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OVERVIEW
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
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Why study Canada’s ecozones?
For many years, scientists have studied specific parts of our
natural environment, including the wildlife, geology, and
climate. While it is important to study the specific details of a
place, we now know that it is critical to study all of the natural
and human parts of an environment together, as one system. If
we do this, then we get a much better understanding of the
true state of our environment.
Ecozones
Ecozones are large regions in which living things, including
people, and the physical environment work together as a system.
The study of ecozones looks at how human activities interact
with the natural environment within a particular region.
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500
What Makes an Ecozone?
1000
kilometres
Legend
Ecozones in Canada
Arctic Cordillera
Northern Arctic
Southern Arctic
Taiga Cordillera
Taiga Plains
Taiga Sheild
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MHR
Hudson Plain
Prairie
Boreal Cordillera
Mixed Wood Plain
Pacific Maritime
Atlantic Maritime
Montane Cordillera
Atlantic Marine
Boreal Plain
Boreal Shield
A Vast Country
Ecozones of Canada
Think about where you live in Canada. What is the natural
environment like? How do people interact with the natural
environment? Because Canada is such a large country, it has
a wide variety of landscapes. The ecozone you live in is a
unique region and very different from the other parts of
Canada. Canada has 15 terrestrial (land) ecozones and five
marine (water) ecozones. If you travelled from coast to coast
to coast in Canada, you would experience many different
ecozones. You will find a large map of Canada’s ecozones in
the Map Appendix.
The Northern Arctic Ecozone
SHOWYOUKNOW
1. What is an ecozone?
2. a) Which ecozone do you live in?
b) List three ways that humans interact with the
environment in your ecozone.
The Boreal
Shield Ecozone
3. If you could live in a different Canadian ecozone, which one
would you choose? Explain your answer.
ls Plants People
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Ani
ecozone
Water
region
Geolog
Special
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s
Tree
The Atlantic Marine Ecozone
The Prairie Ecozone
MHR
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UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
Reading Climate Graphs
GeoLit
Reading Climate Graphs
Before reading
One of the easiest ways to get a picture of the climate of a
particular place is by studying a climate graph of that
location. A climate graph always shows the temperature and
precipitation of a specific place. A red line is used to show
temperatures and blue bars are used to show precipitation.
The growing season is shaded in green. The information
given on climate graphs has been gathered over a given
period of time. All of the data have been averaged to give
the numbers that are shown on the graph.
S T E P S for SUCCESS
When you are reading a climate graph, you will need to find
two types of information. The first is direct information. This
is something you can see or observe right there on the
graph. For example, in the North Bay, Ontario climate graph
the highest monthly temperature is in July and it is 18.6°C.
The second type of information that you need to find is
indirect information. To find this information you need to
work with the numbers and look for trends. For example,
the temperature range for North Bay is 29.5°C (temperature
range = highest monthly temperature – lowest monthly
temperature).
Look at the station name and find out where this place
is on a map.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Is it near or far from water?
How close or far away is it from the equator?
Do I already know anything about this location?
During reading
Look for direct information:
What is the hottest month? What is the coldest month?
What is the wettest month? What is the driest month?
Find the indirect information:
What is the temperature range?
How and when does temperature go up and down?
How and when does precipitation go up and down?
After reading
Describe to someone what each season would be like in
this place.
ReadingTIP
Location is the key. To be able to interpret a climate graph properly, you have to know:
where the place is
what surrounds it
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MHR
Practise the Skill
Indirect Information
Hottest: July 18.6°C
Temperature Range: 29.5°C
Coldest: February
–10.6°C
Generally the temperature
is cool in the summer and
cold in the winter
Wettest: September
113.5 mm
Driest: February
52.6 mm
Generally the precipitation
is moderate. The summer
is wetter than the winter.
Above Zero: 7 months
Winter: cool, dry
Below Zero: 5 months
Spring: warm and moderate
Fall: cool and moderate
Making Connections Using Climate Factors:
Latitude: North Bay is located at 46°N. Since it is in the
middle between the equator and the pole it is fairly cool
in summer and cold in the winter.
Air masses: During the winter, the Continental Arctic air
mass causes cold and dry conditions; during the
summer, the Maritime Tropical air mass brings warmer
and wetter weather.
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100
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Annual precipitation 1007.7 mm
This climate graph for North Bay, Ontario is
drawn using proper geographic conventions.
Climate Graph: Vancouver,
British Columbia
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2 10
2 20
2 30
150
100
50
Precipitation (m m )
Summer: cool – warm, wet
Temperature (Celsius)
Direct Information
Tem perature (Celsius)
Direct and Indirect Information from Climate Maps
Climate Graph: North Bay, Ontario
Precipitation (mm)
The sample interpretation of the North Bay climate graph
shows you how to follow the steps above. Now look at the
information carefully and create a chart like this in your
notes. Use the climate graph of Vancouver, British Columbia
to practise this skill yourself.
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J FM A M J J A S O N D
Annual precipitation 1167.4 mm
Climate graph for Vancouver, British Columbia
MHR
25
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
FOCUS ON: CHARACTERISTICS OF ECOZONES —
THE LAND WE LIVE ON
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
How do Canada’s landforms differ from place to
place?
Canada’s Landform Regions
INNUITIAN
REGION
ARC
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Legend
TIC
C
INTE RIO R
WESTERN CORDILL
Landform Regions
mountains
lowlands
Canadian Shield
A
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500
S
D
I
A
The Canadian Shield
D
N
I
PLA
ERA
N
A
N
S H I E
1000
L
APPALACHIAN
REGION
GREAT LAKES–
ST. LAWRENCE
LOWLAND
kilometres
Profile of Canada’s Landforms
Western
Cordillera
Interior Rocky Interior
Plateaus Mts. Plain
Canadian
Shield
Alberta Manitoba
Plain Plain
Pacific
Ocean
Great Appalachians
Lakes
St. Lawrence
Lowlands
Atlantic
Ocean
Coast Columbia Saskatchewan
Plain
Mts
Mts.
