An introduction to Ecozones

Transcription

1 Unit 3 Part 1 Pgs An introduction to Ecozones - 15 terrestrial, or land regions. - 5 marine,or ocean regions. 1

2 Activity 1.Look at the map on p. 100 of your text. (a)what is the name of the ecozone you live in? (b)what image comes to mind when you think about that ecozone? 2

3 Ecozones 3

4 1. Ecozones Marine Pacific Arctic Archipelago Arctic Basin Northwest Atlantic Atlantic Terrestrial Arctic Cordillera Northern Arctic Southern Arctic Taiga Plains Taiga Shield Taiga Cordillera Hudson Plains Boreal Plains Boreal Shield Boreal Cordillera Pacific Maritime Montane Cordillera Prairies Atlantic Maritime Mixedwood Plains 4

5 2. Glossary Terms Define the 2 terms below using the glossary. Ecozones Biodiversity 5

6 3.What is an Ecozone? Ecozones are multifactor regions that are based upon a combination of natural and human characteristics. 6

7 4.The Characteristics of an Ecozone pg.102 Landscape Geology Landforms Climate Soil Water Natural Vegetation Wildlife People 7

8 5. People Affect Ecozones p.104 People can affect nature in significant ways. Human activity often accelerates the pace of change in the environment, which causes stress on the environment. This can lead to serious and sometimes irreversible damage Examples of damage: Smoggy air, polluted water, disappearing forests and animals, collapse of fisheries. 8

9 6. Biodiversity pg.105 Ecozones vary in shape and size which leads to them varying in biodiversity. - Biodiversity means that there is a large variety of living things contained in each ecozone. 9

10 Complete Handout #1 10

11 7.Where we live - Glossary Words (p.106) Use the glossary to define the following terms: Habitat Ecology Terrestrial Ecozone Marine Ecozone Boundary Transition Zone 11

12 Ecozones are vast in size, and so contain many smaller ecosystems. Wet lands and local forests, are examples of ecosystems within ecozones. Boundary lines for ecozones are marked by the location of transition zones, where characteristics blend from one ecozone to the next. 12

13 Ecozones represents the habitat of distinct communities of plants and animals. They give you a broad picture of how natural and human features interact in different parts of Canada. Marine Ecozones Ocean regions Terrestrial Ecozones Land regions 13

14 Complete Handout #2 14

15 8.Terrestrial Ecozones that we will study Boreal Shield Mixwood Plains Prairie Montane Cordillera Southern Arctic 15

16 9.Marine Ecosystem we will study Atlantic Marine Ecozone 16

17 Complete In Class Assignment #1 17

18 Unit 3 Part 2 Canada s Ecozones Pgs

19 1. Boreal Shield 19

20 The Boreal Shield The Big Wild pgs The Boreal Shield contains two important natural features : the rocky Canadian shield and the coniferous northern forest. - It s referred to as the Big Wild and in some places is 1000 kilometres wide. - Many aboriginal communities call this area home. - It contains steep rocky hills, dense forest, thousands of lakes and swampy wetlands called muskegs. 20

21 Define the Glossary Terms! Muskeg Taiga Timberland 21

22 The Boreal Shield The Boreal Shield is a combination of two important natural features: The rocky Canadian Shield The coniferous northern forest The Boreal Shield is a huge ecozone, in some places stretching over 1000 kilometres wide. It as been called the Amazon of the North 22

23 Landscape The Boreal Shield has a very distinct look. This is due mostly to glaciers that scraped the land and exposed the granite bedrock, leaving behind thin soils and many depressions. These depression fill with water creating bogs, swamps and lakes. 23

24 Natural Vegetation The natural vegetation of the Boreal Shield is well adapted to cold winters and short, hot summers and just enough precipitation to support a dense forest. 24

25 Natural Vegetation Black Spruce and balsam fir are used in high quantity for the pulp and paper mills. Hardy deciduous trees like birch and poplar are found on the southern edges of the region. Lichens and shrubs are also found in this area. 25

26 Complete Handout #3 26

27 People About 4 million people live in the Boreal Shield Mines and mills are major resources in this ecozone. Remote hunting and fishing lodges create a prosperous tourism industry. 27

