Low Arctic tundra
Canadian Low Arctic tundra | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Realm | Nearctic |
Biome | Tundra |
Borders | |
Geography | |
Area | 798,399 km2 (308,264 sq mi) |
Country | Canada |
Province/Territory | |
Coordinates | 66°15′N 102°15′W / 66.25°N 102.25°W |
Climate type | Polar and subarctic |
The Canadian Low Arctic Tundra ecoregion covers a rolling landscape of shrubby tundra vegetation along the northern edge of the mainland Canada along the border of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and a small portion in Quebec on the northeast coast of Hudson Bay.[1][2][3][4][5] The region is important for large herds of caribou and other large mammals, and for large nesting colonies of birds such as snow geese. The region is mostly intact, with 95% remaining intact.
Location and description
The ecoregions stretch for 3,100 kilometres (1,900 mi) across the northern tier of mainland Canada. The northwestern end is at the Mackenzie River Delta, stretching east across the plains north of Great Bear Lake, the Nunavut mainland, Southampton Island, the Ottawa Islands, and a portion of northern Quebec.[1] Mean elevation is 229 metres (751 ft), with a high point of 854 metres (2,802 ft).[3]
Most of the terrain is flat or rolling lowlands on thin soil over the
Climate
The climate of the ecoregion is Subarctic climate, without dry season (Köppen climate classification Subarctic climate (Dfc)). This climate is characterized by mild summers (only 1-3 months above 10 °C (50.0 °F)) and cold, snowy winters (coldest month below −3 °C (26.6 °F)).[6][7] Average precipitation ranges from 200 mm/year in the northwest to 500 mm/year in Quebec.[1]
Flora and fauna
The ecoregion is a transition zone between the
Many mammal species are adapted to live in this environment. In the west there are herds of barren-ground caribou (
The region is important for large nesting colonies of snow geese (
Protected areas
Over 17% of the ecoregion is officially protected.[3] These protected areas include:
- Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary
- East Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary
- Harry Gibbons Migratory Bird Sanctuary
- Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary
- Tuktut Nogait National Park
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Low Arctic tundra". World Wildlife Federation. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- ^ "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve, using WWF data. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Low Arctic tundra". Digital Observatory for Protected Areas. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Low Arctic tundra". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ https://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/canadian-low-arctic-tundra/
- ^ Kottek, M.; Grieser, J.; Beck, C.; Rudolf, B.; Rubel, F. (2006). "World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated" (PDF). Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- ^ "Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
External links
- Media related to Low Arctic tundra (WWF) at Wikimedia Commons