Ecoregions and Ecodistricts of Nova Scotia

K.T. Webb Crops and Livestock Research Centre Research Branch Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Truro, Nova Scotia

I.B. Marshall Indicators and Assessment Office Environmental Quality Branch Environment Canada Hull, Quebec

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Environment Canada 1999 ~ Minister of Public Works and Government Services Cat. No. A42-65/1999E ISBN 0-662-28206-X

Copies of this publication are available from:

Crops and Livestock Research Centre Research Branch Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada P.O. Box 550, Banting Annex Nova Scotia Agricultural College Truro, Nova Scotia B2N 5E3 or

Indicators and Assessment Office Environmental Quality Branch Environment Canada 351 St. Joseph Blvd. Hull, Quebec KIA OC3

Citation

Webb, K.T. and Marshall, LB. 1999. Ecoregions and ecodistricts of Nova Scotia. Crops and Livestock Research Centre, Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Truro, Nova Scotia; Indicators and Assessment Office, Environmental Quality Branch, Environment Canada, Hull, Quebec. 39 pp. and 1 map. CONTENTS

PREFACE...... v

PREFACE...... , vi

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...... vii

IN'TRODUCTION 1

ECOSYSTEMS AND ECOLOGICAL LAND CLASSIFICATION 1

THE NATIONAL ECOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK AND NOVA SCOTIA 3 ECOLOGICAL UNITS ...... 4 Ecozones ...... 4 Ecoregions ...... _ ...... _ 4 Ecodistricts _ ...... _ ...... 4

ECOLOGICAL UNIT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 6 ATLANTIC MARITIME ECOZONE ...... _ ...... 6 MARITIME LOWLANDS ECOREGION (122) ...... 7 Pictou-Cumberland Lowlands Ecodistrict (504) ...... _ 7 FUNDY COAST ECOREGION (123) _ ...... 8 Chignecto-Minas Shore Ecodistrict (507) ...... _ ...... 9 North MountainEcodistrict(509) _ ...... _ 10 SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA UPLANDS ECOREGION (124) 11 South Mountain Ecodistrict (510) 12 Chester Ecodistrict (511) ...... 12 Lunenburg Drumlins Ecodistrict (512) ...... 13 Tusket River Ecodistrict (513) ...... 14 Rossignol Ecodistrict (514) _ ...... _ ...... 15 Clyde River Ecodistrict (515) ...... 16 ATLANTICCOASTECOREGION(125) ...... 17 ANNAPOLIS-MINAS LOWLANDS ECOREGION (126) ...... 18 Windsor Lowlands Ecodistrict (517) 19 Annapolis Valley Ecodistrict (518) ...... 20

III SOUTH-CENTRAL NOVA SCOTIA UPLANDS ECOREGION (127) 21 Sheet Harbour Ecodistrict (519) ...... 22 Beaverbank Ecodistrict (520) ...... 23 NOVASCOTIAHIGHLANDSECOREGION(128) 23 Cape Breton Escarpment Ecodistrict (521) ...... 24 Ainslie Uplands Ecodistrict (522) ...... 25 Bras d'Or Lowlands Ecodistrict (523) 26 Bras d'Or Uplands Ecodistrict (524, 526) ...... 27 Antigonish Lowlands Ecodistrict (525) 27 Pictou-Antigonish Highlands Ecodistrict (527) ...... 28 Cumberland Hills Ecodistrict (528) 29 Mulgrave Plateau Ecodistrict (529) 30 Cobequid Highlands Ecodistrict (530) 31 St. Marys Block Ecodistrict (531) 31 CAPE BRETON HIGHLANDS ECOREGION (129) 33 Cape Breton Plateau Ecodistrict (532) ...... 33 CapeBreton BarrensEcodistrict(533) ...... 34

REFERENCES ...... 36

APPENDIX: Map of the Terrestrial Ecoregions and Ecodistricts of Nova Scotia...... 39

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Information sources used to describe the ecodistricts ...... 5

IV PREFACE

Since the late 1960s, governments, non-government and data and covering provincial, national, and groups, universities and industry have worked to North American perspectives. These include: develop a common, hierarchical ecosystem framework and tenninology. The initiative gained the 1998 Ecoregions of Saskatchewan; momentum in the 1970s, especially following the · the 1998 Terrestrial Ecozones, Ecoregions creation of the Canada Committee on Ecological and Ecodistricts of Manitoba, An Ecological Land Classification. In 1991, a collaborative Stratification of Manitoba 's Natural project was undertaken by a number of federal Landscapes; government agencies in cooperation with provincial · the 1996 Ecoregions of British Columbia and territorial governments to revise previous work (revised 4th edition); and establish a common, hierarchical ecosystem the 1996 A Perspective on Canada's framework for Canada. The underlying principle Ecosystems by the Canadian Council on for the initiative was the commitment and need to Ecological Areas (CCEA), which provides a think, plan, and act in terms of ecosystems. The country-wide, in-depth description of Canada's principle required people to move away from an terrestrial ecozones; and emphasis on individual elements that comprise an the 1997 Ecological Regions of North ecosystem to a perspective that is more America, Towards a Common Perspective by comprehensive and holistic in approach. The use of the NAFT A Commission for Environmental such a framework of standard ecological units Cooperation (CEC), which provides an provides for common communication and reporting integrated, continental perspective. between different jurisdictions and disciplines. It enhances the capability of government and non- This report for Nova Scotia continues the trend to government organizations to assess and report on provide more in-depth provincial perspectives on environmental quality and the sustainability of ecosystems, following the hierarchy of the national ecosystems. ecological framework. It describes Nova Scotia within the context of 1 ecozone, 8 ecoregions, and The revised National Ecological Framework for 25 ecodistricts. The ecoregions and ecodistricts are Canada, which was released in 1996, depicted presented on an accompanying map and described three levels of generalization - ecozones, in terms of climate, vegetation, landform, soils, ecoregions and ecodistricts. Subsequent to the wildlife, and land use. Ecodistrict descriptions, not release of the main report, a number of additional available in the national report, are presented for materials associated with the framework have been the first time. published, providing broader, more in-depth studies

v PREFACE

Depuis 1a fin des annees 60, gouvernements, etudes et des donnees plus vastes et plus groupes non gouvernementaux, universites et approfondies, et couvrant les perspectives industrie collaborent a 1'etablissement d'une provincia1es, nationa1es et nord-americaines, dont: termino10gie et d'un cadre de travail communs et hierarchiques pour l'ecosysteme. Ce mouvement a Ecoregions of Saskatchewan, en 1998; pris son elan dans les annees 70, particulierement Terrestrial Ecozones, Ecoregions and apres la mise sur pied du Comite canadien de la Ecodistricts of Manitoba, An Ecological classification ecologique du territoire. En 1991, un Stratification of Manitoba 's Natural projet concerte a ete entrepris par un certain Landscapes, en 1998; nombre d' organismes federaux, en collaboration · Ecoregions of British Columbia, en 1996 (4. avec des gouvernements provinciaux et edition revisee); territoriaux, afin d'examiner Ie travail anterieur et Une perspective des ecosystemes du Canada, d'etablir, pour Ie Canada, un cadre de travail en 1996, du Conseil canadien des aires commun et hierarchique pour l' ecosysteme. Le ecologiques (CCAE), qui donne une description principe sous-jacent de ce mouvement etait approfondie et pancanadienne des ecozones 1'engagement et la necessite de penser, de planifier terrestres du pays; et d'agir en fonction de l'ecosysteme. Ce principe Les regions ecologiques de I 'Amerique du exigeait que les gens s'eloignent de l'importance Nord, vers une perspective commune, en 1997, accordee aux elements individuels d'un ecosysteme, de la Commission de cooperation pour passer a une perspective dont l' approche est environnementale (CCE) de l' ALENA, qui plus complete et plus holistique. L'utilisation d'un presente la perspective integree et continentale. tel cadre d'unites ecologiques normalisees assure une communication et une transmission de donnees Le present rapport sur la Nouvelle-Ecosse poursuit communes entre les differents intervenants et la tendance consistant a fournir des perspectives disciplines. Elle augmente aussi la capacite des provinciales plus poussees sur les ecosystemes, organismes gouvernementaux et non base sur la hierarchie du cadre de travail gouvernementaux d'evaluer la qualite de ecologique national. II decrit la Nouvelle-Ecosse l'environnement et la durabilite des ecosystemes, dans Ie contexte d'une ecozone, de huit ecoregions puis d'en rendre compte. et de 25 ecodistricts. Les ecoregions et les ecodistricts sont presentes sur une carte jointe et La revision du Cadre ecologique national pour Ie decrits au plan du climat, de la vegetation, de la Canada, publiee en 1996, decrit trois niveaux de topographie, des sols, de la faune et de generalisation, soit les ecozones, les ecoregions et l'amenagement du territoire. Les descriptions des les ecodistricts. Apres la publication du rapport ecodistricts, qui ne figurent pas dans Ie rapport principal, un certain nombre de documents lies au national, sont presentees pour la premiere fois dans cadre de travail ont ete pub lies, presentant des ce rapport.

VI ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to the following Cartographic support and cover design were individuals for their input and helpful feedback provided by Gary Leafloor, Canadian Soil during the development of the map: Information System, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food James Bridgland, Canadian Parks Service, Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Heritage Canada, Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia Harry Hirvonen, Canadian Forest Service, The authors are indebted to Peter Neily, Research Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, Ontario Section, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Art Lynds, Parks and Recreation Section, Resources, Truro, Nova Scotia and Gary Ironside, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality Branch, Environment Belmont, Nova Scotia Canada, Hull, Quebec, for reviewing the Peter Neily, Research Section, Nova Scotia manuscript and to Marla Sheffer, Contract Editor, Department of Natural Resources, Truro, for technically editing the report. Nova Scotia

Vll INTRODUCTION

In Nova Scotia, as in many places around the Promoting an ecological perspective begins with a world, human activities have impacted on many more integrated view of ecosystems. This approach ecosystems. Maintaining a healthy environment, as encourages us to think, plan, and act in terms of well as economic prosperity for the people of Nova ecosystems when managing our natural resources. Scotia, is an ongoing challenge. Decisions This report describes the ecosystems of Nova concerning the environment and management of Scotia following the hierarchical framework for natural resources need to be made on a broader and terrestrial ecosystems in Canada (Ecological more inclusive basis than has been done in the past, Stratification Working Group 1996). It describes keeping in mind that, in one way or another, Nova Scotia within the context of 1 ecozone, 8 everything is connected and interdependent. ecoregions, and 25 ecodistricts. The ecoregions and Connections between people and the environment ecodistricts are presented on an accompanying map must be recognized, including the short- and long- and described in terms of climate, vegetation, term implications of our activities, the components landform, soils, wildlife, and land use. and functions of ecosystems, and the carrying capacity and transformations of ecosystems (Acton et al. 1998).