28 People Many Aboriginal peoples live in the Boreal Shield Some maintain their traditions of hunting and fishing while others work in resources, businesses, construction or tourism. 28

29 People In Newfoundland and Labrador, fishing formed the basis of the economy. However, recent overfishing has led to the collapse of major fish stocks, which have impaired many coastal fishing communities. 29

30 Threats Logging, mining, the building of oil and gas pipelines, and hydroelectric development all threaten the ecozone. Forestry industry Clear-cutting methods leave few trees behind in logging areas Only a few tree species are being replanted. 30

31 Handout #4 31

32 Threats Roads Road building through the ecozone force sediment buildup in streams and rivers Road separate animal habitats, leaving them vulnerable Road access brings more motorized vehicles into an area leading to more pollution, risk of fire and an overall negative impact on the wildlife. 32

33 Activate your Learning! Page 121 Q.1 and 4 33

34 2.Montane Cordillera pgs

35 Define the Glossary Words! Orographic precipitation Windward Alpine tundra Leeward Mountain pine beetle 35

36 Montane Cordillera Landscape This eco zone lies mostly in British Columbia, with 10% in Alberta It consists of rows of mountains separated by wide valleys and plateaus (areas of elevated, flat land) The montane cordillera is a land of exceptional natural history 36

37 Montane Cordillera Natural Vegetation Natural vegetation varies greatly in the Montane Cordillera. This depends upon the location on mountains or in valleys Why does vegetation vary? Orographic precipitation 37

38 Page 123 (fig. 3.22) 38

39 Orographic Precipitation Windward Slopes of Mountains These slopes are located on the west side of the mountain ranges where wind brings moisture from the Pacific. Most precipitation is found on the windward side of mountains, so the lower parts of windward slopes are dense with coniferous forests (spruce, pine). 39

40 Orographic Precipitation Near the Top of the Mountain The mountain top is too cold and windswept for trees to grow, so alpine tundra vegetation grows here (moss, lichen, and grasses). Mountain Peaks Have permanent ice. 40

41 Orographic Precipitation The leeward side of Mountains This side of the mountain is more protected and therefore does not receive much precipitation. Grasses and sagebrush grow in valleys of these regions. 41

42 Orographic Precipitation 42

43 Wildlife Big horned sheep Mountain goats Grizzly Bear White tailed deer Mink 43

44 People Forestry Coniferous forests of the lower and middle slopes are a great resource for logging companies. Tourism Hiking, mountain climbing, hunting, fishing, etc. 44

45 People Farming Climate and soil conditions in valleys provide ideal conditions for fruit farming and vineyards 45

46 People Mining Coal deposits in ancient sedimentary rock provides a great resource for mining companies Cattle Ranching Grasslands on interior plateaus are perfect for cattle ranching 46

47 Threats Logging Logging, replanting and maintaining forest cover is essential for sustaining wildlife habitats Urban growth, industrialization, agriculture and tourism are encroaching on grasslands and increasing pressure on water supplies. 47

48 Threats The Mountain Pine Beetle Kills trees by eating holes in the inner bark, laying eggs there. This leaves a mass of dying red trees, costing the provincial economy millions of dollars Both B.C and Alberta are burning forests in an attempt to contain and kill the pest. 48

49 Geolab Challenge Page 126 Complete Handout #5 Solving A Climate Mystery 49

50 3.The Prairie Ecozone pgs

51 Define the Glossary Words! Potholes Slough Drought Badlands Grasslands Shelterbelt Windbreak Chinook 51

52 Landscape The Prairie land is very distinct From above, the land appears flat. However, a closer view reveals depressions in the soil (potholes) that are left behind by glaciers. Many depressions have become wetlands which support a variety of plant life and wildlife 52

53 Landscape Other aspects of the Prairie landscape include: River valleys Hills and eroded badlands (an unusual landscape created by the erosion of soft sedimentary rock.) Gently rolling grasslands A mixture of different grasslands Impressions of the Prairie Ecozone (p128) 53

