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Using Ecoregions to Describe Distribution and Abundance

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Using Ecoregions to Describe Distribution and Abundance ECOREGIONS – May 2011 USING ECOREGIONS TO DESCRIBE DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE The following is a summary of the ecoregions that occur in the Maritimes by province. The descriptions here are short and meant to give you the highlights Please use these to help you interpret and describe species distribution and abundance patterns. However, try not to get bogged down in the details. For some species their associations with ecoregions are straightforward (e.g., Fox Sparrows occur in the Highlands and Cape Breton Taiga regions as well as along the coast). For other species with broader distributions, like the Northern Parula, you won’t be able to attribute their distribution to a particular ecoregion so better to state that they are “widespread” and use the ecoregions to highlight areas of highest density (e.g., Densities are highest in the NB Valley and Grand Lakes lowland regions, with several other areas of high abundance in all three provinces. Further information and the source from which these descriptions were derived can be found at: www.gnb.ca/0399/OurLandscapeheritage/index‐e.asp [NB]; www.gov.ns.ca/natr/forestry/ecological/ecolandclass.asp [NS]; www.res.agr.ca/cansis/publications/manuals/1996/A42‐65‐1996‐national‐ecological‐ framework.pdf [p.86, PE] TABLE OF CONTENTS ECOREGIONS OF NB ........................................................................................................................ 2 Highlands..................................................................................................................................... 2 Northern Uplands ....................................................................................................................... 2 Central Uplands ........................................................................................................................... 2 Fundy Coast ................................................................................................................................. 3 Valley Lowlands ........................................................................................................................... 3 Eastern Lowlands ........................................................................................................................ 3 Grand Lakes Lowlands ................................................................................................................ 3 ECOREGIONS OF NOVA SCOTIA ...................................................................................................... 4 Cape Breton Taiga ....................................................................................................................... 4 Cape Breton Highlands ............................................................................................................... 4 Nova Scotia Uplands ................................................................................................................... 4 Eastern ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Northumberland Bras d’Or Lowlands ......................................................................................... 5 Valley and Central Lowlands Ecoregion ...................................................................................... 5 Western ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Atlantic Coastal ........................................................................................................................... 6 Fundy Shore ................................................................................................................................ 6 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND ................................................................................................................ 7 Prince Edward Island ................................................................................................................... 7 MAP OF MARITIME ECOREGIONS ................................................................................................... 8 1 ECOREGIONS – May 2011 ECOREGIONS OF NB Highlands Mountainous area with characteristics of the boreal forest - Mount Carleton (820m) tallest peak in the Maritimes, average elevation is 500m - Shorter, cooler growing seasons with longer winters - Several major rivers originate in this area, few lakes, limited wetlands - Dominated by balsam fir, black spruce, white spruce, white birch, intolerant hardwood and softwood species - Mountain tops with shallow soils – pure black spruce or balsam fir - Hemlock noticeably absent Northern Uplands Geologically diverse with a mixture of species with northern and southern affiliations - Elevations average 150 to 300m (up to 522m) - Tolerant hardwoods – sugar maple, yellow birch at lower elevations - Coniferous cover at higher elevations – balsam fir, black spruce, white spruce - Northern range limit of red spruce, hemlock and beech - Wetlands occur along streams and rivers - Peatlands, salt marshes, coastal estuaries, some lakes - Restigouche and Upsalquitch Rivers Central Uplands Two geographically separate areas, both with mixed forests and characterized by trees with southern affinities - Elevations vary between regions, Caledonia Uplands average 300m (up to 400m) - Two separate areas, one in northwest NB and one in the southeast (Madawaska Uplands and Bay of Fundy) which have similar climates and support similar ecosystems - High precipitation - Cooler than valley lowlands but warmer than nearby northern uplands - Trees with more southern affinities (rather than northern coniferous) - Hardwood and mixed forest stands – with well‐developed understorey vegetation (mountain maple, striped maple and hobblebush) - Lower slopes and valleys support red, white and black spruce and balsam fir and hardwoods on upper slopes, ridges and hilltops - Cedar in swamps along little main Restigouche and Grand River watersheds - Low frequency of fires (restricts growth of trembling aspens and pines) - Oak, ash and hemlock in scattered locations - In north, limited wetlands – alder swamps are the most common or shallow open water - More diverse wetlands in the south – peatlands, juniper barrens - Madawaska and Saint John River Valleys 2 ECOREGIONS – May 2011 Fundy Coast Coastal climate, primarily coniferous - Primarily under 100m although coastal cliffs can be upwards of 300m - influenced by the Bay of Fundy - cool, moist climate = mainly coniferous - dominated by red spruce but also balsam fir, black spruce, white spruce and tamarack - Tolerant hardwood is rare Valley Lowlands Defining characteristic is diversity - Elevations vary; 572m at mount Cameron but elevations drop to 100m at ecoregion border (approaching Grand Lake Lowlands ecoregion) - Region flanks upper and middle Saint John River Valley - Many plants with southern affinities - Continental climate sheltered from maritime influences - Less precipitation, relatively warm - Mainly tolerant hardwoods and red spruce - Diversity of wetland types (Hampton‐Kenebecassis marsh, abundant peatlands in the southwest, shrub swamp, wet forest) Eastern Lowlands Coastal area, marshes and extensive peatlands - Elevation range of 150m to sea level - Coastal area with sand dunes, salt marshes and lagoons - Acidic soils – discourages tolerant hardwood stands (i.e., sugar maple, yellow birch and beech) - Boreal‐like species - Fire‐tolerant species (trembling aspen, red,white and jack pine plus black spruce) - Highest percentage of wetlands and peatlands Grand Lakes Lowlands Warm climate and widespread alluvial floodplains - Elevation range of 150 m to sea level - Grand Lake Basin and Oromocto watershed - Warmest climate in NB (longest growing season and highest temperatures) - Heat‐loving trees – ash, oak, silver maple, ironwood, basswood - Low relief = few tolerant hardwood ridges - Red maple, red spruce, hemlock, beech, sugar maple, white ash - White pine near eastern lowlands - Diversity of wetlands 3 ECOREGIONS – May 2011 ECOREGIONS OF NOVA SCOTIA Cape Breton Taiga Elevations over 450 m; stunted trees, raised bogs, barrens and extreme weather conditions - “Taiga” generally refers to the transition zone between boreal forest and tundra - Highest elevation in NS, most of region exceeds 425 m (max. 532m) - One of the coldest and wettest areas in NS - Short growing season and constant wind - Expanses of ombotrophic (cloud‐fed) bogs, stunted conifers and exposed bedrock - Wet areas are dominated by black spruce and larch, balsam fir dominates upper slopes - Krummholz– stands difficult to pass through - Bogs are moss bogs with low plants and sedges - High annual precipitation - climate as well as natural disturbances (e.g., windstorms and insects) shape the forest ecosystem in the region - No history of logging (stunted trees are of little economic importance) Cape Breton Highlands Elevations 300‐450 m; mountainous terrain;, boreal forest - Ecoregion includes varied topography of lowlands, steep slopes and plateaus - Average elevation 300 to 450m but extends to sea level - Similar to the taiga region (cooler temperatures, fog and precipitation) but less “harsh” - On the plateau, the forest is boreal, dominated by balsam fir followed by white spruce - Wetter areas dominated by birch and black spruce - Tolerant hardwoods as well as mixed woods on slopes - Natural disturbance = spruce budworm (1974 – last budworm outbreak which caused widespread
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