ECOSYSTEMS AND ECOLOGICAL LAND CLASSIFICATION

An ecosystem is a unit of nature containing a (Task Group on Ecosystem Approach and "community of organisms including humans, Ecosystem Science 1996). interacting with one another, plus the environment in which they live and with which they interact. Arising from this expanded view of an ecosystem Ecosystems are often embedded within other are a number of insights that influence the process ecosystems of larger scale" (Royal Society of of mapping and classifying ecologically distinctive Canada 1995). The classical definition of areas (Task Group on Ecosystem Approach and ecosystem has been expanded in response to Ecosystem Science 1996). Everything in an decision-making needs and concerns regarding the ecosystem is related to everything else. In essence, long-term capability of ecosystems to sustain life. the whole is more than the sum of its parts. Earth The root words of ecosystem are eco, a derivative behaves like a series of interrelated ecosystems in of the Greek term for house or home, and system, which all components are linked, so that a change which addresses the relationships and connections in one component brings about a change in other between the biological and physical parts. First components. This requires us to consider spatial introduced by Tansley (1935), the term described a perspectives, from local, regional, and system that included the community of living subcontinental to global. Since people are an organisms and the physical factors forming their important part of ecosystems, sustained life is a environment such as water, land, and air. It now property of systems, not individual species. This includes specific reference to human beings as an implies the need to maintain the health and integrity integral part of the biological community and the of natural systems to ensure our own survival. flexible nature of ecosystem spatial boundaries

1 Ecological land classification is: · It recognizesthat ecosystemsare interactive and that characteristics of one ecosystem blend a process of delineating and classifying ecologically with those of another. distinctive areas of the Earth's surface. Each area can be viewed as a discrete system which has It recognizes that map lines generally depict the resulted from the mesh and interplay of the geologic, location of zones of transition. landform, soil, vegetative, climatic, wildlife, water, and human factors which may be present. The Ecosystems are numerous and complex. The dominance of anyone or a number of these factors varies with the given ecological land unit. The challenge is to make ecological map units workable holistic approach to land classification can be and understandable to reflect this complexity. It is applied incrementally on a scale-related basis from equally important to recognize that although site-specific ecosystems to very broad ecosystems. ecological land classification is science-based, it is (Wiken 1986) also an art, in the sense that ecological cycles, characteristics, and interactions are not always The fundamental basis for delineation of ecological readily apparent or measured and therefore need to units is to capture the major ecological composition be interpreted from the development of vegetation, and the linkages between the various components soil, and landform characteristics or other factors. (e.g., landforms, soils, water, and vegetation) rather than treating each component as a separate Ecosystems not only vary tremendously, but form characteristic of the landscape. part of a "nested hierarchy" at multiple scales, in which smaller ecosystems are encompassed within Key elements in the application of ecological land successively larger ones. A hierarchical system classification in delineating ecological map units permits the choice of detail that suits management are as follows (Wiken and Gauthier 1996; objectives and the proposed use. Because Commission for Environmental Cooperation 1997): management and other decision-making deal at various levels, from local to regional to national Ecological land classification incorporates all and even to international, one of the requirements major components of ecosystems: air, water, of ecological land classification is to portray land, and biota (including humans). ecosystems at a level, scale, and intensity appropriate to the need. · It is holistic "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." Although the ecosystem concept implies equality among components (soils, climate, vegetation, etc.), The number and relative importance of factors all components may not be equally significant helpful in delineating ecological units vary throughout the hierarchy (i.e., some can be more from one area to another, regardless of the determinant or enduring than others). The level of generalization. dominance or importance of anyone factor may vary considerably in defining the spatial expression Ecological land classification is based on a of an ecosystem at each level of generalization. hierarchy, with ecosystems nested within Ideally, differentiating criteria are based on ecosystems. enduring components of the ecosystem and are those that do not change perceptibly over time, It involves integration of knowledge and is not such as geology, surficial materials, landform, and simply an overlay process. water bodies. For any level of generalization the pattern of components may vary from one ecological unit to the next, as do their relationships and processes. For example, on lowlands in Nova

2 Scotia, ecosystems are controlled by a different set geological substrate and surface shape and relief of factors than those in highland areas. Igneous and are also important criteria for establishing metamorphic bedrock, shallow stony surficial boundaries at the meso-scale (ecoregions and materials, and steep, hilly topography are ecodistricts). For example, the drumlinized till predominant on the highlands, whereas the plain of the Lunenburg Drumlins Ecodistrict lowlands encompass deep loamy surficial materials separates it from the more subdued topography and on subdued, undulating topography underlain by associated expansive wetlands of the adjacent sedimentary bedrock. These factors influence other Rossignol Ecodistrict. conditions, such as wildlife habitat, vegetative gro'wth, and productivity. Ecosystems can range from natural systems through to those heavily modified by human Establishing ecosystem boundaries on a map activity, such as urbanization. Land use and other involves distinguishing those systems in which human factors can influence the character and structures exhibit a consistent or significant degree delineation of some types of ecosystems. In some of change when compared with adjacent systems. situations, human activities have historically been Since land classification is based on multiple pervasive, significantly influencing the ecological factors, the key to placing boundaries on an processes and character of a region - for example, ecological map is an understanding of genetic the permanent influence of agriculture on the processes (how the ecosystem originated) and an grasslands of the Prairie provinces in western understanding of the causes of class differences as Canada or, to a lesser degree, the Annapolis Valley opposed to the effects. For example, the boundary in Nova Scotia. Ideally, the boundaries reflect between the Cape Breton Barrens Ecodistrict and factors that control ecosystems distribution at the adjacent Cape Breton Plateau Ecodistrict is due various scales, such that they can be recognized, primarily to the lack of vegetation caused by compared, and applied regardless of human exposure to extreme climatic conditions and activities and other natural disturbances. shallow soil. Landform type and pattern, with its

THE NATIONAL ECOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK AND NOVA SCOTIA

In 1991, a collaborative project was undertaken by perspective that is more comprehensive - a a number of federal agencies in cooperation with holistic approach. This required a national provincial and territorial governments, all under the ecological framework to provide a consistent, auspices of the Ecological Stratification Working spatial context within which ecosystems could be Group, to revise previous work and establish a described, monitored, and reported on at various common ecological framework for Canada. The levels of generalization. The use of such a working group focused on three priority levels of framework of standard ecological units would stratification - namely, ecozones, ecoregions, and provide for common communication and reporting ecodistricts . between different jurisdictions and disciplines. In this case, the immediate requirement was to provide The underlying principles for the initiative was the a common ground to report on the state of the commitment and need to think, plan, and act in environment and the sustainability of ecosystems in terms of ecosystems. The principle required people Canada. The concepts and hierarchy for ecological to move away from an emphasis on individual classification set out by the Canada Committee on elements that comprise an ecosystem to a Ecological Classification in the 1970s and 1980s

3 (Ironside 1991; Ecological Stratification Working Gaspe Peninsula and extends southwest through Group 1996) were the overall guide for the revised Quebec to the U.S. border south ofSherbrooke. national framework. Ecoregions The resulting national report, A National Ecological Framework for Canada, released by Ecoregions are subdivisions of ecozones, the Ecological Stratification Working Group in characterized by distinctive, large-order landforms 1996, contains the methodology used to construct or assemblages of regional landforms, small-order the ecological framework maps, the concepts of the macro- or meso-climates, vegetation, soils, water, hierarchical levels of generalization, narrative and regional human activity patterns and/or uses. descriptions of each ecozone and ecoregion, their Eight ecoregions were identified in Nova Scotia as linkages to various data sources, and examples of subsets of the Atlantic Maritime Ecozone. Those applications of the framework. with distinctive highland and upland relief include: the Nova Scotia Highlands, Cape Breton The development of an ecological classification Highlands, Southwest Nova Scotia Uplands, and framework for Nova Scotia was part of the South-central Nova Scotia Uplands ecoregions. national effort. Although a set of six regional Those with subdued relief include the Maritime ecodistrict maps covering all of Canada was Lowlands and the Annapolis-Minas Lowlands produced, no descriptions of the ecodistricts ecoreglOns. accompanied the maps (Ecological Stratification Working Group 1995). This report presents the The following sources were used to assist with the ecodistrict descriptions as well as the other two mapping and description of the ecoregions. These levels of the classification for Nova Scotia. The included reports written from national and regional narratives describing the ecoregions follow those of ecological perspectives (Loucks 1961; Hirvonen the Ecological Stratification Working Group 1984; Ecoregions Working Group 1989; Wiken et (1996) and are written in terms that permit al. 1993) and provincial ecological reports comparisons on a national scale. (Simmons et al. 1984; Davis and Browne 1996). Other sources included information dealing with biophysical (Nova Scotia Department of Lands and ECOLOGICAL UNITS Forests 1986a); geological (Bostock 1970; Roland 1982; Donohoe and Grantham 1989; Stea et al. Ecozones 1992); and climatic features (Dzikowski et al. 1984, Dzikowski 1984); as well as provincial soil At the top of the framework hierarchy, the ecozone surveys and land resource areas (Patterson and defines the ecological mosaic of Canada on a Langman 1992). subcontinental scale. It presents an area of the Earth's surface representative oflarge and very Ecodistricts generalized ecological units characterized by interactive and adjusting abiotic and biotic factors. Ecodistricts are subdivisions of ecoregions and are Ecozones capture the broad mosaics formed by the characterized by distinctive assemblages of interaction of macro-scale climate, vegetation, landform, relief, surficial geological material, soil, physiographic, and geological features of the water bodies, vegetation, and land uses. Twenty- country. Canada is divided into 15 terrestrial five ecodistricts were identified, ranging from 300 ecozones. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince to 5800 km2 in area. Most are in the 1000- to Edward Island are located within the Atlantic 3500-km2 range, the smallest of which reflect Maritime Ecozone. This ecozone also includes the

4 strongly contrasting features (e.g., Cape Breton Although not part of the ecological classification Barrens and North Mountain ecodistricts). framework, the Soil Landscapes of Canada map units and their associated data stored in the Principal sources used to guide the delineation of Canadian Soil Information System (e.g., National ecodistricts in Nova Scotia were the site districts of Soil Data Base) are directly linked to the Loucks' (1961) forest classification; the first ecodistricts. approximation of ecodistricts produced by Environment Canada (1985); theme regions within Other information sources used to describe the the Natural History of Nova Scotia (Simmons et ecodistricts are listed in Table 1. The sources are al. 1984); and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's listed according to the same five general categories soil landscapes of Nova Scotia (Canada Soil used to describe the ecodistricts - namely, Inventory 1989). The latest edition of the Natural climate, landform, vegetation, soils, and land use. History of Nova Scotia compiled by Davis and Browne (1996), was a significant source of information used for the descriptions.

