Arctic Archipelago Marine Ecozone (CEC)
Arctic Archipelago Marine | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Borders | |
Geography | |
Country | Canada |
Province | |
Oceans or seas | Arctic Ocean |
The Arctic Archipelago Marine Ecozone, as defined by the
It is inextricably tied to the terrestrial ecozones of the
Climate
It is characterised by frigid, windy winters with average temperatures below -30 degrees Celsius, and summer temperatures typically near 10 degrees.[1] The thick ice which cover the ecozone in the winter connect the islands and continental land with a continuous sheet that prevents navigation, but allows the migration of various animals. The ice partially melts during the summer, though ice floes are numerous in some parts. Polynyas may occur throughout the ecozone, but are most common near the Nares Strait in northern Baffin Bay.[2]
Geography
Primarily in the arctic with the exception of a portion of its southern extent in Hudson Bay and James Bay, the Arctic Archipelago is a vast marine ecozone with average water depths of 150 to 500 metres.[3] It contains all of James Bay, Hudson Bay, the Foxe Basin, Queen Maud Gulf, Baffin Island Shelf, Lancaster Sound, the waters within the Arctic Archipelago, and most of the Beaufort Sea.[4]
Hudson Bay and James Bay
James Bay and parts of Hudson Bay are the only constituents of this ecozone south of the arctic region, and exhibit greater
This portion of the ecozone abuts the Hudson Plains, which contains the world's "largest continuous wetlands"[5] due to poor drainage of the ecozone. The resultant wetlands and bogs form the interface between the Hudson Plains and Arctic Archipelago ecozones, as typified by Southern James Bay.
Territorial shoreline
Covering the entire Canadian northern continental shoreline, this marine ecozone is adjacent to a number of territorial ecozones. The Taiga Shield connects the Hudson Plains from the Manitoba shoreline to the Southern Arctic ecozone in Nunavut, which also extends along most of the continental shoreline of the Northwest Territories. The Taiga Plains ecozone forms the remaining Northwest Territories shoreline connection to the Arctic Archipelago ecozone, covering much of the western portion of the Northwest Territories and small portions of northern Alberta and British Columbia. The Yukon shoreline connects the Arctic Archipelago marine ecozone with the Taiga Cordillera, a mountainous region covering most of northern and eastern Yukon, and parts of the western Northwest Territories.
The northeastern Nunavut continental landmass is within the
Ecology
Biological activity in this ecozone is greatest during late summer, during which sufficient portions of ice have melted to allow
The
References
- ^ Bernhardt, Torsten. "Arctic Archipelago Marine". Canada's Ecozones, Canadian Biodiversity project. McGill University, Redpath Museum. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
- ^ Environment Canada. Archived from the originalon March 26, 2004. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
- Environment Canada. Archived from the originalon March 26, 2004. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
- ^ "Canada's Arctic Marine Environment". National Marine Conservation Areas of Canada. Parks Canada. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
- ^ Bernhardt, Torsten. "Hudson Plains". Canada's Ecozones, Canadian Biodiversity project. McGill University, Redpath Museum. Archived from the original on 4 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
- ^ Environment Canada. Archived from the originalon March 26, 2004. Retrieved 2008-02-01.