This is a profile of Canada’s landforms from west to east, along the
border with the United States.
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MHR
Canada’s ecozones include a variety of landforms. If you
were to ride a bike across Canada, you would quickly
understand how our landforms change from place to place. In
the Western Cordillera, the mountains reach a height
greater than 3900 metres and you would be slogging up and
roaring down steep hills. Your trip through the Interior
Plains would be much easier as you pedalled across the
relatively flat ground. As you finally reached the Atlantic
Ocean, you would once again be working hard to make it up
and down the steep hills of the Appalachian Region.
Imagine crossing this great nation and experiencing all the
landforms in each unique region—what a journey!
Canadian landforms started forming more than four billion
years ago. The core of the country, and the oldest landform, is
the Canadian Shield. All of the other regions have formed
around it. This once volcanic region began forming
approximately 2.5 billion years ago. The Canadian Shield was
once higher than the Rocky Mountains. As it was slowly
worn down by rain, wind, and ice, sediments were deposited
around its edges. These lowland regions surrounding the
Canadian Shield are made of layered sedimentary rock.
Surrounding the lowlands are three mountain regions. These
are Canada’s youngest landforms. These mountains are
mostly made of sedimentary and metamorphic rock.
Approximately 18 000 years ago, glaciers covered most of
Canada and had a huge impact on the land. They scoured away
the rock of the Canadian Shield and deposited it further south.
In the mountain regions, the glaciers actually carved the rocks
to form many of the valleys and peaks that we see today.
Water flows downhill, right?
In Canada, rivers flow in all directions. The country is
divided into five drainage basins. This means that all of the
water in a region flows into a set of rivers and eventually
reaches an ocean. In Canada, 75 percent of the water actually
flows north into the Arctic Ocean, Hudson Bay, or James Bay,
away from populated areas. The rest of Canada's water flows
into the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, or Gulf of Mexico.
Canada’s rivers and lakes are vital resources for our country.
We use them for so many different things: generating
electricity, transportation, industry, recreation, and at home,
to bathe or shower, cook our food and, of course to drink.
Canada’s landforms. What a view!
Drainage Patterns in Canada
ARCTIC OCEAN
Arctic Ocean
Drainage
SHOWYOUKNOW
1. Using the map of drainage patterns, explain how a river in your
Hudson Bay
Drainage
The Great
Divide
area could eventually reach the ocean.
2. Based on what you have read here, explain why you think the
Canadian Shield is called the backbone of the country.
3. Write a letter to a friend describing landforms you would see if
you rode a bicycle from the west coast to the east coast of
Canada.
PACIFIC
OCEAN
Pacific
Ocean
Drainage
N
Hudson
Bay
Atlantic Ocean
Drainage
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Gulf of Mexico
Drainage
0
Gulf of
Mexico
1000
2000
kilometres
MHR
27
FOCUS ON: CHARACTERISTICS OF ECOZONES —
CANADIAN CLIMATES
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
Canada’s Climate Regions
N
Resolute
Dawson
Iqaluit
Yellowknife
Why do places have different climates?
Legend
Climate Regions
Pacific
North Mountain
South Mountain
North Interior
Prairie
West Arctic
East Arctic
North Laurentian
South Laurentian
Lower Lakes
Atlantic
Inukjuak
Schefferville
Edmonton
Vancouver Medicine
Hat
Winnipeg
Kapuskasing
Québec
Halifax
0
500
1000
Toronto
kilometres
G E O FA C T S
ather and
rence between we
ffe
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th
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to
pressions:
A good way
e two common ex
es
th
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be
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climate is to
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we expect. Weath
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wh
is
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ar clothes to
e climate. We we
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fit
to
es
th
clo
“We buy
fit the weather.”
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MHR
Variations in Climate: Temperature
Climate is another characteristic of ecozones. Canada is so large
that it is a land of climate extremes. In one year, the average
temperature in July in Toronto, Ontario, could reach a high of
30°C, and the average temperature in February in Coppermine,
Northwest Territories, could reach a low of –30°C.
Prince
Rupert
Prince
George
The weather forecast calls for blue skies, temperatures around
20°C, winds at 20 kilometres per hour, and only a 10 percent
chance of rain later in the day. But is this typical weather for
this time of year in your community? Climate describes the
temperature and precipitation you can expect to experience over
an area in any given season. Weather, on the other hand, describes
detailed conditions over a specific place on a specific day. Does the
forecast described above sound like a typical fall or spring? Or
does it seem more like a typical winter in your community?
Precipitation
Precipitation also varies greatly from place to place. The total
yearly precipitation in Vancouver, British Columbia, averages
1113 millimetres, whereas in Churchill, Manitoba, the annual
precipitation averages only 400 millimetres. Each climate
region in Canada has its own combination of temperatures and
precipitation in each season.
If you live close to an ocean, you may have a marine
climate; if you live far inland, then you have a continental
climate. If you travel to the far north, you will experience an
arctic climate; if you stay close to the southern boundary of
Canada, you’ll be in a mid-latitude climate.
The Impact of Climate Factors
SHOWYOUKNOW
1. Describe the climate in your area. Can you use this to predict
the weather tomorrow? Explain your answer.
Climate Factor
Impact on Climate
Latitude
The farther away a place is from
the equator the colder it will be.
(Temperature)
Elevation
2. Create a chart and list three climate factors and how they affect
the climate of your area.