Table 1. Information sources used to describe the ecodistricts

Category Variables Sources Climate General comments and description Gates 1975; Dzikowski 1984; Dzikowski et al. 1984 Monthly climatic normals, Bootsma and Ballard 1997 1961-1990 Potential evapotranspiration Bootsma and Ballard 1997 Growing season length and annual Bootsma and Ballard 1997 growing degree-days above 5°C Landform Bedrock geology Roland 1982; Donohoe and Grantham 1989; Davis and Browne 1996 Surficial geology Eastern Ecological Research Ltd. 1978; Roland 1982; Grant 1988; Canada Soil Inventory 1989; Stea et al. 1992; Davis and Browne 1996; Nova Scotia Soil Survey reports Physiography Roland 1982; Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests 1986a; Canada Soil Inventory 1989; Davis and Browne 1996 Vegetation Forest type and characteristic tree Loucks 1961, elaborated by Davis and Browne 1996; species Eastern Ecological Research Ltd. 1978 General forest cover Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests 1986b Soils Soil names, taxonomy, and Nova Scotia Soil Survey reports; Eastern Ecological characteristics Research Ltd. 1978; Soil Classification Working Group 1998 Land use Processing plants, electrical power Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests 1986c; Nova plants, mining Scotia Department of Mines and Energy 1986a; 1986b; Nova Scotia Power Corporation 1986; Davis and Browne 1996

5 ECOLOGICAL UNIT DESCRIPTIONS

ATLANTIC MARITIME ECOZONE other hard, crystalline rocks. This upland terrain is covered by glacial till. Humo-Ferric Podzols The Atlantic Maritime Ecozone covers are the dominant soils. In the coastal lowland 210 507 km2 and includes all of New Brunswick , areas, Luvisolic and Podzolic soils have formed Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. It also on surficial materials derived from the underlying covers Iles-de-Ia-Madeleine and the part of Quebec sedimentary bedrock (e.g., sandstone, shale, and extending southwesterly from the Gaspe Peninsula limestone). These lowland soils accommodate the through the Appalachian complex of eastern greatest proportion of the population and support Quebec to the U.S. border south of Sherbrooke. most of the agricultural activities in this ecozone.

Climate. Proximity of the ecozone to the Atlantic Wildlife. Characteristic mammals include Ocean creates a cool, moist maritime climate and white-tailed deer, moose, black bear, raccoon, moderates temperatures. Mean annual temperatures striped skunk, bobcat, and eastern chipmunk. range from 3.5°C in the Gaspe Peninsula to 6.5°C Representative birds include whip-poor-will, blue in southwestern Nova Scotia. Mean summer jay, eastern bluebird, and rose-breasted grosbeak. temperatures range between 13 and 15.5°C. Mean Breeding colonies of marine birds are also found winter temperatures range from -8°C in the Gaspe here, including great and double-crested Peninsula to -2°C in Nova Scotia. Mean annual cormorant, Atlantic puffin, common and thick- precipitation varies from 900 mm inland to over billed murre, black guillemot, and razorbill. 1500 mm near the coast. Coastal areas are several Representative marine species include various degrees warmer in winter and slightly cooler in species of seal, killer whale, and northern summer. bottlenose whale.

Vegetation. Forests are generally composed of Land Use. Forestry, agriculture, and mining mixed stands of conifer and deciduous species, are the major land-oriented activities. The coastal characterized by red spruce, balsam fir, yellow communities have traditionally utilized one of the birch, and sugar maple, whereas red and white pine country's most important fisheries, an economic and eastern hemlock occur to a lesser but mainstay of the ecozone. However, recent decline significant degree. Some boreal species are present, in the groundfish stocks, particularly cod, have including black and white spruce, balsam poplar led to a major cut back in fishing and fish and white birch. Jack pine is prominent on sandy processing industries. The deeper, less stony, and soils and in areas of regrowth after fires. Common somewhat more fertile lowland soils support an shrubs species include pin cherry, willow, speckled agricultural industry that includes dairy, beef, alder, steeple-bush, and blueberry. Forest growth is hog, poultry, vegetable, and fruit production. In fairly productive here, except where the bedrock is addition, the natural beauty of the interior and exposed. Most of the native forest has been coastal environments supports an important harvested or burned at least once in the past two tourist industry. The largest centres include centuries. Halifax, Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton, Dartmouth, Sydney, and Charlottetown. Most of Landform and Soils. The ecozone is dominated the population of approximately 2 510 000 is by the interior Appalachian Upland and the found in coastal lowland areas (Ecological Northumberland Coastal Plain physiographic units. Stratification Working Group 1996; Wiken et al. The uplands are composed of granite, gneiss, and 1996).

6 MARITIME LOWLANDS ECOREGION ruffed grouse, bobcat, martin, raccoon, mink, and (122) muskrat. Shorebirds and seabirds inhabit salt marshes and coastal habitats. This ecoregion covers 28 752 km2 on a large, triangular-shaped plain extending from south- Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use. central New Brunswick to the Gulf of St. Agriculture, fishing, mining, tourism, and Lawrence, which includes the Northumberland recreation are significant activities. The largest coastline of Nova Scotia. centres include Fredericton, Moncton, Bathurst, Pictou, and New Glasgow. Climate. The climate is marked by wann summers and mild, snowy winters and the lowest precipitation in the Maritime provinces. The mean Pictou-Cumberland Lowlands annual temperature is approximately 5°C. The Ecodistrict (504) mean summer and winter temperatures are 15.5 and -5.5°C, respectively. The mean annual The Pictou-Cumberland Lowlands Ecodistrict precipitation ranges from 1000 to 1300 rom. represents the eastern extension of the Maritime Lowlands Ecoregion and covers approximately Vegetation. The mixedwood and coniferous 3000 km2 in Nova Scotia. In Nova Scotia, it forests are composed mainly of red spruce, balsam extends eastward along the Northumberland shore fir, red maple, hemlock, and eastern white pine. from the New Brunswick border to Arisag in Sugar maple and yellow birch are found on larger Antigonish County. It is the only one of seven hills. Wetlands are extensive and support dwarf ecodistricts found within the Maritime Lowlands black spruce and eastern larch at their perimeters. Ecoregion that occurs in Nova Scotia. Eastern white cedar is found mainly on the New Brunswick portion of the lowlands. A history of Climate. The Pictou-Cumberland Lowlands forest fires is attributed to the warm, dry summers Ecodistrict has a delayed, cool spring, a warm, dry and is indicated by the abundance of fire-adapted summer, a wann fall, and a cold winter. The species, particularly jack pine and black spruce. ecodistrict has a mean annual temperature of 5.5°C and mean summer and winter temperatures of 16.9 Landform and Soils. The lowlands are an and -6.1 °C, respectively. The proximity of the undulating plain underlain by flat to gently dipping Pictou-Cumberland Lowlands Ecoregion to the sedimentary bedrock of the Carboniferous period. Northumberland Strait, a shallow, sheltered body Elevations rise inland from sea level to about of water that warms quickly in summer and freezes 200 m. The ecoregion is blanketed with loamy in winter, provides less of a moderating effect than glacial tills derived from the underlying sandstone does proximity to other coastal waters. The and shale. The dominant soils are Gray Luvisols ecodistrict is sheltered from storms from the south and Humo-Ferric Podzols with compact subsoils and east and as a result has the lowest mean annual that impede internal drainage. Low relief and precipitation in the province, at 1128 mm. The impervious tills retard drainage and have created ecodistrict receives about 442 mm of rain from significant areas of Gleysols and Organic soils. May to September. It experiences a large summer Fibrisols have developed on flat and raised bogs, moisture deficit of about 58 mm, which is second and Mesisols are typically found on fens. only to the deficit sustained in the Annapolis Valley Ecodistrict. The ecodistrict accumulates 1587 Wildlife. The ecoregion provides habitat for annual growing degree-days (5°C basis) and has a moose, black bear, white-tailed deer, red fox, growing season of 193 days. snowshoe hare, porcupine, fisher, coyote, beaver,

7 Landform. The ecodistrict is characterized by an permeable, basal tills derived mainly from the undulating plain, which is underlain by Late underlying sandstone and shale. Reddish-brown, Carboniferous sediments, consisting predominantly sandy loam Debert soils (Gleyed Eluviated Dystric of fine-grained sandstones, siltstone, shale, Brunisols) and loam to clay loam Queens soils conglomerate, and coal. These sediments have been (Gleyed Brunisolic Gray Luvisols) cover extensive compressed laterally into broad folds that have areas of undulating to rolling plain. Poorly drained, been differentially eroded, creating an undulating sandy loam Masstown soils (Orthic Gleysols) and landscape of ridges and valleys. As elevations rise loam to clay loam Kingsville soils (Luvic Gleysols) from sea level to a maximum of about 180 m to the are associated with the Debert and Queens soils on south, the landscape becomes more rolling and level to depressional topography. Poorly drained hilly. Karst topography is associated with small soils are commonly associated with very poorly pockets of gypsum, limestone, and salt of the drained Organic soils found on bogs, fens, and Windsor group in the southwestern portion of the forested swamps. Well-drained sandy loam ecodistrict. The streams on the lowlands branch Pugwash, Hansford, and Tormintine soils (Orthic irregularly to form a dendritic drainage pattern as Humo-Ferric Podzols) are found on upper slopes they flow northward from their source in the on permeable, sandy loam tills. Cobequid Highlands. The ecodistrict has few lakes. Surficial deposits are composed primarily of deep, Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in compacted, reddish-brown glacial tills derived from the ecodistrict. A large pulp mill is located at the underlying sandstone and shale. The tills range Abercrombie Point near Pictou. Agricultural land in texture from sandy loam to clay loam. Ice- in the Pictou-Cumberland Lowlands Ecodistrict is contact stratified drift and alluvium border the multi-cropped. Major farming activities include major rivers. Peatlands are numerous in areas of dairy, beef, and hog production. The ecodistrict low relief and adjacent to meandering streams. Salt ranks third in agricultural production behind the marshes line some of the shallower harbours and Annapolis Valley and Windsor Lowlands inlets along the coast. ecodistricts. Salt is mined and processed at Pugwash. Significant coal resources have been Vegetation. Coniferous and mixedwood forests mined from the Pictou Coalfield. Fishing and cover over 70% of the district. Black spruce, white cottages occur along stretches of coastline on the spruce, red spruce, red maple, and jack pine are the Northumberland Strait, where the warmest ocean most abundant species, although eastern hemlock waters in Nova Scotia occur. Major towns within and white pine are not uncommon. Sugar maple, the ecodistrict includes New Glasgow, Stellarton, beech, and yellow birch can be found on upper Westville, Pictou, and Amherst. slopes in the southern portion of the ecodistrict, and red spruce, balsam fir, black spruce, and hemlock are found on upland flats as well as middle to lower FUNDY COAST ECOREGION (123) slopes. Eastern larch is common with black spruce on wetland and poorly drained areas. Larch is also The Fundy Coast Ecoregion consists of a narrow, found with white spruce on moist abandoned fields. 4424-km2, coastal strip bordering the Bay of Fundy White birch is a common colonizer on burned sites. in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It includes Coastal forest along the Northumberland Strait is Grand Manan, Campobello, and Deer islands in influenced by strong winds and salt spray, trees are New Brunswick and Long and Brier islands in often stunted and display deformed and damaged Nova Scotia. crowns. Climate. Strongly influenced by the Atlantic Soils. Imperfectly drained soils characterize the Ocean, the ecoregion is exposed to high winds, high ecodistrict and are found on compact, slowly