54 Landscape The Prairies are a continental climate. This is because: They are located in the centre of the continent. The Rocky Mountains to the west act as barriers against rain bearing winds. Dry arctic masses move in from the north, making the winters long and cold. They are far from the moderating effects of bodies of water. 54

55 Vegetation Wet and rich nutrient filled areas give way to fertile soil Tall grasses grow in wet areas, while shorter grasses grow in drier areas. Drought resistant plants such as sagebrush and short grasses grown in drier areas. 90% of the Prairie landscape is used for agriculture. 55

56 Disappearing Grasslands Less that half of the prairie's original wetlands, potholes and sloughs remain. Many have been drained and cleared for farming and urban development. This development has led to the disappearance of many of the wildlife in the area. Human activities, such a building dams for irrigation, hydroelectricity and flood control, have forever changed the river systems of the prairies. 56

57 Grasslands (p.134) 57

58 Wildlife Plain bison were once plentiful in the prairie ecozone. Overhunting in the late 1800 s drastically decreased their numbers, virtually wiping them out Today, plain bison are protected in national parks, where their numbers are growing 58

59 Wildlife An abnormally large number of animals have disappeared from this ecozone. Many are extinct, extirpated, endangered or threatened because of habitat loss. This includes: The grizzly bear (disappeared from area) The swift fox (disappeared from area) The peregrine falcon (endangered in the area) Whooping crane (endangered in the area) 59

60 Humans The gently rolling land of the prairies is suitable for food production The grasslands have fertile soil and a long enough growing season for a variety of crops. The rivers can be dammed for irrigation and hydroelectricity Oil and gas deposits in sedimentary rock are excellent for the mining industries. 60

61 Threats Modern farmers have almost wiped out keystone species in the area (swift fox, prairie dogs) much like early settlers almost wiped out the bison population. Extensive agriculture uses land and destroys wildlife habitats Farming overworks the soil and reduces nutrients Wastes from farms and urban areas pollutes the waters. 61

62 Threats Oil and gas development creates pollution and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which eventually changes the climate. Dams and reservoirs built for power, flood control and irrigation alter rivers and wildlife habitats. Conservation efforts and government regulations aim to restore some wildlife and grasslands. 62

63 Complete Handout #6 Crossword Puzzle 63

64 Students complete Handout #7 Activate Your Learning 64

65 4. Mixedwood Plains pgs

66 Define the Glossary words Escarpment Dolomite Caprock Differential Erosion Aggregates 66

67 Landscape The Niagara Escarpment is a 725-kilometre-long cliff. Winds along western shore of Lake Ontario, up to the tip of Bruce peninsula. Considered the backbone of this ecozone. Declared a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Biosphere Reserve, making it an internationally recognized ecosystem. 67

68 When the glaciers melted at the end of the Ice Age, sand and gravel settled on sedimentary rock in the area. The rock layers at the bottom of the cliff (shale and sandstone) are softer than the rock layers on the top of the cliff (dolomite limestone). 68

69 Case Study Read the Case study The Holes in The Niagara Escarpment pgs Complete Handout # 8 69

70 Vegetation because so many people live in this small ecozone, much of the natural vegetation is gone. there are some heavily forested areas along some lakeshores. Agriculture, logging, and city growth have wiped out much of the forests (only 10% of Southern Ontario s original forests remain) More than 90% of the wetlands in the area have been converted to farmland or urban areas. Before the farmland and urban sprawl took over, the area had a mix of coniferous (pines and hemlocks) as well as deciduous (maple, oak, and elm) trees. 70

71 Wildlife Like the forests, much of the wildlife of this ecozone has been pushed out because their homes (the trees) have been chopped down. Some species that remain include white-tailed deer, foxes and squirrels. Other species (coyotes, raccoons, mice, and groundhogs) have adapted to city life but the people living there aren t too happy with that. 71

72 People smallest ecozone in Canada (9% of total land area of Canada) but has the most people (60% of the country s population live here). more than half the top quality agriculture in Canada is in this ecozone. Many fruits and vegetables grown there. 72

73 People Industrial Heartland many products (designer clothes, cars, furniture, food) are manufactured here. The many banks and corporations around the western shore of Lake Ontario has led to the nickname The Golden Horseshoe. 73