Air Masses
(Temperature/Precipitation)
3. Choose a town in Canada and use what you have learned
Prevailing Winds
about climate factors to predict the town’s climate.
(Temperature/Precipitation)
Nearness to Large
Water Bodies
Air Masses and Ocean Currents of North America
60°
(Temperature)
70°
80°
70°
60°
(Temperature/Precipitation)
(Temperature)
Maritime
Polar
(Atlantic)
Continental
Arctic
Landforms
ER
WINT
40°
30°
DRY
WARM
MOIST
DRY
HOT
TE
R
O
NL
Y
N
30°
20°
W
IN
Maritime
Tropical
(Pacific)
10°
WARM
MOIST
0
Continental
Tropical
500 1000
Maritime
Tropical
(Gulf)
Maritime
Tropical
(Atlantic)
The winds that typically blow
through a place bring the air
masses with them.
If a place is close to a large body
of water, it has higher precipitation
and a smaller temperature range.
Warm ocean currents tend to
make a place warmer than other
places at that latitude.
Cold ocean currents tend to
make a place cooler than other
places at that latitude.
COOL
MOIST
COLD
DRY
Maritime
Polar
(Pacific)
Each air mass brings its own
climate conditions to an area.
If a place is far from a large body
of water, it has lower precipitation
and a larger temperature range.
Ocean Currents
50°
The higher a place is the colder
it will be.
(Temperature)
Landform features such as
mountains also affect the
climate of a region. As warm,
moist air moves up the side of a
mountain, it cools and releases
the moisture as precipitation
(rain or snow). Then as the now
dry air moves down the other
side of the mountain, it picks up
moisture again.
The location of a place determines its climate. There are seven
different climate factors and each one has an impact on the
climate in a particular location.
kilometres
MHR
29
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
Animals in their Habitats
Snowshoe hare
Great blue heron
FOCUS ON: CHARACTERISTICS OF ECOZONES —
THE LIVING WORLD
What makes a perfect habitat?
The living environment consists of both plants and animals.
Natural vegetation means the native species of plants in an
ecosystem that grow without any human help or interference.
In Canada, this can include everything from coniferous forests
to wetland bog vegetation to arctic lichen. The natural
vegetation that occurs in a region depends on the temperature,
precipitation, and the length of the growing season in that
place. Animals also depend on their environment: reptiles,
amphibians, mammals, insects, birds, and fish have all
adapted to living in their own habitat.
Canada’s Natural Vegetation Regions
Legend
N
Monarch butterfly
Tundra
West coast forest
Cordillera vegetation
Boreal and Taiga forest
Grassland
Mixed forest
Deciduous forest
Killer whales
Each animal is adapted to live in its own perfect habitat.
0
500
kilometres
30
MHR
Vegetation Regions
1000
The characteristics of a habitat are determined by the
climate, vegetation, and landforms that are found there. For
example, the white-tailed deer is adapted to live in the forests
of southern Canada. The forests provide shelter and food, and
the deer can tolerate the climate of the region. One habitat of
the beluga whale is the lower St. Lawrence River at the place
where the fresh water of the river becomes salty like the
ocean. Because of the abundance of food and the seasonal
conditions in this area, many whales can be spotted where the
Saguenay River flows into the St. Lawrence River.
Human Adaptations
A greenhouse in
the Arctic
Humans and Their Environment
Humans are also part of the living environment. We depend on it
for our survival. Unlike wildlife and plants, humans can survive
in many different natural habitats. Instead of adapting to the
environment, we can often change our environment to suit our
wants and needs. We invent and use technology to create the
best possible habitat for ourselves. We burn fuels to produce
heat in the winter, have air conditioning in the summer, and use
irrigation systems for crops. We can even import food and
water from other parts of Canada and the rest of the world.
SHOWYOUKNOW
1. List three examples of natural vegetation that grow in your
community.
2. Explain why plants and animals can only live in certain habitats.
3. Describe the landforms, food, and climate that would make
Irrigating crops
in Ontario
A windmill in
Prince Edward Island
When human beings adapt their
surroundings to create the habitat
they want, there is always a cost to
the environment.
your personal perfect habitat.
MHR
31
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
FOCUS ON: THE PACIFIC MARITIME ECOZONE —
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
What makes the coastal region of British Columbia
so special?
The Pacific Maritime
Ecozone
N
0
500
1000
kilometres
Prince
Rupert
Pacific
Maritime
Ecozone
The Pacific Maritime Ecozone includes some of the most aweinspiring landscapes in Canada. Most of the region is forestcovered coastal mountains and marine (salt-water) islands.
Mount Waddington (4000 metres), British Columbia’s highest
mountain, is found there. This ecozone also lies within the
Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire, a group of regions where
volcanoes and earthquakes are common. The area also
contains some of the world’s longest and deepest fjords. In
terms of climate, this is both the warmest and wettest region
in Canada. The temperatures rarely go below freezing and
there is little variation in temperature from season to season.
Total yearly precipitation in this region can range from 600
millimetres to as much as 3000 millimetres!
Bountiful Riches
350
300
Temperature (Celsius)
250
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50
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J F MAM J J A S O N D
Annual precipitation 2551.6 mm
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MHR
Precipitation (mm)
Climate Graph:
Prince Rupert,
British Columbia,
in the Pacific
Maritime Ecozone
This ecozone is rich in all forms of life. The combination of
heavy rainfall and mild temperatures creates ideal growing
conditions for temperate rainforests. These very productive
forests contain some of the largest and oldest trees in Canada.
Species in the old-growth forests include the Douglas fir,
Sitka spruce, and the western red cedar, which can live as
long as 2000 years. Cathedral Grove on Vancouver Island is
dominated by Douglas fir, and the trees tower as high as
85 metres above the ground. There are only a handful of
temperate rainforests in the world and the Pacific Maritime
Ecozone has the largest one.