8 humidity, and fog during summer and fall and is Chignecto-Minas Shore Ecodistrict slow to wann up in spring. It is marked by cool, (507) moist summers and mild, moist winters. The mean annual temperature is approximately 6.0°C. The The Chignecto-Minas Shore Ecodistrict is an mean summer and winter temperatures are 16.0 eastern segment of the Fundy Coast Ecoregion. It and -5.0°C, respectively. The mean annual consists of a narrow coastal band at the end of the precipitation ranges from 1200 to 1400 mm. High Bay of Fundy. It surrounds Cobequid Bay and tides averaging 10 m occur in the Minas Basin in Cumberland Basin and includes the connecting the Bay of Fundy. The highest tide in the world coastal area to Cape Chignecto. The ecodistrict was registered here at 16.1 m. . covers an area of2190 km2,of which approximately 73% is within Nova Scotia. Vegetation. The ecoregion is characterized by coniferous forest composed predominantly of red Climate. The moderating effect of the Atlantic spruce and balsam fir, with red maple and scattered Ocean is less in this ecodistrict than that found white spruce, white birch and yellow birch. Sugar closer to the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. The maple and beech are found at higher elevations. Chignecto-Minas Shore Ecodistrict has a mean annual temperature of 5.7°e. Mean summer and Landform and Soils. The bedrock is composed winter temperatures are 16.4 and -5.6°C, of Proterozoic, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic strata respectively. The ecodistrict experiences frequent rising from sea level to as high as 215 m above sea fog and about 1250 nun of precipitation annually level (asl) inland. The terrain is highly variable, - about 481 nun between May and September. ranging from rolling to steep, deeply incised The ecodistrict accumulates 1542 annual growing highlands to undulating coastal plains. degree-days (SOC basis) and has a growing season Discontinuous, stony glacial till blankets the of 197 days. highlands, whereas loamy tills, sandy, glaciofluvial sediments, and silty marine deposits occupy Landform. This ecodistrict has variable terrain, lowlands. Humo-Ferric Podzols are the dominant ranging from undulating lowlands to steep, soil. Mesisols occur on flat bogs in lowland areas. dissected hills. Triassic sandstones underlie Silty Regosols and Gleysols on diked and drained undulating lowlands and fonn a thin band salt marshes are used for agriculture. surrounding Cobequid Bay, terminating near Economy Mountain. In Hants County, loamy Wildlife. The ecoregion provides habitat for glacial till derived from the underlying sandstones moose, black bear, white-tailed deer, red fox, and shales of the Early Carboniferous Horton snowshoe hare, porcupine, fisher, coyote, beaver, Group cover undulating to rolling plains. In ruffed grouse, bobcat, and raccoon. Salt marshes Colchester County, lowland plains are covered with and tidal flats provide important habitat for loamy glacial till derived from the underlying migratory shorebirds. Triassic sediments. These plains are dissected by glaciofluvial and alluvial deposits adjacent to rivers Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use. that flow to the Bay of Fundy. Silty marine Approximately 12% of the ecoregion is fannland. sediments have accumulated at the mouths of many Fishing, tourism, mining, and seashore recreation of these rivers in estuaries and marshes. To the are other significant activities. Main centres include west of the basaltic Economy Mountain, the terrain Saint John, Truro, and Parrsboro. is rolling and hilly and strongly dissected. Till veneers, rock outcrops, and colluvium characterize the surficial materials from Parrsboro to Cape Chignecto. Adjacent to Chignecto Bay, an

9 undulating to rolling plain is covered with stony of the ecodistrict. Key fanning activities include glacial till veneer derived from gray sandstone of small fruits, vegetables, dairy, beef, and hog the Late Carboniferous period. At the mouth of production. Fishing and tourism are significant Cumberland Basin, extensive salt marsh deposits activities. Salt is mined and processed at Nappan. occur, many of which have been diked and drained Main population centres include Truro and for agricultural use. Parrsboro.

Vegetation. Spruces, balsam fir, white birch, red maple, hemlock, and white pine form relatively North Mountain Ecodistrict (509) stable forest on well-drained soils in the eastern part of the ecodistrict east of Five Islands. White This ecodistrict encompasses about 900 km2 in a spruce colonizes abandoned farmland. Scattered 200-km band that extends westward from Cape sugar maple, beech, and yellow birch occur locally Blomidon on North Mountain to Digby Neck and on low ridges. White elm and black ash may be includes Long and Brier islands. The ecodistrict is found on fertile floodplains. Yellow birch, white bordered by the Bay of Fundy to the north and the birch, and red maple are scattered and confined abrupt North Mountain escarpment and the mainly to protected sites. Beech may occur locally Annapolis Valley to the south. at high elevations, but sugar maple is scarce. Much of the land not used for agriculture is heavily Climate. The climate of the North Mountain stocked with predominantly dense, coniferous Ecodistrict is influenced by the Bay of Fundy_ The forest. ecodistrict has a mean annual temperature of 6.6°C and mean summer and winter temperatures of 16.3 Soils. The distribution of soils in the ecodistrict is and -3.4°C, respectively. The ecodistrict complex. Imperfectly drained, gravelly loam to experiences frequent fog and gets about 1234 mm gravelly clay loam Rantsport soils (Gleyed Rumo- of precipitation annually. It receives about 460 mm Ferric Podzols) dominate the coastal plain in Rants of precipitation between May and September and County. From Rants County through Truro to Bass accumulates about 1584 annual growing degree- River, pockets of well -drained sandy Truro soils days (5°C basis). The ecodistrict has a relatively (Orthic Rumo-Ferric Podzols) are found with weIl- long growing season of 207 days and a summer and imperfectly drained sandy loam soils of the moisture deficit of about 38 mm. Woodville association that have developed on glacial till derived from Triassic sandstone. Well- Landform. The North Mountain is a steep-sided drained, shaly, sandy loam Kirkhill soils (Orthic ridge that rises to more than 225 m at its eastern Rumo-Ferric Podzols) cover the steep slopes from end and slopes to nearly sea level to the west. The Five Islands to Cape Chignecto. Rapidly drained ridge is composed of basaltic lava flows which dip Rebert soils (Orthic Rumo-Ferric Podzols) are to the northwest towards the Bay of Fundy at a found on gravelly and sandy glaciofluvial deposits. shallow angle. The undulating to gently rolling Well-drained, shallow, stony sandy loam Shulie surface of the ridge is dissected by frequent streams soils (Orthic Rumo-Ferric Podzols) cover extensive emptying into the bay. The ecodistrict is covered areas adjacent to Chignecto Bay. Silty soils of the predominantly with a veneer of gravelly sandy Acadia association (Rego Gleysols and Gleyed loam glacial till derived from the underlying basalt. Regosols) occupy the diked salt marshes. Inclusions ofloam and clay loam tills derived from sedimentary sources are located in patches along Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in the ridge. Raised beach and ice-contact stratified the ecodistrict. Agriculture is significant in the area drift deposits of sand and gravel are found along surrounding Cobequid Bay but less common on the the northern edge of the ridge adjacent to the Bay steep, shallow, and stony soils in the western half

10 of Fundy. Few lakes or wetl~ds occur in this temperature is -3.5°C. The mean annual ecodistrict. precipitation ranges from 1300 to 1500 rom.

Vegetation. A coniferous forest of red and white Vegetation. This mixedwood forest ecoregion is spruce and balsam fir characterizes the ecodistrict. composed of tall to intermediate, closed stands of Hemlock and white pine are rare or absent. In red spruce, eastern hemlock, white pine, balsam fir, exposed areas where the winds are strong and and red maple, interspersed with red oak. This mix continuous, trees are short and stunted. Sugar of species distinguishes the interior of western maple and beech are found at higher elevations in Nova Scotia from the eastern and central portions protected sites. of the province and from the coastal periphery. Broad areas of bushland occur as a result of fire. In Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized by the these areas, an open black spruce forest with shallow, well-drained, gravelly sandy loam scattered aspen, red maple, red oak, and white pine Rossway soils (Sombric Ferro-Humic Podzols) is common. Extensive bogs, fens, and swamps derived from the underlying basalt. Well-drained, support stunted black spruce, larch, red maple, sandy loam Glenmount soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric black ash, and alder. Podzols), developed on till derived from basalt and Triassic sandstone, are significant inclusions. Landform and Soils. The uplands, as part of Imperfectly drained, clay loam Middleton soils the Appalachian peneplain, consist of folded (Gleyed Brunisolic Gray Luvisols) cover a Paleozoic slates and quartzites that form broad, considerable area in the middle of North Mountain. sloping plains. The northern elevated portion of the Rapidly drained Gulliver soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric region is underlain by an extensive granitic Podzols) are found on stratified gravelly terraces batholith. The ecoregion is covered by stony, and old beach deposits adjacent to the coastline. discontinuous veneers and blankets of glacial till, drumlin fields, wetlands, and rockland barrens. Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use. Lakes and rivers are abundant. Loamy Humo- Agricultural land in the North Mountain Ecodistrict Ferric Podzols dominate the ecoregion. Other soils is multi-cropped. Major farming activities include include Ortstein Podzols on deep sandy tills, peaty tree fruits, vegetables (including potatoes), beef, Gleysols, Fibrisols on raised and flat bogs, and and hog production. Fishing and tourism are minor Mesisols on fens. activities. Wildlife. The ecoregion provides habitat for white-tailed deer, snowshoe hare, porcupine, SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA raccoon, fisher, red fox, coyote, and beaver. Moose UPLANDS ECOREGION (124) are concentrated in the central part of the region.

