The 7 Vegetation Regions of Canada

CORDILLERAN VEGETATION

DECIDUOUS FOREST

GRASSLANDS

WEST COAST FOREST

BOREAL AND TAIGA FOREST

MIXED FOREST

TUNDRA

The 7 Vegetation Regions

of Canada

Emily Grass

• found in southwestern Ontario
• summers are long and hot, winters are mild and the great amount of percipitation makes it ideal for deciduous trees (ex. maple, beech, hickory) to grow
• soil contains more humus than the mixed forest, but is less acidic because there are more deciduous trees
• topsoil is dark brown
• most fertile soils of eastern Canada

• farthest north region, located above the tree line (above this line, trees can't grow because it is too cold)
• cold climate
• permafrost covers most of the tundra, the top layer thaws in the summer
• very short growing season due to the thawing of the permafrost
• plants are small and low to the ground to get heart from the groun and are sheltered from cold harsh winds
• very little humus in soil

• largest vegetation region
• south of the tundra, seperated by the tree line
• large amount of carniferous trees
• soil has very little humus and is acidic from the needles dropped by trees
• percipitation washes away minerals from topsoil and removes them to deeper levels
• cold climate and short growing season
• topsoil is a grey colour

• along the west coast
• forests of Douglas fir, Sitka, spruce, red cedar, and western hemlock
• heavy rainfall and mild climate are prime growing conditions for the trees
• temperate rainforest
• vegetation provides lots of plant material to generate humus but the high rainfall leaches minerals deep into the soil
• trees can be 1m in diamter, 50m tall

• transition zone between the boreal forest and the deciduous forest (boreal to the north, deciduous to the south)
• contains both coniferous and deciduous trees that can both survive in the warm summers and cool winters
• humus created by fallen leaves is rich in minerals
• less soluble minerals are removed from the topsoil because there is more humus than the boreal forest
• soil is suitable for farming
• topsoil is a deep grey-brown colour

• in the southern part of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta
• grass is suited to the dry climate, unlike most species of trees
• grass roots form a sod mat which absorbs and stores moisture as well as holding the soil in place

3 sub regions;

Short-grass Prairie

short grasses, sagebrush and cactus are the only types of vegetation that can survive in the warm, dry climate, little humus is produced

Long-grass Prairie

more percipitation, tall grasses and grains grow idealy here, when the tall grasses die they produce large amounts of humus, richest soil in Canada, produces some of the best grains in the world

Parkland

transition zone of long-grass prairie with scattered clumps of coniferous trees in the north and deciduous trees in the south

• vegetation varies greatly because the rainfall varies on the sides of the mountains
• on the east side of the mountain there is less rainfall than the west side
• east side has grasses and cactuses that grow in the hot, dry valleys
• carniferous trees grow on lower slopes
• higher slopes of mountain ranges is similar to the tundra; meadows of flowers, shrubs and on the very highest slopes, no vegetation at all
• type of soil depends on the elevation, slope, rainfall and vegetation cover of each area of the mountain range