Wildlife in the Pacific Maritime Ecozone
Due to the shelter of the forests there is also an abundance of
wildlife in this ecozone. There are large mammals such as
black-tailed deer, cougars, and grizzly bears. Many of these
species have evolved on islands, including the Kermode bear, a
species of black bear that has turned white. These blond bears
are sacred to the Kitasu First Nation, who call them Spirit
Bears. There is also an abundance of birds, including tufted
puffins and bald eagles.
Marine Zones
The marine zones surrounding the land support many
species of whale, seal, and the endangered sea otter. Although
the Pacific Maritime Ecozone is rich in wildlife, we must
remember that each organism in the environment depends
heavily on a healthy forest and clean surrounding waters
to survive.
The Kermode bear is sacred to the Kitasu people, who call it the Spirit Bear.
SHOWYOUKNOW
1. List four facts about the Pacific Maritime Ecozone that would
prove that it is a unique region in Canada.
2. All parts of an ecozone are interrelated. How do the forests
depend on the physical environment to survive? How does the
wildlife depend on the forests to survive?
3. Using two climate factors shown on the climate graph,
account for the climate of Prince Rupert, British Columbia.
The Pacific temperate rainforest is a unique and bountiful place.
MHR
33
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
FOCUS ON: THE PACIFIC MARITIME ECOZONE —
THE HUMAN CONNECTION
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
How is the focus of resource development in this
ecozone shifting?
The art and history of westcoast First Nations reveal their
close relationship with the
environment. This is a memorial
pole of the Haida people.
The combination of spectacular scenery, a warm climate, and
abundant resources make this part of Canada one of the most
popular places for immigrants and tourists. Humans have
made use of the rich natural resources in this ecozone since
the first peoples arrived. The First Nations of this region are a
diverse group of connected peoples including the Haida,
Tsimshian, and Nootka. These nations have always relied on
the abundant forest and wildlife and continue this relationship
with the environment today. As land claims are settled and
conservation agreements are made today, the First Nations of
this ecozone are key leaders in efforts to conserve these
important natural resources.
Environmental Stress
Clear-cut logging practices have far-reaching impacts.
34
MHR
Most of the population lives in the southern part of this
ecozone. Therefore, this is where urban development and the
forestry and pulp and paper industries have had their greatest
impact on the environment. Try to imagine how an
expanding population would affect the natural environment
of this area—the houses, the roads, the shopping malls, the
parking lots. Forests here continue to be cut at a rapid rate,
and over the past century more than two million hectares of
the temperate rainforest were clear-cut. Since the old-growth
forests act as the backbone of the ecosystem, their destruction
has had an enormous impact on all other parts of the
environment. Will the forest industry have to change the way
it harvests and cares for these forests so that less harm will be
done to the environment of this ecozone?
Alternatives
There are many other ways that the environment is used as a
resource in this ecozone. Water-based recreational activities,
including sea kayaking and whale-watching, have become very
popular. Tourists travel to this area from all over the globe to spot
an orca or to watch endangered sea otters in their natural habitat.
Protecting the Spirit Bear
People are recognizing the great environmental and economic
value of the standing temperate rainforest. This means that
large areas are being set aside for conservation. For example,
the Spirit Bear Protection Area was created in 2001. A special
partnership that included the government of British Columbia,
the First Nations, the federal government, and community
groups has made sure that some of the Spirit Bear habitat is
now protected. Some people feel that still more should be done.
The natural environment in this ecozone is unique and the
relationship that humans have with the environment is very
strong. Sustainable use of the resources in this environment is
critical for its survival.
1. Identify three key ways in which humans interact with the
environment in this ecozone.
2. Create a plus-minus chart for harvesting the temperate rainforests.
3. Read the graph on the right carefully and predict what might
happen to each of the lines over the next 50 years. Explain why
you think this will happen.
Value of Forest and Tourist Industries
in Millions of Dollars
Millions of Dollars
SHOWYOUKNOW
Whale watching on the coast of British
Columbia: Ecotourism is a growing industry
in the Pacific Maritime Ecozone.
6000
Tourist industry
5000
4000
3000
Forest industry
2000
97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04
Years
MHR
35
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
FOCUS ON: THE BOREAL SHIELD ECOZONE —
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
What are the characteristics of Canada’s largest
ecozone?
A Solid Foundation
The Boreal Shield Ecozone
N
0
500
1000
kilometres
Boreal Shield
Ecozone
The Boreal Shield is the largest ecozone in Canada and it stretches
right across the centre of the country. Its foundation, the
Canadian Shield, consists mostly of volcanic rock: granite and
metamorphic gneiss. The landscape is a rich mosaic of exposed
rock, large forests, and countless lakes. During the last ice age,
much of the rock of the Shield was scratched bare by the massive
glaciers. Many giant boulders were picked up and carried in the ice
as the glaciers flowed over the land. When the ice finally retreated
from this area (about 10 000 years ago) the gouges in the
bedrock that were carved by these boulders were exposed.
Many of the thousands of lakes that dot the landscape of the
Boreal Shield are actually depressions left behind by the glaciers.
Kapuskasing
The Boreal Shield Ecozone includes…
The Canadian Shield
The bobcat
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J F MAM J J A S O N D
Annual precipitation 872.0 mm
36
MHR
Precipitation (mm)
Temperature (Celsius)
A Climate Graph for: Kapuskasing,
Ontario, in the Boreal Shield Ecozone
The boreal forest
Thomson, Tom, Canadian 1877-1917 The West Wind, 1916/1917 oil on canvas
120.7 x 137.9 cm Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto Gift of the Canadian Club of Toronto, 1926
A Challenging Environment
Due to its location, the Boreal Shield has a continental climate.