The Southwest Nova Scotia Uplands Ecoregion Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use and occupies 15 420 km2 in the southwestern portion of has an extensive history dating back to early the Atlantic Uplands of Nova Scotia. European settlement, when masts and timbers were harvested from the spruce and pine forests for ship Climate. The climate is marked by warm building. Agriculture, tourism,'and recreation are summers and mild winters. It is strongly influenced significant land uses. The main centre is by the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the most humid Bridgewater. parts of the Maritime provinces. The mean annual temperature is approximately 6.5°C. The mean summer temperature is 16.5 °c and the mean winter

11 South Mountain Ecodistrict (510) particularly around lakes. Fire stands of red oak, red maple, and white birch, often mixed with white The South Mountain Ecodistrict encompasses pine and black spruce, are abundant. Balsam fir about 5839 km2 in the interior of southwestern and black spruce occupy the poorly drained sites. Nova Scotia. It extends in a giant arc from Large areas of mid-successional forest consisting Yannouth County northward to the edge of the of red maple and white birch have evolved from Annapolis Valley and eastward to Halifax County. intensive harvesting of the softwood forests in the early 1900s. Climate. The South Mountain Ecodistrict has wann, early springs and warm, dry summers. The Soils. The ecodistrict is dominated by the wel1- ecodistrict has a mean annual temperature of 6.5°C drained, stony sandy loam Gibraltar soils (Orthic and mean summer and winter temperatures of 17.2 Humo-Ferric Podzols and Ortstein Humo-Ferric and -4.3°C, respectively. The ecodistrict receives Podzols) that have developed on granitic till. about 1350 mm of precipitation annually. It Imperfectly drained, stony sandy loam Bayswater accumulates about 480 mm of precipitation soils (Gleyed Humo-Ferric Podzols and Gleyed between May and September and experiences a Ortstein Humo-Ferric Podzols) and poorly drained significant summer moisture deficit of about Aspotogan soils (Orthic Gleysols) are associated 56 mm. The ecodistrict accumulates 1663 annual with Gibraltar soils on seepage slopes and in poorly growing degree-days (5°C basis) and has a growing drained depressions, respectively. Bogs (Fibrisols), season of 203 days. fens (Mesisols), and forested swamps (Mesisols and Humisols) are associated with poorly drained Landform. The South Mountain Ecodistrict is soils and slowly flowing streams. located on a rolling till plain that overlies an extensive granitic batholith. The ecodistrict has a Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in mean elevation of about 170 m, which rises to more this sparsely populated ecodistrict. Agricultural than 275 m asl to the north. It has rather uniform activities are few owing to the scarcity of suitable topography, with a rolling surface that steadily soils. The ecodistrict is used for outdoor recreation decreases in elevation to its southern, eastern, and such as hunting, fishing, and boating. The western western boundaries. Low rounded hills or shapeless half of Kejimkujik National Park is located within ridges rise less than 20 m above the average level, the ecodistrict. Some of the larger rivers are with broad, shallow depressions that are too dammed for power generation. irregular to be valley-like. Slopes are typically between 4 and 9%. Drainage is poor, and sluggish rivers and streams weave aimlessly from one Chester Ecodistrict (511) shallow lake to another or lose themselves in wetlands. In many places, there are rock outcrops The Chester Ecodistrict encompasses about that have been scoured by glaciation. The granitic 1465 km2 in the south-central area of Nova Scotia. till that remains is shallow, moderately coarse- It extends from just west of Halifax to Sherbrooke textured, and very stony. Granite boulders are Lake in Lunenburg County. It is bordered by strewn over the landscape. Shallow lakes and Mahone and St. Margarets Bay to the south and associated wetlands are common. approximately the 200-m contour to the north.

Vegetation. White pine, red spruce, and hemlock Climate. The Chester Ecodistrict has a mean are common species on well-drained soils that have annual temperature of 6.3°C and mean summer and not been burned. Beech, sugar maple, and red oak winter temperatures of 16.7 and -4.5°C, are found on exposed slopes and hilltops, respectively. The ecodistrict receives about

12 1400 mm of precipitation annually. It receives pine and black spruce, are abundant. Balsam :fir 491 mm ofrain between May and September and and black spruce occupy the poorly drained sites. experiences a moisture deficit of 31 mm during the The vegetation around St. Margarets and Mahone summer. The ecodistrict accumulates 1603 annual bays has been extensively altered by human growing degree-days (5°C basis) and has a growing settlement. season of 203 days. Lower elevations and closer proximity to the Atlantic Ocean account for more Soils. The ecodistrict is dominated by the well- rain, less snow, and fewer growing degree-days drained, stony sandy loam Gibraltar soils (Orthic than are found farther to the north in the South Humo-Ferric Podzols and Ortstein Humo-Ferric Mountain Ecodistrict. Podzols) that have developed on granitic till. Imperfectly drained, stony sandy loam Bayswater Landform. The Chester Ecodistrict is located on soils (Gleyed Humo-Ferric Podzols and Gleyed the eastern end of the South Mountain granitic Ortstein Humo-Ferric Podzols) are associated with batholith at an elevation approximately below Gibraltar soils on seepage slopes. Well-drained, 200 m. The ecodistrict slopes in a south to sandy loam, Farmville soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric southeasterly direction towards the Atlantic Ocean Podzols) have developed on ablation till derived and has a mean elevation of 92 m. The landscape from a mix of slate, quartzite, and granite. on this section of the batholith is very similar to Gravelly sandy loam Bridgewater soils (Orthic that found in the South Mountain Ecodistrict. Low Humo-Ferric Podzols) have developed on shallow rounded hills or shapeless ridges rise less than 20 m till derived from slate. Deeper, less stony phases of above the average level, with broad, shallow Farmville and Bridgewater soils are found on depressions that are too irregular to be valley-like. drumlins around Chester. Bogs (Fibrisols), fens Slopes typically range from 9 to 15%. Drainage is (Mesisols), and forested swamps (Mesisols and sluggish, as rivers and streams weave aimlessly Humisols) are associated with poorly drained soils from one shallow lake to another or lose themselves and slowly flowing streams. in bogs and swamps. Areas of rockland exposed by glaciation are common. The granitic till that Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in remains is shallow, moderately coarse-textured, the ecodistrict. Fishing and tourism are important and stony. Granite boulders are strewn over the activities on the coast. Agricultural activities are landscape, and lakes and associated wetlands are few owing to the lack of suitable soils. The common. Stony, shallow till derived from the ecodistrict is used for outdoor recreation, such as underlying granite bedrock characterizes the rugged hunting, fishing, and boating. Chester is the main and rolling topography surrounding S1. Margarets community and a popular tourist destination. Bay and the Aspotogan Peninsula. A band of Cambrian slate and quartzite bedrock encircles most of Mahone Bay. An area ofloose, water- Lunenburg Drumlins Ecodistrict worked ablation till stretches north from Chester. (512) Chester is nested in a field of drumlins, some of which form the adjacent islands. Stony loamy till The Lunenburg Drumlins Ecodistrict encompasses derived from Cambrian slates surrounds Chester. about 2638 km2 in southwestern Nova Scotia. The ecoregion occupies roughly the southwest half of Vegetation. White pine, red spruce, and hemlock Lunenburg County. Extensions of the ecodistrict are common species on well-drained soils that have branch eastward to Kejimkujik National Park and not been burned. Beech, sugar maple, and red oak Lake Rossignol and westward to New Ross in are found on exposed slopes and hilltops, northern Lunenburg County. particularly around lakes. Fire stands of red oak, red maple, and white birch, often mixed with white

13 Climate. The Lunenburg Drumlins Ecodistrict areas in the Maritimes where white pine can be has warm, early springs, a long growing season, found in pure stands on abandoned fields on and the warmest summers in the province. The drumlins. ecodistrict has a mean annual temperature of 6.6°C and mean summer and winter temperatures of 17.4 Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized by well- and -4.4°C, respectively. The ecodistrict drained, shallow, stony sandy loam Bridgewater experiences about 1441 mm of precipitation soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) developed on annually. It receives about 492 mm of precipitation slate-derived till and the deeper, less stony between May and September and has a significant Bridgewater soils found on drumlins. Moderately summer moisture deficit of about 55 mm. The well-drained, shallow, stony, gravelly sandy clay ecodistrict accumulates 1704 annual growing loam Wolfville soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) degree-days (5°C basis) and has a relatively long derived from reddish till characterize the eastern growing season of 204 days. extension 6fthe ecodistrict, which overlies the granite batholith. Wolfville soils are deeper and Landform. The ecodistrict is characterized by an less stony on drumlins. Imperfectly drained, stony undulating to rolling drumlinized till plain that loam Riverport soils (Gleyed Humo-Ferric slopes in a southeasterly direction towards the Podzols) and poorly drained, stony loam Atlantic Ocean. Elevations range from a high of Middlewood soils (Orthic Gleysols) are associated about 270 m inland, where the ecodistrict overlies with the Bridgewater soils and are found between the granite batholith east of Sherbrooke Lake, to drumlins, in depressions, and on level areas where sea level at Mahone Bay. The ecodistrict has an slate bedrock lies just beneath the surface. Bogs average elevation of 107 m asl. Shallow, stony (Fibrisols), fens (Mesisols), and swamps glacial till derived from the underlying Cambrian (Humisols) are associated with very poorly drained slates dominates the ecodistrict. The slate-derived depressions between the drumlins and adjacent to till on the drumlins is deeper and less stony than slowly flowing streams. that between drumlins. East of the LaHave River, the slate-derived till plain is overlain by drumlins Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in derived from moderately fine-textured reddish the ecodistrict. Regeneration of balsam fir on sediments thought to have been scoured from the abandoned or cut -over land has encouraged the Bay of Fundy to the north. East of Sherbrooke development of a significant Christmas tree Lake, the reddish, moderately fine-textured till industry. Agricultural activity is located mainly on overlies granite bedrock. Here, the till is stony, the drumlins where the soils are more suitable. shallow, and associated with bedrock outcrops and Bridgewater is the main community. clusters of drumlins derived from the reddish till. Lakes are common. Wetlands are often found between drumlins and adjacent to meandering Tusket River Ecodistrict (513) streams. This ecodistrict encompasses about 1858 km2 on Vegetation. Coniferous forest dominates the the southwestern end of the province. It extends ecodistrict. Minor inclusions of mixed and from Digby about 160 km south to just east of hardwood forest occur to the northwest. Areas of Yarmouth and extends inland about 60 km at its shade-tolerant hardwoods are found on a range of widest width. sites. Beech, sugar maple, and red oak are found, with white pine abundant on the lower slopes and Climate. Proximity to the moderating effect of the valley floors. Black cherry is common, and red Atlantic Ocean provides the Tusket River spruce and hemlock are found on moist sites and Ecodistrict with early, mild springs, cool summers, lower slopes. The LaHave valley is one of the few