74 People Lots of tourism Niagara Falls, CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum. Sports baseball, hockey, football, and basketball franchises. Lots of cottage areas. 74

75 People More than 100 people per square kilometre million people in Ontario 90% of them in the Mixedwood Plains 8 million people in Quebec 80% of them in Montreal, Quebec City, and Trois Rivieres, all found in Mixedwood Plains 75

76 Threats quarries on the Niagara Escarpment holes are being blasted into the rock. expanding urban areas threatening forests and wildlife people breathe in smog caused by cars, factories, and thermal-electricity plants. 76

77 5. Southern Arctic 77

78 Landscape a lot of this ecozone is made up of piles of sand and gravel left over by glaciers that melted 8500 years ago. Now there are lots of moraines (mounds of dirt) and eskers (long ridges of sand). The glaciers tore up the land, leaving many holes that were filled with the melting ice. As a result, there are lots of lakes and ponds found here. 78

79 Landscape There s a lot of permafrost (permanently frozen ground) in this ecozone, often just a few centimetres below the surface. Although there is little precipitation, moisture gets caught just under the surface. 79

80 Vegetation The treeline is found along the southern part of the Southern Arctic. The trees get much smaller and eventually disappear above this line. As a result, there aren t many large plants in the area. Mostly shrubs and, in the summer, berries. The cold air and dry winds make it difficult for taller trees to grow. 80

81 Wildlife Due to the cold most of the year, the number of species found in the Southern Arctic drops the further north you go. Caribou, foxes, bears, moose, and hawks are some of the animals and birds you can expect to find. Close to a million caribou migrate south each year. 81

82 People The Inuit make up 80% of the population of the Southern Arctic. There are less than 10,000 people in this ecozone, spread out over 17 communities. 82

83 Threats The area is very rich in minerals and oil and gas. This means a lot of the land is being destroyed to exploit these resources. Global warming is also having negative effects on the area, causing much warmer than normal temperatures. Wildlife and vegetation in the area, not being used to the warmer weather, are migrating or dying. 83

84 6. Atlantic Marine Ecozone 84

85 Landscape This ecozone only touches land at the southern coast of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and the eastern coast of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. 85

86 Landscape Winds from land to the west meets the warm Gulf stream, making the ecozone more temperate than it would otherwise be. Dense fog forms when the warm gulf stream meet the cold Labrador current. 86

87 Landscape The Bay of Fundy features the largest tide in the world. The difference between high and low tide can go as far as 15 metres in the difference. 87

88 Vegetation Phytoplankton : microscopic plant like organisms. They are the base of the marine food web. Seaweed and kelp are also found throughout the region 88

89 Vegetation Tidal Marshes Extensive salt marshes occur particularly in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island but less frequently in Newfoundland. Examples of vegetation in this area are: Saltmarsh Cord grass Wild Barley Sea lavender 89

90 Wildlife The Grand Banks are among the most biologically productive marine areas in the world Labrador Current + Gulf Stream Shallows of the continental shelf prepare ideal feeding grounds and spawning conditions. 90

91 Wildlife Animals and fish such as the northern cod, herring, grey seals, harbour porpoises, puffins and gulls live in this ecozone. There are also a number of bottom dwellers in the Atlantic: Barnacles, sea stars, lobsters 91

92 People The people of Atlantic Marine significantly depend on the ecozone for their livelihood. Fishing Lobster, shrimp, crab Aquaculture Experiments in scallop, salmon and cod farming Mussel farming Offshore Oil and Gas Hibernia, Terra Nova oil and gas fields, reserves in Nova Scotia 92

93 Threats Overfishing Canadian and foreign fishing have driven down commercial cod populations to a serious level. 93

94 Unit 3 Part 3 pgs Protecting Canada s Natural Places 94

95 1. The United Nations has suggested that each country in the world should protect 12% of its total land area. Define the following terms: A. stakeholder B. stewardship C. natural corridor 95

96 2. Three ways to protect our natural spaces are: A. private land stewardship B. effective land use C. education 96

97 In Class Assignment From My Ecozone to Yours Handout # 9 97