Most of the area has cold, dry winters and cool summers with
moderate rainfall. The farther north you travel, the more
challenging the environment becomes for plants and animals.
Coniferous Forests
Approximately 90 percent of this ecozone is covered with a
boreal coniferous forest. Trees here include black spruce,
jack pine, and balsam fir, all of which can tolerate these harsh
conditions. Black spruce is extremely hardy and can survive
in regions with boggy (wet, muddy) and acidic soils. There
are many forest fires caused by lightning strikes in these areas
and one tree, the jack pine, actually needs the heat of a fire to
open its cones and spread its seeds. Seedlings (baby trees)
grow well in the burnt, nutrient-rich soil. Animals also adapt
to these conditions. Many of Canada’s best-known large
mammals live here, including moose and black bear. The
thousands of small lakes and rivers also support healthy
populations of beaver and mink.
The Canadian artists known as the Group of Seven painted the
landscape of the Boreal Shield for the world to see. This painting
by Tom Thomson is called The West Wind.
SHOWYOUKNOW
1. How have glaciers affected the landscape of the Canadian Shield?
2. Read the climate graph on the left. Explain how this climate
would limit the types of natural vegetation that could grow in
this ecozone.
3. Look at the painting shown above. Write a brief description of
the landscape based on the artist’s view of the Boreal Shield.
Gouges in the rock show the direction
in which glaciers travelled.
MHR
37
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
Boreal Shield Resources
Hydro-electric power
FOCUS ON: THE BOREAL SHIELD ECOZONE —
THE HUMAN CONNECTION
Which natural resources does this ecozone provide?
The Boreal Shield is resource rich. First Nations peoples have
lived in the area since soon after the glaciers retreated. For
centuries, the lakes and rivers provided them with transportation
routes and access to the abundant forest and animal resources.
Forestry
Today, the vast, northern stands of coniferous trees and the
mixedwood forests in the south are essential to Canada’s pulp and
paper and lumber industry. Six out of every 100 jobs in Canada
are related to the forest industry, mostly in the boreal forest.
Mineral Resources
Forestry products
Mining
Another valuable resource lies underground. Metallic minerals
including gold, silver, copper, and nickel are extremely important
and contributed $12.5 billion to our national economy in 2004.
Many of the settlements in the Boreal Shield today have their
roots in these extraction industries. These single-industry
towns depend on these resources for their survival. If a mine or a
pulp and paper mill closes down, there are serious consequences
for the people whose lives depended on the industry. Without
jobs, people cannot buy the things they need; without customers
to buy their goods and services, businesses cannot stay alive.
Water Resources
The other major natural resource in this ecozone is water.
Many of the major rivers in the Boreal Shield have been
dammed for hydroelectricity production. Many of the dams
were built in the 1960s, and there are now 23 generating
stations on rivers in Ontario.
38
MHR
Most recently, the Manitoba government has proposed a
mega-dam on the Nelson River. This is called the Conawapa
Project and it would increase Manitoba’s power production
by 25 percent. As with all megaprojects, the social and
environmental costs are being weighed carefully against the
potential economic gains of the project.
The Conawapa Dam Project
Getting Away from It All
There is also a growing market for tourism in this region:
canoeing, camping, and other ecotourism opportunities. An
outfitter will equip you with all the gear you need to enjoy an
adventure in the wilderness: food, maps, and a guide to lead
you if you want. Tourists also come to this area to hunt and
fish. White-tailed deer, moose, and black bears are the most
commonly hunted animals. Fish caught include the walleye,
northern pike, and largemouth bass. Hunting and fishing
account for a significant portion of the northern economy.
Nelson River, Manitoba, site of the proposed Conawapa Dam
SHOWYOUKNOW
1. What are some of the natural resources of the Boreal Shield?
2. Read the map on the right. If a dam were built in this area,
what impact do you think it would have on the local natural
and human environment?
3. A single-industry town in northern Manitoba has just learned
that the local copper mine will be closing down in six to eight
years. What new industries could be established in the area to
help keep the town alive?
Fishing guides must know geography so they can
find the best places to take tourists.
MHR
39
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
FOCUS ON: THE MIXEDWOOD PLAINS ECOZONE —
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
How can we describe Canada’s southernmost
ecozone?
The Mixedwood Plains Ecozone is one of the most attractive
and productive in Canada. The area consists of gently rolling
lowlands recently shaped during the last ice age. The last
continental glaciers retreated approximately 11 000 years ago
and left behind huge deposits of sand, clay, and gravel. As you
drive across the hills and valleys of southern Ontario, you are
actually driving over glacial deposits that created features
such as moraines and drumlins.
The Mixedwood Plains Ecozone
N
0
500
1000
kilometres
Mixedwood Plains
Ecozone
Toronto
The Escarpment
The other major feature that stands out on the landscape is
the Niagara Escarpment. The escarpment was formed 400 to
500 million years ago and runs from Niagara Falls west and
north to the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island. It is
actually the rim of an ancient sea, and if you look carefully
you can see fossil seashells and other creatures in the rock.
The other defining features of this region are the Great Lakes
and the St. Lawrence River. The Great Lakes hold
approximately 20 percent of the world’s fresh water.
Hospitable Habitat
The Oak Ridges Moraine and the Niagara Escarpment are in the
Mixedwood Plains Ecozone.
40
MHR
The rich glacial deposits, flat plains, and climate (moderated
by the Great Lakes) combine to create excellent growing
conditions for native species. The area is warm in summer,
cold in winter, and receives moderate amounts of
precipitation all year round. Without present-day human
activities, the region would be covered by a mixed forest with
both coniferous and deciduous trees.