14 and mild winters. The ecodistrict has a mean Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized throughout annual temperature of 6.9°C and mean summer and by the well-drained, stony sandy loam Halifax soils winter temperatures of 16.0 and -2.6°C, (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) developed on respectively. The ecodistrict receives about quartzite-derived till and the associated imperfectly 1332 rom of precipitation annually. It gets about drained, stony sandy loam Danesville soils (Gleyed 487 rom of precipitation between May and Humo-Ferric Podzols) and poorly drained September and has a slight summer moisture deficit Aspotogan soils (Orthic Gleysols). Well-drained, of 10 rom. The ecodistrict accumulates 1582 loam Bridgewater soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric annual growing degree-days (5°C basis) and has Podzols) are found in the northern portion of the the longest growing season in the province ecodistrict on slate-derived drumlinized till plain. (together with the Rossignol and Clyde River Associated with Bridgewater soils, imperfectly ecodistricts), at 210 days. drained Riverport soils (Gleyed Humo-Ferric Podzols) and poorly drained Middlewood soils Landform. The Tusket River Ecodistrict is (Orthic Gleysols) are found on lower seepage located on an undulating to gently rolling slopes and in depressions between drumlins, drumlinized till plain that rises slowly from sea respectively. Moderately well-drained, sandy loam level inland to the west and northwest, where it Yarmouth soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) have meets the western edge of the South Mountain developed on till derived from mica and hornblende batholith at an elevation of about 160 m. The schists in the southern part of the ecodistrict and ecodistrict has a mean elevation of 63 m asl. The are used extensively for agriculture. Bogs plain is underlain by Cambrian greywacke, slate, (Fibrisols), fens (Mesisols), and swamps quartzite, and mica and hornblende schist bedrock. (Humisols) are associated with very poorly drained Bands of slate are found in synclines that run depressions between the drumlins and adjacent to almost north-south, roughly paralleling S1. Marys slowly flowing streams. Bay. The strata are gently folded, and the drainage systems flow in shallow valleys, following the Land Use. Forestry is the principal land use in trends in the rock. Quartzite and slate tills dominate the ecodistrict. Agricultural activity includes some the ecodistrict and form numerous low drumlins, 2 small, mixed farming located mainly on the to 20 m high. Drainage occurs through a deranged drumlins. pattern of sluggish streams, wetlands, and shallow lakes. The arrangement of drumlins has created additional impoundments, resulting in surface Rossignol Ecodistrict (514) water coverage in the southern part of the ecodistrict that is one of the highest in Nova Scotia. This ecodistrict encompasses about 3108 km2 on the southern end of the province. It extends from Vegetation. Mixedwood forest characterizes the Lake Rossignol in the north to the Medway River ecodistrict and is composed mainly of hardwood in the east and to Clyde River in the west. species mixed with a significant component of red spruce and eastern hemlock. Sugar maple, beech, Climate. The Rossignol Ecodistrict has the red spruce, yellow birch, and red oak predominate earliest, warmest springs, the warmest summers, on hills and drumlin crests. On lower slopes, red the highest mean annual temperature, the greatest spruce, hemlock, balsam fir, and red maple occur number of growing degree-days, and the longest with birches and aspen. Swamp stands are growing season in Nova Scotia (together with the composed of black spruce, balsam fir, eastern Tusket River and Clyde River ecodistricts). Mean larch, and, in limited areas, white cedar. annual temperature and mean summer and winter

15 temperatures are 7.1, 17.4, and -3.3°C, extent of the ecodistrict, where it borders the respectively. The ecodistrict receives about Atlantic Coast Ecoregion. 1470 rom of precipitation annually. It gets about 496 rom of precipitation between May and Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized by the well- September and experiences a high summer drained, stony sandy loam Halifax soils (Orthic moisture deficit of about 56 rom. The ecodistrict Humo-Ferric Podzols) associated with imperfectly accumulates 1731 annual growing degree-days drained Danesville soils (Gleyed Humo-Ferric (5°C basis) and has a growing season of21O days. Podzols) developed on quartzite-derived till. Halifax soils characterize drumlin fields northeast Landform. The ecodistrict is located on the of Lake Rossignol. North of Shelburne, well- southwestern margin of the Southern Uplands and drained, stony sandy loam Mersey soils (Orthic slopes to the southeast towards the Atlantic Ocean. Humo-Ferric Podzols) associated with imperfectly Elevations range from about 150 m inland to sea drained, shallow Liverpool soils (Gleyed Humo- level on the coast, with an average of about 72 m. Ferric Podzols) have developed on schist and The ecodistrict is located predominantly on quartzite-derived till. Peatlands are a significant undulating, till plain that is gently ridged in a component of this ecodistrict. An extensive area northwest-southeast direction. Drumlins and many dominated by bogs (Fibrisols), with inclusions of of the lakes and peat-filled depression have axes fens (Mesisols) and swamps (Terric Mesisols) is that align with the ridges that run perpendicular to located south of Lake RossignoL the underlying bands of Cambrian quartzite, slate, and schist. Shallow, stony, quartzite-derived till Land Use. Forestry is the principal land use in covers most of the ecodistrict. Drumlins override the ecodistrict. It supports numerous sawmills and the till in the northern part of the district between a major pulp and paper mill south of the ecodistrict Lake Rossignol and Molega Lake. The ecodistrict at Liverpool. The ecodistrict is used for outdoor has the largest concentration of peatlands in the recreation, such as hunting, fishing, and boating. province. The ecodistrict contains a significant Electrical power is generated from a series of dams number of lakes, and many of Nova Scotia's major located on the Mersey River. Shelburne is the main rivers, such as the Mersey, Jordan, and Roseway, centre for the ecodistrict. flow through it.

Vegetation. The ecodistrict has a mix of Clyde River Ecodistrict (515) coniferous, hardwood, and mixedwood forests. The southwest section of the ecodistrict has been This small, irregularly shaped ecodistrict is located extensively burned and supports mixedwood forest in the most southerly part of the province, just with pockets of white pine and red oak. Fire has north of Cape Sable Island. It covers about reduced many of the former pine sites to shrub- 511 km2 and extends from Barrington in the south covered barrens. Coniferous forests of red spruce, to the Mickchickchawagata Lakes in the north, hemlock, white and red pine, black spruce, balsam westward to Barren Lake in Yarmouth County, and fir, and scattered white birch and red maple eastward to Shelburne Harbour. characterize the central part of the ecodistrict. Black spruce is prominent in areas of restricted Climate. The Clyde River Ecodistrict has mild, drainage. Peatlands are covered with ericaceous early springs, cool summers, and mild winters. The shrubs and sphagnum moss. Hardwood forest is ecodistrict has the mildest winters, lowest snowfall, significant in the eastern section of the ecodistrict, and the longest growing seasons in Nova Scotia where tolerant hardwoods such as beech, sugar (together with the Tusket River and Rossignol maple, and red oak are found. The absence of red ecodistricts). It has a mean annual temperature of spruce and hemlock characterize the southern

16 6.7°C and mean summer and winter temperatures sandy loam Aspotogan soils (Orthic Gleysols) are of 15.4 and -2.5°C, respectively. The ecodistrict located in hollows and depressions and are receives about 1382 mm of precipitation annually. associated with Bayswater and Danesville soils as It gets about 476 mm of precipitation between May well as wetlands. Rapidly drained, gravelly, sandy and September and has virtually no summer Medway soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) have moisture deficit. The ecodistrict accumulates 1492 developed on outwash and ice-contact deposits annual growing degree-days (5°C basis) and has a adjacent to the Barrington and Clyde rivers. growing season of2l0 days. Organic soils are found on bogs (Fibrisols), fens (Fibric Mesisols), and swamps (Mesic Humisols). Landform. This ecodistrict is located on the Southern Uplands of Nova Scotia on a level to Land Use. Forestry is the principal land use in undulating and gently rolling glacial till plain. The the ecodistrict. This ecodistrict supports one of the plain slopes gradually to the south from a largest moose populations in western Nova Scotia. maximum elevation of 82 m in the north to sea level in the south. The ecodistrict has a mean elevation of 36 m asl and is covered with thin stony ATLANTIC COAST ECOREGION tills derived from the underlying Cambrian (125) quartzite and schist and Devonian quartz diorite and granodiorite. The tills are frequently The Atlantic Coast Ecoregion covers 6360 km2 in a interrupted by bedrock outcrops. Extensive narrow strip along the southeastern coastline of outwash and ice-contact stratified drift, in the form Nova Scotia from Digby to Scatarie Island off the of kames and eskers, are found adjacent to the east coast of Cape Breton. Clyde and Barrington rivers and are prominent features of this ecodistrict. Wetlands are common, Climate. The climate is strongly influenced by the and bogs, fens, and swamps are located adjacent to Atlantic Ocean and is characterized by short, cool shallow lakes and sluggish rivers and in very summers and relatively mild, wet winters. The poorly drained depressions. ecoregion is exposed to high winds, high humidity, salt spray, and fog during summer and fall and Vegetation. Softwood forest and barrens experiences slow spring warm-up and a frost-free characterize the Clyde River Ecodistrict. This period that is the longest in the Maritimes ecodistrict has experienced repeated burning, which provinces. The mean annual temperature is has suppressed tree growth and promoted shrub- approximately 6.5°C. The mean summer covered barrens over extensive areas. Hemlock and temperature is about 15.5°C, and the mean winter red spruce are found on the few unburned areas. temperature is -3.0°C. The mean annual Black spruce predominates on wetter habitats and precipitation ranges from 1400 to 1500 mm. The red oak can be found on ridges. Ericaceous shrubs ecoregion has a growing season of 202 days and and sphagnum moss are found on treeless bogs, the lowest number of annual growing degree-days sedges and grasses cover fens, and black spruce, (5°C basis) in Nova Scotia, at 1472. larch, alder, sedges, and sphagnum moss occupy swamps. Vegetation. The ecoregion supports an open coniferous forest composed predominantly of white Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized by the and black spruce and balsam fir. Red spruce is imperfectly drained, stony sandy loam Bayswater, notably absent. Red maple and yellow birch are Danesville, and Liverpool soils (Gleyed Humo- found locally on protected and productive sites. Ferric Podzols) that have developed on tills derived Along exposed headlands, stands are windswept from granite, quartzite, and quartzite and schist, and stunted. Coniferous stands on shallow soils are respectively. The poorly drained, shallow, stony

