shield
Boreal Region
Evergreen and mixed forest
Wet climate, leached soils
Moose, black bear, lynx, boreal owl,
woodland caribou
Forestry, mining, trapping
Human activities
Mixedwood Plains
Great Lakes Lowlands
Southeastern Region
Deciduous and mixed forest
Wet climate, leached soils
Raccoon, skunk, great blue heron, grey
squirrel
Agriculture, urbanization
Why E c o z one s Are a Us e fu 1 I d e a
tendency to put
Before the concept of ecozones was created, people had a
rs”: one
the information about a particular place into separate “ifie folde
facts about
for landform information, another for climate data, a third for
ept allows
the population characteristics, and so on. The ecozone conc
ue parts of
us to bring together a collection of information about uniq
rmation folder”
Canada. Each ecozone can be thought of as a single “info
da. In this
into which we can put all that we learn about an area of Cana
z Fig. 13-4 The Mixedwood
Plains and Boreal Shield
ecozones are next to each
other, yet are very djfferent in
many ways.
CHAPTER
13:
MAKING
THE
CONNECTIONS:
CANADA’S
chapter, we concentrate primarily on the physical characteristics of the
ecozones. Later in the book, we will look at human aspects of Canadlian
life and geography to add to our knowledge about each ecozone.
a
ECOZONE
30P is t vaue
i
tconrrnc roth:cton
th ecozye.
A Tour of Canada’s Ecozones
Canada’s ecozones are described in the following section.You should
start your tour of Canada’s ecozones with the one in which you live.
From there, you can gradually move outward from neighbouring ecozones
to more distant ones that may be very different from your own. By using
this approach, you will be able to compare the other regions to the area
that you know best.
Mixedwood Plains Ecozone:
)
2
(Area 113 000 km
Landforms: Plains and rolling hills;
Great Lakes are an important
feature
Climate: Cool, short winters (-7°C);
relatively long, mild summers
(20°C); precipitation 700 to 1000 mm;
growing season 180 to 260 days
Vegetation: Coniferous (white
pine, eastern hemlock, red pine)
mixed with deciduous (sugar
maple, red oak, basswood); little
natural vegetation remains
Soils: Leached, wet-climate soils
Human Activities: Total population
14800000; GOP $325.2 billion;
urbanization, manufacturing,
agriculture, recreation
Major Cities: Toronto (4 263 575),
Montréal, Ottawa, auebec,
Hamilton, Windsor, London
Boreal Shield Ecozone:
)
2
(Area 1 774 000 km
and low hills of
Plains
Landforms:
Shield
ian
the Canad
Climate: Long winters (-15°C);
short summers (17°C); precipitation
400 to 1000 mm; growing season
130 to 190 days
Vegetation: Coniferous (black
spruce, white spruce, jack pine,
balsam fir) mixed with deciduous
(yellow birch, sugar maple, black
ash)
Soils: Heavily leached soils; bare
rock; swampy areas
Human Activities: Total population
2900000; GOP $49 billion; forestry,
mining, tourism, recreation,
trapping
Major Cities: St. John’s (174051),
Chicoutimi, Sudbury, Sault Ste.
Marie, Thunder Bay, Thompson
3rwnq osrn, s the
anrçe nimber o da
p9r year ihei the
VC1j2 tnperetue
:ra ian5 C.
3D? u’a Jeta ::om
91; poputltirins fron
19S6.
Atlantic Maritime Ecozone:
)
2
(Area 196 000 km
Landforms: Hills and coastal p1
Climate: Long, mild winters (-4’
moderately warm summers (17
precipitation 1000 to 1400 mm;
growing season 180 to 210 day:
Vegetation: Coniferous (white
pine, red spruce, red pine) mix
with deciduous (sugar maple,
oak, yellow biiJ
Soils: Leached, wet-climate so
Human Activities: Total popula
2 550 000; GOP $39.9 billion;
Tf7, agriculture, fishing,
tourism, urbanization
Major Cities: Halifax (332 518),
Fredericton, Saint John,
Charlottetown
-
PHYSICAL
CONNECTIONSf
Prairie Ecozone:
)
2
(Area 441 000 km
Landforms: Flat to rolling plains
Climate: Moderately long, cold
winters (-15°C); moderately warm
summers (18°C); precipitation 250
to 700 mm; growing seasonl7Oto
190 days
Vegetation: Short-grass prairie in
drier areas; long-grass prairie in
wetter areas; some trees; little
natural vegetation remains
Soils: Rich, grassland soils
,Jiuman Activities: Total population
3 9S0i00GDP $90.8 billion;
auTfUre, urbanization, oil and
gas development
Major Cities: Edmonton (862 597),
Calgary, Winnipeg, Regina.