Typical species include the white pine, eastern hemlock,
red oak, and sugar maple. Most of the area was covered in
forests that were home to First Nation peoples, when
Europeans first arrived, but only small, isolated pockets are
still standing between agricultural and urban areas today.
Wetlands, such as marshes and swamps, have been drained to
make way for urban and agricultural expansion.
Wildlife Under Stress
SHOWYOUKNOW
Mixedwood Plains Ecozone.
2. Plants can grow when the temperature goes above 5°C. Using
the climate graph on the right, calculate the number of months
in the growing season for this region.
3. In what ways do you think human activities have affected
wildlife in the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone?
A Climate Graph: Toronto, Ontario,
in the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone
30
20
10
5
0
⫺10
⫺20
⫺30
150
100
50
Precipitation (mm)
1. Create a web diagram that shows five physical features of the
Wildlife has been forced to look for food and living space in our cities.
Temperature (Celsius)
Human activity in this ecozone seriously threatens the
survival of wildlife. The Great Lakes once contained large
healthy fish stocks. People were able to catch excellent lake
trout, walleye, and largemouth bass. However, because of
intense commercial fishing and destruction of habitat, the
number of fish and fish species continues to decline. Many
different animals, including white-tailed deer, black bears,
beavers, and countless songbirds, are also native to this
ecozone. Since much of their original natural habitat has been
destroyed, animals are forced to adapt to living in smaller
forests, only patches of wetland, and some green urban spaces.
0
J F MAM J J A S O N D
Annual precipitation 818.9 mm
MHR
41
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
FOCUS ON: THE MIXEDWOOD PLAINS ECOZONE —
THE HUMAN CONNECTION
How do we use the land in this populated region?
The physical conditions and location of the Mixedwood
Plains Ecozone have made it an ideal place for people to live.
First Nations peoples understood the value of the region and
made large, permanent settlements here long before
Europeans arrived.
The Niagara Region
N
Lake Ontario
Heavy Population
St. Catharines
Hamilton
Niagara
Escarpment
UNITED
STATES
Niagara Falls
Welland
0
15
30
Welland Canal
Fort Erie
Port Colborne
kilometres
This is the most densely populated region in Canada and it
contains most of the largest cities in the country. The
population continues to grow and settlement continues to
expand throughout the region. This heavy development has
put extreme stress on the natural environment due to both
habitat destruction and pollution.
Competing Uses
Lake Erie
Urban growth and
expansion can isolate
natural habitats.
42
MHR
The Mixedwood Plains not only are perfect to build on but
also contain some of the best agricultural soil in the country.
Much of this soil can no longer be used for agriculture since it
has already been covered by roads, homes, and other
buildings. The fertile soil and moderate climate make places
such as the Niagara Peninsula the most intensely cultivated
areas in this ecozone. Orchards and vineyards are still
plentiful, but the pressure for urban development is intense.
In other areas of the region, fruits and vegetables, grains, and
livestock production are very important to the economy.
Conflicts between urban development and the need to protect
agricultural and natural land are common throughout the
entire ecozone.
Tourism Opportunities
Tourism in the
Mixedwood Plains Ecozone
Fishing and boating
Tourism is another defining feature of the region. Since this is
the commercial centre of the country, major urban centres such
as Toronto and Montreal attract many business travellers every
year. The arts and entertainment business in these and other
cities and towns is booming with live theatre, music, and art
galleries. Niagara Falls is still one of the top tourist destinations
in the world, and now local wineries attract visitors to this
area as well. Tourism changes as you move away from the
cities, as local fairs and festivals in smaller towns attract
vacationers from other parts of Canada and the United States.
Cottage Country
Many central Ontario towns rely heavily on tourists for their
economies in both winter and summer. “Cottage country,” to
the north of the ecozone, has also been developing rapidly.
This means that year-round roads, hydro-electric power,
cellphone service, and other comforts of home are rapidly
expanding into this part of the ecozone as well.
Theatre at
Niagara-on-the-Lake
A baseball game in Toronto
SHOWYOUKNOW
1. List four competing land uses in the Mixedwood Plains
Ecozone.
2. Why do you think this region is so densely populated? Give
three reasons.
3. Should more of this ecozone be used for roads and housing?
Explain your answer.
G E O FA C T
e Mixedwood
les who lived in th
op
pe
ns
tio
Na
st
Fir
ars included
r thousands of ye
fo
e
on
oz
Ec
s
ain
Pl
wa, and Mohawk.
the Iroquois, Ojib
MHR
43
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
FOCUS ON: THE ATLANTIC MARINE ECOZONE —
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
How do natural systems combine to form a unique
marine environment?
The Atlantic Marine Ecozone
N
Atlantic Marine
Ecozone
0
500
1000
The Atlantic Marine Ecozone runs along the coast of
Newfoundland and Labrador, south to the coast of Nova Scotia,
and far out into the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the region consists of
deep water (up to 1000 metres deep) in what is called the offshore
zone. Along the coast, called the inshore zone, this ecozone follows
the eastern boundary of the continental shelf. This is where
the famous Grand Banks are located: average depth, 150 metres.
Conditions here are perfect for attracting many species of fish.
Iceberg Alley
This area is also called Iceberg Alley because during the spring,
icebergs break off from the large glaciers of Greenland and
Canada’s Arctic and float south. Under the inshore zone are
sedimentary rocks that were deposited 100 to 150 million
years ago and now hold some of Canada’s most valuable oil
and natural gas reserves.
kilometres
Wildlife of the Atlantic Marine Ecozone
Puffins
44
Harp seals
MHR
Humpback whales
N
When Warm and Cold Collide
AD
OR
CU
R
NT
This ecozone also supports marine mammals such as grey
seals, harbour porpoises, and humpback whales. Large
breeding colonies of seabirds are also found on islands
scattered around the inshore zone. Common species include
Atlantic puffins and gannets. Therefore, despite its northern
location, this marine ecosystem is biologically rich.