17 susceptible to blow-down by high winds during fall ANNAPOLIS-MINAS LOWLANDS stonns. Raised and flat bogs, fens, and salt ECOREGION (126) marshes are common wetlands. This ecoregion covers 4372 km2 and includes the Landform and Soils. The undulating to rolling Annapolis Valley and most of the Minas Lowlands coastal landscape represents the lower margin of southeast of Minas Basin in Hants, Colchester, and the Atlantic Uplands of Nova Scotia and extends Halifax counties. along the entire length of Nova Scotia. The Atlantic coast between Yannouth and Scatarie Island has Climate. The Annapolis-Minas Lowlands been submerging with rising sea levels over the last Ecoregion is sheltered from direct coastal 10000 years. This slow sinking has resulted in a influences, permitting wanner summers highly irregular coastline with drowned estuaries temperatures, particularly within the Annapolis and headlands, resulting in an indented coast Valley. The mean annual temperature is fringed with islands. Along the eastern shore, fault approximately 6.5°C. The mean summer lines have had a strong influence in shaping deep temperature is about 17. O°C, and the mean winter inlets. This old peneplain surface is composed temperature is -4.5°C. Mean annual precipitation predominantly of Paleozoic metamorphic and ranges from 1100 to 1300 mm. granitic bedrock mantled by a discontinuous veneer of stony glacial till. Where drumlins are numerous, Vegetation. In the Annapolis Valley, sugar tills are deeper and less stony and the topography is maple, beech, red spruce, and hemlock are more rolling. The flat, low-lying Atlantic coast characteristic on well-drained, mid-slope sites, section on Cape Breton Island is covered with whereas tolerant hardwoods with scattered red oak stony till derived from the underlying Precambrian prevail on dry, exposed locations. Red pine, white volcanic and metamorphic rocks. Loamy Humo- pine, and red oak are found on the sandy valley Ferric Podzols and Ferro-Humic Podzols, floor. East of the Annapolis Valley on the Minas frequently with peaty surface horizons, are Lowlands, spruce, balsam fir, white birch, red dominant and alternate with areas of exposed maple, eastern hemlock and white pine create a bedrock, peatlands, and barrens. Ortstein Podzols relatively stable forest on well-drained, mid-slope are commonly found in deep sandy materials. sites. Scattered sugar maple, beech, and yellow Gleyed Podzols and Gleysols are notable birch occur locally on low ridges. Land clearing inclusions. and abandonment have encouraged the establishment of pure stands of white spruce. In Wildlife. The ecoregion provides habitat for other areas, repeated burning has encouraged the shorebirds and seabirds as well as winter habitat establishment of wire birch, white pine, red pine, for white-tailed deer. and black spruce. Along floodplains, white elm, black ash, and, occasionally, sugar maple and Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use. The beech are found. Bogs support stunted black spruce ecoregion is a setting for the fishery, some and eastern larch. agriculture, tourism, and seashore recreation. Louisbourg National Historic Park is located Landform and Soils. This undulating to rolling within the ecoregion. The major communities are lowland is underlain by Mesozoic sandstone in the Yannouth, Lunenburg, Liverpool, Digby, Annapolis Valley and by Paleozoic shale, Louisbourg, and Canso. sandstone, gypsum, and limestone in the Minas Lowlands. The ecoregion is mantled by deep, loamy glacial till, alluvium, and glaciofluvial sediments, particularly in the Annapolis Valley,

18 whereas flat and raised bogs and stream and elevation of 62 m asl. It is penetrated from the horizontal fens are significant on the Minas south and east by slate ridges. From the south, the Lowlands. Humo-Ferric Podzols formed on sandy Rawdon Hills extend northward, separating the glaciofluvial sediments are characteristic of the Avon River and Shubenacadie River watersheds. Annapolis Valley. Loamy Gray Luvisols, Gleysols, Wittenburg Mountain enters from the east, almost stony Humo-Ferric Podzols, and Gleyed Regosols severing the Musquodoboit Valley from the rest of are typical of the Minas Lowlands. Fibrisols are the lowlands. Hummocky karst topography is found on bogs, and Mesisols on fens. found overlying gypsum in the southwestern corner of the ecodistrict. Deep, compacted, reddish-brown Wildlife. The ecoregion provides habitat for loam to clay loam till is the dominant material white-tailed deer, snowshoe hare, porcupine, blanketing the Windsor Lowlands Ecodistrict. raccoon, red fox, coyote, beaver, and bobcat. Sandy loam till is significant in the central part of the ecodistrict. The tills are derived from the Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in underlying shale, sandstone, limestone, and gypsum the eastern half of the ecoregion. Farmlands occupy of the Carboniferous period. The till becomes about 28% of the ecoregion. Agriculture, including thinner and stony in the northeastern corner of the dairy, fruit, vegetables, and livestock production, is ecodistrict as elevations rise over resistant Horton the principal land use in the Annapolis Valley. The sediments. Ice-contact stratified drift and alluvial main communities include Kentville, Wolfville, and floodplains border the major rivers. Significant Windsor. peatland is found in the northwestern corner of the ecodistrict over impermeable clay loam till on level terrain. The ecodistrict has few lakes. Windsor Lowlands Ecodistrict (517) Vegetation. Softwood forest characterizes the The ecodistrict is located on the Minas Lowlands in western corner of the ecodistrict. The central Nova Scotia and covers about 3090 km2. It Shubenacadie, Stewiacke, and Musquodoboit e:x.-tendsfrom the Minas Basin to the Musquodoboit valleys are covered with rnixedwood forest. Red Valley in Halifax County and includes the northern spruce, black spruce, balsam fir, red maple, half of Hants County and most of southern hemlock, and white pine comprise a distinctive Colchester County. To the south, the forest on the gentle relief of the lowlands. Scattered Musquodoboit Valley is flanked by Cambrian sugar maple, beech, and yellow birch occur locally slates and quartzites of the Southern Uplands. on the low ridges, but spruces, fir, white birch, red maple, hemlock, and white pine form a relatively Climate. The Windsor Lowlands Ecodistrict has stable forest on freely drained mid-slopes. a mean annual temperature of 6.1 °C and mean Abandoned farmland usually regenerates to white summer and winter temperatures of 17.0 and spruce. White elm, black ash, and, occasionally, -5.0°C, respectively. The ecodistrict experiences sugar maple and beech can be found along river about 1265 mm of precipitation annually. It systems. Black spruce forest associated with red receives about 460 mm of precipitation between pine, sphagnum bogs, sedge-covered fens, and May and September and experiences a summer forested swamps cover extensive level terrain in the moisture deficit of 54 mm. The ecodistrict northwestern comer of the ecodistrict. accumulates 1621 annual growing degree-days (5°C basis) and has a growing season of 198 days. Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized by imperfectly drained, loam to clay loam Queens Landform. The ecodistrict is located on an soils (Gleyed Brunisolic Gray Luvisols) and undulating to rolling glacial till plain with a mean associated poorly drained, loam to clay loam Kingsville soils (Orthic Luvic Gleysols) that have

19 developed on glacial till derived from shale and the largest moisture deficit in Nova Scotia. It has a sandstone. In the northern part of the ecodistrict, mean annual temperature of6.6°C and mean imperfectly drained, gravelly loam to gravelly clay summer and winter temperatures of 17.4 and loam Hantsport and Woodbourne soils (Gleyed -4.4°C, respectively. The ecodistrict experiences Humo-Ferric Podzols) have developed on tills about 1183 mm of precipitation annually. It derived from Early Carboniferous sediments of the receives about 435 mm of precipitation between Horton Group. Well-drained, gravelly sandy loam May and September and experiences a significant Hansford soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) are summer moisture deficit of 84 mm. The ecodistrict concentrated in the centre of the ecodistrict. accumulates 1702 annual growing degree-days Imperfectly and poorly drained, silty clay loam (5°C basis) and has a relatively long growing Stewiacke soils (Gleyed Regosols and Rego season of 205 days. Gleysols) are found on floodplains in the Stewiacke River valley. Well-drained sandy loam Cumberland Landform. This ecodistrict includes the gently soils (Orthic Regosols) characterize floodplains in undulating valley floor and steeper sides of the Hants County and the Musquodoboit Valley. Annapolis Valley. The floor and lower slopes are Kingsville soils and peatlands dominate the level underlain by Triassic sandstone, siltstone, and northwestern corner of the ecodistrict. Organic shale. The northern side of the valley abuts sharply soils are found on bogs (Fibrisols), fens (Mesisols), with the massive basaltic escarpment of North and swamps (Humisols) and are associated with Mountain. The southern slopes of the valley are very poorly drained depressions, level terrain, and underlain by Cambrian slate and Devonian granite. slowly flowing rivers and streams. The central and eastern segments of the valley floor are covered with glacial till, glaciofluvial outwash, Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use and and alluvium. At the western end of the valley, supports numerous lumber mills within the lacustrine and marine sediments and peatlands are ecodistrict. Agricultural land in the Windsor significant inclusions. Ice-contact deposits of sand Lowlands Ecodistrict is multi-cropped. Major and gravel are found in bands along the lower farming activities include com, cereals, hay, southern slopes, whereas stony till veneers cap the alfalfa, dairy, beef, and hog production. The upper slopes. On the northern slopes, medium- ecodistrict represents the largest dairy area in the textured tills derived from Triassic siltstone and province and ranks second in total agricultural shale lie above moderately coarse-textured till production behind the Annapolis Valley derived from sandstone. Ecodistrict. Gypsum, limestone, brick clay, and barite are mined in the ecodistrict. Vegetation. Much of the forest vegetation in this ecodistrict has been removed for agriculture. Sugar maple, beech, red spruce, and hemlock are Annapolis Valley Ecodistrict (518) characteristic on well-drained mid-slope sites, whereas tolerant hardwoods with scattered red oak The ecodistrict is located on the Annapolis Valley prevail on dry, exposed locations. Red pine, white in Annapolis and Kings counties and covers about pine, and red oak are found on the sandy valley 1282 km2. It extends from Annapolis Basin to bottom. Imperfectly drained valley bottom sites Minas Basin and is flanked by North and South support elm, willow, red maple, white ash, and Mountain. black ash.