Saskatoon
Boreal Plains Ecozone:
)
2
(Area 657 000 km
Landforms: Level to gently rolling
plains
Climate: Long, cold winters (-20°C);
short, warm summers (17°C);
precipitation 450 mm; growing
season 130 to 165 days
Vegetation: Coniferous forests
(white spruce, black spruce, balsam
fir, Jack pine, and tamarack) mixed
with deciduous (aspen, poplar, and
white birch); extensive marsh areas
Soils: Rich soils formed under
forests; marsh soils in some areas
Human Activities: Total population
74qDQ; GOP $13.7 billion; forestry,
farming, tourism, oil and. gas
development
Major Cities: Hinton (9 961),
La Ronge, The Pas, Fun Flon,
Peace River, Fort Smith
CANADAS
ECOZONES
Montane Cordillera Ecozone:
)
2
(Area 461 000 km
ains, plains and
Mount
rms:
Landfo
plateaus
Climate: Temperatures vary with
latitude and elevation; moderate
winters (-12°C); moderate summers
(15°C); precipitation varies widely
with elevation and physical
aspects, 500 to 1000 mm; growing
season 140 to 240 days
Vegetation: Enormous variations
depending on elevation; dominated
by coniferous (Engelmann spruce,
poriderosa pine, Douglas fir)
Soils: Wide variety of mountain
soils
Human Activities: Total population
fl.p..GDP $14 billion; forestry,
agriculture, totirisi_sm
Major Cities: Kamloops (84 914),
Prince George, Penticton
Pacific Maritime Ecozone:
)
2
(Area 196 000 km
Landforms: Mountains with small
areas of coastal plains
Climate: Mild winters (3°C); cool
summers (15°C); precipitation 600
to 2000 mm; growing season 200 to
260 days
Vegetation: Varies with elevation;
coniferous trees (western red
cedar, oiiglasfiivstern
hemlock, sitka, spruce)
Soils: Wide variety of mountain
soils
Human Activities: Total population
2 850000; GOP $58.2 billion;
lorestry, urbanization, agriculture,
fish processing
Major Cities: Vancouver (1 831 665),
Victoria, Prince Rupert
Boreal Cordillera Ecozone:
)
2
(Area 432 000 km
ainous, some
Mount
rms:
Landfo
hills
Climate: Long, cold winters (-20°C);
short, cool summers (12°C ); very
dry, precipitation 300 to 500 mm;
growing season 125 to 150 days
Vegetation: Mainly coniferous
(white spruce, subalpine fir)
Soils: Variety of mountain soils
Human Activities: Total population
33 000; DDP $0.9 billion; hunting,
traing, forestry, tourism, mining
Major Cities: Whitehorse (21 808),
Dawson
R.
Taiga Cordillera Ecozone:
)
2
(Area 246 000 km
Landforms: Mountainous
Climate: Long, cold winters (-24°C);
short, cool summers (13°C); very
dry, precipitation 250 to 400 mm;
growing season 90 to 130 days
Vegetation: Tundra of all types;
areas of scattered forest
Soils: Variety of poor quality soils;
bare rock
Human Activities: Total population
360 GOP $0.005 billion; hunting,
trappIng, forestry, tourism
Major Cities: Old Crow (300)
CHAPTER
13:
MAKING
THE
CONNECTIONS:
CANADAS
ECOZONES
4WA
Taiga Plains Ecozone:
)
2
(Area 563 000 km
Landiorms: Interior plains and
some foothills
Climate: Long, cold winters (-23°C);
short, cool summers (12°C); dry,
precipitation 200 to 400 mm;
growing season 80 days to 150 days
Vegetation: Open forest to dense
forest (black spruce, white spruce,
Jack pine, tamarack, paper birch,
trembling aspen)
Soils: Continuous permafrost in
north; scattered permafrost further
south; wide variety of poor quality
soils
Human Activities : Total
populationjGDP $0.5 billion;
oil and
hunting, trapping,
gas development, agrIcultural
Major Cities: Hay River (3611),
lnuvik, Fort Simpson
Taiga Shield Ecozone:
)
2
(Area 1 269 000 km
Landforms: Plains and hills of
Canadian Shield
Climate: Moderately long, cold
winters (-25°C); moderately short,
cool summers (12°C); precipitation
300 to 900 mm; growing season 100
to 140 days
Vegetation: Black spruce, jack
pine, paper birch, trembling aspen
Soils: Thin, highly-leached soils;
bare rock
Human Activities: Total population
37 00Q GOP $1.1 billion;g!jJ:js,
mining, hunting, trapping
Major Cities: Yellowknife (17 275),
Uranium City, Happy Valley-Goose
Bay
Hudson Plains Ecozone:
(Area 350 000 km
)
2
Landforms: Low-lying, swampy
plains
Climate: Moderately long, cold
winters (-17°C); moderately short,
cool summers (14°C); precipitation
400 to 700 mm; growing season 90
to 150 days
Vegetation: Ground-hugging
tundra; increasingly dense forest
in south (white spruce, black
spruce, tamarack, jack pine)
Soils: Scattered permafrost
occurs; poorly developed organic
and permafrost soils
Human Activities: Total population
12000; GOP $0.1 billion; hunting,
trapping, recreation
Major Cities: Moosonee (1939),
Churchill, Attawapiskat
Southern Arctic Ecozone:
)
2
(Area 776 000 km
Landforms: Plains and hills of
Canadian Shield
Climate: Long winters (-25°C),
short summers (10°C), dry,
precipitation 200 to 300 mm;
growing season 80 days
Vegetation: Tundra, including
shrubs
Soils: Permafrost everywhere;
tundra soils, bare rock
Human Activities: Total population
12000; GOP $0.15 billion; hunting,
if ing, tourism, mineral
developmT
Major Cities: Rankin Inlet (2058),
Tuktoyaktuk, Povungnituk
Northern Arctic Ecozone:
(Area 1 433 000 km
)
2
Landforms: Plains and upland
areas
Climate: Long winters (-30°C),
short summers (5°C); precipitation
200 mm; growing season 50 days
Vegetation: Tundra; groundhugging plants
Soils: Permafrost; tundra soils
Human Activities: Total population
19000; GOP $0.38 billion; hunting,
some mining
Major Cities: Iqaluit (3500),
Cambridge Bay, Resolute
Arctic Cordillera Ecozone:
)
2
(Area 239 000 km
Landforms: Innuitian Mountains
Climate: Long winters (-40°C),
short summers (0°C); precipitation
less than 200 mm; virtually no
,season
9
growin
Vegetation: Mostly no vegetation;
tundra
Soils: Permafrost; tundra soils;
bare rock
Human Activities: Total population
1 200; GOP $0.012 billion; hunting,
tourism
Major Cities: Pond Inlet (400),
Clyde River, Broughton Island
J
•
.
PHYSICAL
CONNECTIONS:
CANADA’S
ECOZONES
IN CLOSING...
exciting one that may help you to
The concept of an ecozone is an
n about ecozones, remember the
understand Canada better. As you lear
make them particularly useflul. First,
two characteristics of ecozones that
te information. For example, they help
they allow you to combine and rela
important industry in the boreal
you to understand why forestry is an
changing and will continue to grow
shield. Secondly they are constantly
and change.
I
CNECX YOUR NTAO
1. a) Whatisanecozone?
of the
b) Describe the two characteristics
useful
it
a
e
mak
ch
whi
t
ecozone concep
.
ada
way to study Can
each ecozone
2. a) The population density of
is shown in Fig. 13-5. Divide these
is
values into four categories on the bas
”
aks
bre
l
tura
k
“na
thin
of where you
occur, for example, between the
c
Mixedwood Plains and the Atlanti
an
e
hav
to
e
hav
not
do
You
Maritime.
h
eac
in
es
zon
eco
of
ber
equal num
group.
that your
b) On a base map of ecozones
gory
teacher will supply, shade each cate
if
e
differently. It will be most effectiv
you use four different shades of one
urs.
colour rather than four different colo
r
fou
use
For example, you may want to
t
kes
shades of red. Always use the dar
shade for the highest value.
suitable
c) Be sure to include a legend and
title for your map.
ion
d) Comment on the pattern of populat
that
er
emb
density that you see. Rem
Canada’s overall population density is
people/km
.
about 3 2
*
V Fig. 13-5
Ecozone
Arctic Cordillera
-Atlantic Maritime
Boreal Cordillera
Boreal Plains
Boreal Shield
Hudson Plains
Mixedwood Plains
Montane Cordillera
Northern Arctic
Pacific Maritime
-‘-Prairies
Southern Arctic
Taiga Cordillera
Taiga Plains
Taiga Shield
Population Density, 1996
oplelkm
2
(pe
)
0.005
13.0-’
0.076
i.r
1.6
0.034
131.9
—
0.013
14.5—
0.0 15
0.001
0.043
0.029
ArcView
Question 2 can also be done using
you
give
will
GIS software. Your teacher
.
this
instructions on how to do
eation as
3. Which ecozones list tourism or recr
the kind
ld
wou
How
a major human activity?
t
eren
diff
in
of tourism/recreation vary
ecozones?