BR
RE
kilometres
R
1000
M
EA
ST
500
LF
0
GU
Marine Animals
LA
The climate of this region is moderated by the Gulf Stream.
This warm ocean current starts in the Gulf of Mexico and
travels north along the coast of North America. Dense fogs
occur off the coast of Newfoundland when the cold Labrador
Current mixes with the warm Gulf Stream. These fogs can be
extremely dangerous for ships, especially since this area is
also part of Iceberg Alley. However, the mixing of cold and
warm currents and the movement of the tides are vital for
animals that live in this ecozone. Nutrients that lie on the sea
floor are stirred up and become food for marine animals such
as lobsters, crabs, northern cod, and Greenland halibut.
The Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current meet in this ecozone.
SHOWYOUKNOW
1. Explain why this part of the ocean is called Iceberg Alley.
2. Use examples to explain how the Gulf Stream affects this ecozone.
3. Create a chart comparing the inshore and offshore regions
of this marine ecozone.
The Grand Banks
and Continental
Shelf
MHR
45
FOCUS ON: ATLANTIC MARINE ECOZONE —
THE HUMAN CONNECTION
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
How do people live in this marine ecozone?
The Hibernia and Terra Nova Offshore Oil and Gas Reserves
The Fate of the Cod Fishery
Labrador Sea
N
LABRADOR
St. John’s
NEWFOUNDLAND
White
Rose
Hibernia
Gulf of
St. Lawrence
QUÉBEC
Terra
Hebron/
Nova
Ben Nevis
P.E.I.
N.B.
Halifax
Montréal
NOVA
SCOTIA
Sable
Deep Purple
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Legend
Boston
0
200
kilometres
New York
46
MHR
400
Human interaction with the environment in this region has
naturally been linked with fishing. The First Nations of the
area were accomplished fishers. Europeans and
Newfoundlanders have harvested the riches of the Grand
Banks since the eleventh century, when Vikings arrived there.
oil fields
gas fields
The staple species in the area was the northern cod. An entire
economy was built around the cod fishery. But now, with the
development of more efficient technologies and a disregard for
sustainable fishing practices, the cod stocks have almost
disappeared. In 1992, Canada banned cod fishing in the region,
and has tried to control foreign fishers as well. Canadian
government authorities have charged foreign vessels with illegally
fishing within Canadian waters. The inshore cod fishery was
reopened in 1998 in hopes that the fish stocks would hold, but
the federal government again had to close the cod fishery in 2003
and it is still closed. Other commercial species are also threatened
and scientists are calling for a reduction in the number of fishing
licences. They think that establishing “no fishing” zones will
also help avoid the same type of problem with other species.
Hope for the Future
Recently, the economic future of this ecozone has been
brighter. Offshore oil and natural gas are now bringing jobs
and wealth to the Atlantic region. The Hibernia and Terra
Nova oil deposits add about $5.5 billion to the economy of
Newfoundland and Labrador. There are many other potential
oil and gas fields under exploration in this ecozone.
Estimated Number of Cod Harvested
in the Atlantic Marine Ecozone
Non-Renewable Resources Run Out!
Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources. Although there will
be great prosperity for this region while these resources are
being mined, it is important to remember that they too will
eventually run out. It is possible that the economic future of
the Atlantic Marine Ecozone will once again depend on the
renewable fish stocks that were once so vital to the economy.
SHOWYOUKNOW
1. Identify the renewable and non-renewable resources in this
ecozone.
Amount of Cod Caught in Metric Tonnes
Year
Cod caught
Year
Cod caught
1989
1990
426,090
395,266
1997
1998
29,605
1991
309,031
187,526
1999
38,660
31,000
21,205
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
76,522
22,719
12,438
2000
2001
2002
2003
22,748
20,916
14,022
15,514
Source: http://www.fisha?
2. Read the table on the right.
a) How has the annual cod catch changed since the beginning
of the government ban?
b) Evaluate the use of a fishing ban on the protection of fish
stocks. Explain your answer.
3. Make a chart that relates resources to jobs in this ecozone.
Oil tanker
Oil derrick
base structure
Helicopter
deck
Your chart should list three resources and at least one job
related to each resource. Your chart should look like this:
Resource
Job(s)
Fish
Fish packer
Before people could design and build these specialized
platforms for drilling oil from deep in the sea floor, they
needed to understand the geography of the region.
MHR
47
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
FOCUS ON: THE NORTHERN ARCTIC ECOZONE —
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
What makes this ecozone such a challenging
environment?
The Northern Arctic Ecozone covers about one-seventh of
Canada’s landmass. It also includes most of the nonmountainous parts of Canada’s many arctic islands. Except
for a small part of northern Quebec, this ecozone is entirely
within our newest territory, Nunavut.
The Northern Arctic Ecozone
N
Land of the Midnight Sun
Northern Arctic
Ecozone
0
Iqaluit
500 1000
kilometres
30
20
10
5
0
⫺10
⫺20
⫺30
150
100
50
0
J F MAM J J A S O N D
Annual precipitation 433.0 mm
48
MHR
Precipitation (mm)
Temperature (Celsius)
A Typical Climate Graph: Iqaluit, Nunavut
As you look across the lowlands of this region you see large
areas covered with rock debris left behind by the continental
glaciers of the last ice age. Due to its high latitude, the area is
in near total darkness throughout the entire winter. Then, at
the height of summer, the sun never sinks below the horizon.
During school days in the winter, it is dark with a twilight
sky; in the summer, you can work or play outside by the light
of the “midnight sun.” The climate here is extremely cold and
dry. Snow can fall in any month of the year and once it starts
to fall in September it stays on the ground until June.
Arctic Desert
The extremely cold and dry climate limits the number of
plants and animals that can live in such a harsh environment.
There are no reptiles or amphibians native to this ecozone.
Very few insect species are found here, although during the
short summer, mosquitoes and flies swarm around anything
that lives and breathes. Fewer than 20 species of mammals
live here. The three largest mammals are the muskox, caribou,
and polar bear.
Many animals such as the Arctic fox and ermine adapt
to the winter conditions by turning brilliant white for
camouflage. Camouflage is important for both predators and
prey to hide from each other.
Sunlight and the Seasons
Rotates eastward
NG
RI
SP
Arctic
circle
Equator
March 21
Plant Life in the Arctic
Plants have also had to adapt in order to survive. Almost all of
the plants are perennials: they grow back every year. Many
plants grow close to the ground or in compact groups to
protect themselves from harsh winds and to conserve heat
energy. Mosses and lichens are the most common species,
although in some warmer regions, wildflowers such as the
Arctic poppy are found. Permafrost, ground that is frozen all
year long, is found throughout this ecozone. The top few
centimetres of the ground are called the active layer, and this
is the only part of the soil that thaws each summer.
Permafrost limits the ability of plants to establish roots and
causes poor drainage. Much of the area is boggy and floods in
the summer as the active layer melts.
WI
NT
ER
December 21
June 21
Tropic of
Cancer
S
Earth tilted
by 23.5
U
M
M
September 21
ER
0
Tropic of
Capricorn
LL
F A
Antarctic
circle
SHOWYOUKNOW
1. a) Look at the diagram above and explain in your own words
why the area receives so little sunlight in the winter.
b) Explain how this might affect people and plants in the region.
2. Why is this ecozone considered fragile? Be sure to think about
climate, vegetation, and soils.
3. Using evidence from the climate graph of Iqaluit, explain why
this region is called an arctic desert.
Working during dark winter days in
Iqaluit, Nunavut.
The region comes alive
during the short summer
season. Perennial marsh
marigolds come back
every year.
MHR
49
UNIT 1
Canada: All Systems GO!
FOCUS ON: THE NORTHERN ARCTIC ECOZONE —
THE HUMAN CONNECTION
THEME 2
SYSTEMS THINKING:
ECOZONES IN CANADA
What opportunities does the environment bring to
the people in this ecozone?
Transportation Routes in Nunavut
Resolute
Inuvik
Cambridge Bay
Whitehorse
Iqaluit
Yellowknife
Rankin
Inlet
Churchill
Umijuaq
Edmonton
N
Historically, the Atlantic Northern Arctic Ecozone has been
inhabited by the Inuit. These peoples are descendents of the
Thule, who migrated to the area approximately 1500 years
ago. Today, approximately 80 percent of the population is
Inuit. The Inuit are traditionally nomadic people, but today
they live in 26 separate communities. Hunting, trapping, and
fishing are all part of the traditional economy of the region
and are vital to the economy. The value of this harvesting
economy is approximately $40 million annually. On April 1,
1999, Nunavut, which means “our land” in Inuktitut, became
Canada’s newest territory. Nunavut has the youngest
population in Canada. None of its settlements are accessible
over land—everything from outside must be brought in by
airplane, helicopter, or by ship in the spring.
Calgary
Resource Frontier
Winnipeg
Montréal
0
500
1000
Toronto
kilometres
Bridges
Highways
s
tem Ra
ilway t
y sys
t
i
c
i
racks
tr
Elec infrastructure
ds
Roa
s
Water systems
m
s syste
nication
Commu
50
MHR
Most recently, mining and oil and gas companies have been
working in the Northern Arctic Ecozone. In 2004, mineral
exploration activity brought more than $150 million to the
economies of these northern communities. Diamond, gold,
and base metal companies are actively exploring Nunavut to
find ore deposits. One of the biggest challenges the territory’s
government faces is the need to develop a proper
infrastructure to support businesses. There is a need for an
all-weather road from Manitoba, and there is a need to
develop larger seaports to bring in goods from other parts of
Canada and elsewhere in the world.
Although every community has an airstrip, the territory also
needs to be able to accommodate more flights and larger, more
modern planes. The permafrost is the problem: It makes
building housing, sewers, and other aspects of settlement
difficult. Telecommunications—telephones, television, radio,
and the Internet—are all done by satellite and are very
expensive to maintain.
Tourism in the North
With the establishment of national and territorial parks,
tourism is growing in this region. The unique Inuit culture
and natural beauty of the land are attracting tourists from
around the world. An estimated 18 000 tourists travelled to
Nunavut in 2004. Most tourism relates to the land itself.
Sport hunting and fishing are closely regulated but nonresidents can hunt caribou, muskox, and walrus. Ecotourism
is increasingly popular and adventure tours include sea
kayaking, spring scuba diving under the ice, and dogsled
expeditions. One outfitter will even support you on an
expedition to the North Pole.
Nunavut
Employment by Industry, 2001
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing
Mining
Manufacturing
Construction
Transportation, Communication and other Utilities
Trade
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate
Services
Public Administration
Total
100
200
200
700
900
1400
400
4000
2600
10 700
Source: Statistics Canada
Economic activity in Nunavut 2001
Kayaking
Hiking
SHOWYOUKNOW
1. List four characteristics of the daily life of people in Nunavut.
2. Using examples, list three ways the natural environment is
important to the people of this ecozone.
3. In your opinion, why is Nunavut so popular with southern and
international tourists? What would attract you to this land?
Sustainable tourism is important to the economy
in the Canadian Arctic.
MHR
51