Climate. The Annapolis Valley Ecodistrict has Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized by the early springs and warm, dry summers. The rapidly to well-drained, sandy Nictaux, Cornwallis, ecodistrict has the warmest and driest summers and Somerset, and Canning soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols, Ortstein Humo-Ferric Podzols) that have

20 developed on outwash and ice-contact deposits on SOUTH-CENTRAL NOVA SCOTIA the valley floor. The well-drained sandy loam UPLANDS ECOREGION (127) Woodville and Berwick soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) have developed on sandstone-derived tills This ecoregion is located in the south-central located on the valley floor, whereas the well- section of Nova Scotia and covers 6217 km2. It is drained silt loam Pelton soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric bordered to the south by the coastal strip Podzols) and imperfectly drained clay loam representing the Atlantic Coast Ecoregion and Middleton soils (Gleyed Brunisolic Gray Luvisols) extends from Halifax to Guysborough. The western have developed on siltstone and shale-derived tills half of its northern border is convoluted and found at the foot of North Mountain. On the follows the northern edge of the Rawdon Hills, the western end of the valley floor, imperfectly drained perimeter of the Musquodoboit Valley, and silty clay loam Fash soils (Gleyed Brunisolic Gray Wittenburg Mountain. The eastern half of the Luvisols) and poorly drained Lawrencetown soils northern boundary follows the St. Marys River. (Orthic Luvic Gleysols) have developed on lacustrine sediments. On the lower, southern slopes Climate. Strongly influenced by the Atlantic of the Annapolis Valley, rapidly drained, gravelly Ocean, the South-Central Nova Scotia Uplands sand Torbrook soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) Ecoregion is one of the most humid parts of the have developed on kame terraces below shallow, Maritime provinces. The ecoregion is characterized well-drained, stony sandy loam Morristown soils by warm summers and cool winters. The mean (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols). Well-drained, stony annual temperature is approximately 6.0°C. The sandy loam Bridgetown soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric mean summer temperature is 16.5°C, and the mean Podzols) have developed on till of mixed origin and winter temperature is -5.0°C. The mean annual are found at the western end of the southern slopes. precipitation ranges from 1400 to 1500 mm. Imperfectly and poorly drained, silty clay loam Acadia soils (Gleyed Regosols, Rego Gleysols) are Vegetation. This mixedwood forest region is found on diked salt marsh at both ends of the composed of intermediate to tall, closed stands of valley. red and white spruce, balsam fir, yellow birch, and eastern hemlock. Yellow birch, beech, and red and Land Use. Agriculture is the dominant land use sugar maple can be found at higher elevations. in the ecodistrict. Agricultural land is multi- Eastern white pine is found on sandy areas. The cropped. The Annapolis Valley Ecodistrict is the ecoregion has extensive wetlands and rock barrens, largest producer of vegetables, potatoes, tree fruits, which support stunted black spruce, eastern larch, grain corn, winter and spring cereals, and hogs in and heath. the province. Major farming activities also include hay, alfalfa, dairy, and beef production. The Landform and Soil. This ecoregion is located ecodistrict has the most farms, cropland, and on the Atlantic Uplands of Nova Scotia, which agricultural production of any ecodistrict in the represents the lower southern slope of the province. The main centres include Kentville, southeastwardly tilted Cretaceous peneplain. Wolfville, New Minas, Kingston, Greenwood, Rolling till plain, drumlin fields, extensive Middleton, and Annapolis Royal. rockland, and wetlands are underlain by folded Paleozoic slates and quartzites intruded with granites. The plain rises from 30 m asl near the Atlantic Ocean to 220 m asl at its northern limit and is mantled with stony, discontinuous veneers and blankets of glacial till. Loamy Humo-Ferric Podzols are the dominant soils in the ecoregion.

21 Peaty Gleysols, Fibrisols on raised bogs, and gravelly medium-textured till veneer caps Mesisols on horizontal fens are also components of Wittenburg Mountain, a high narrow slate ridge the landscape. located along the northern boundary of the ecodistrict. Peatland is associated with very poorly Wildlife. The ecoregion provides habitat for drained depressions, shallow lakes, and sluggish white-tailed deer, snowshoe hare, porcupine, rivers and streams. raccoon, fisher, red fox, coyote, and beaver. Vegetation. The northern elevated edge of the Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use and ecodistrict is a hilly area that is far enough inland supports many sawmills. Residential development to be immune to the cold summer temperatures is a significant land use in the major communities common to the Atlantic coast. This elevated area of Halifax and Dartmouth. supports tolerant hardwoods, such as sugar maple, yellow birch, and beech. Red spruce, white spruce, balsam fir, and hemlock cover the upland flats, Sheet Harbour Ecodistrict (519) lower slopes, and valleys. Between the hilly, northern edge and the coastal zone to the south, red The Sheet Harbour Ecodistrict encompasses about spruce, balsam fir, yellow birch, eastern hemlock, 4927 km2 in the centre of Nova Scotia. It extends and white spruce are common species on well- from Halifax to the town of Guysborough on drained sites. Beech, yellow birch, red maple, and Chedabucto Bay. It adjoins the eastern end of the sugar maple are found on the higher hills. Exposed Minas Lowlands to the north and parallels the bedrock cliffs commonly support white pine and Atlantic coast to the south. black spruce.

Climate. The Sheet Harbour Ecodistrict is Soils. The ecodistrict is dominated by the well- to characterized by moist summers with no moisture rapidly drained, stony sandy loam Halifax and deficit. It has a mean annual temperature of5.8°C, Gibraltar soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols and and mean summer and winter temperatures are Ortstein Humo-Ferric Podzols) that have developed 16.3 and -5.0°C, respectively. The ecodistrict on quartzite and granite-derived tills, respectively. receives about 1440 mm of precipitation annually, Imperfectly drained, stony sandy loam Danesville including about 535 mm ofrain between May and soils (Gleyed Humo-Ferric Podzols) and Bayswater September. The ecodistrict accumulates 1522 soils (Gleyed Ortstein Humo-Ferric Podzols) and annual growing degree-days (5°C basis) and has a poorly drained Aspotogan soils (Gleysols) are growing season of 196 days. associated with Halifax and Gibraltar soils on seepage slopes and in depressions. Moderately Landform. The Sheet Harbour Ecodistrict is well-drained loam Wolfville soils (Orthic Humo- predominantly located on a rolling to hummocky Ferric Podzols) have developed on till derived from till plain. Much of the topography is controlled by Carboniferous shale. Well- and imperfectly drained the underlying quartzite and granite bedrock and is gravelly loam soils of the Rawdon association covered with stony till. The dominant till is derived (Orthic and Gleyed Humo-Ferric Podzols) cover from quartzite, is found on rolling topography, and Wittenburg Mountain ridge. Bogs (Fibrisols), fens is excessively stony. Till veneers and bedrock (Mesisols), and forested swamps (Humisols) are outcrops are common. Moderately fine-textured, associated with poorly drained soils and slowly reddish-brown till, derived from Carboniferous flowing streams. shale, has been deposited to a notable extent as till plain around the Moser River area and as drumlins Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use. south and east of the Musquodoboit Valley. A Residential development is concentrated in the Halifax-Dartmouth area.

22 Beaverbank Ecodistrict (520) locations support red maple, black spruce, and eastern larch. The Beaverbank Ecodistrict encompasses about 1290 km2 in the central area of Nova Scotia Soils. The ecodistrict is dominated by the centred around Shubenacadie Grand Lake. The moderately well-drained, gravelly loam Wolfville Rawdon Hills demarcate the northern boundary of soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols). Well- to the ecodistrict. Its southern limit extends from just rapidly drained, gravelly sandy loam Halifax. soils east of Windsor eastward to Meaghers Grant on the (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) have developed on Musquodoboit River. quartzitic till-covered ridges and flats and are associated with bedrock outcrops and imperfectly Climate. The Beaverbank Ecodistrict has a mean drained, gravelly sandy loam Danesville soils annual temperature of5.9°C and mean summer and (Gleyed Humo-Ferric Podzols). In the Rawdon winter temperatures of 16.8 and -5.2°C, Hills, well- and imperfectly drained, gravelly loam respectively. The ecodistrict receives about soils of the Rawdon association (Orthic and Gleyed 1465 mm of precipitation annually. It gets about Humo-Ferric Podzols) have developed on till 502 mm of rain between May and September and veneers derived from the underlying slates. experiences a minor summer moisture deficit of about 25 mm. The ecodistrict accumulates 1591 Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in annual growing degree-days (5°C basis) and has a this ecodistrict. Agriculture is practised on a small growing season of 196 days. scale.

Landform. The Beaverbank Ecodistrict is located on a rolling to hummocky till plain. Much of the NOVA SCOTIA HIGHLANDS topography is controlled by the underlying, ECOREGION (128) parallel-banded Cambrian slate and quartzite bedrock, which runs in a northeast-southwest Thisecoregion is a complex band of plateaus direction. The bedrock forms a low ridge and separated by lower-elevation uplands and lowlands shallow valley topography. The ecodistrict is that extend across northern Nova Scotia from covered predominantly with gravelly, moderately Chignecto Bay to Cape Breton Island, covering fine-textured, reddish-brown till derived from 14811 km2. shales of the Carboniferous period. East of Shubenacadie Grand Lake the reddish-brown till Climate. The climate is marked by warm, rainy blankets a drumlinized plain. Resistant ridges of summers and mild to cold, snowy winters. The quartzite are covered with stony till veneers mean annual temperature is approximately 5.5°C. penetrated by bedrock. Slate ridges, like the The mean summer temperature is 16.5°C, and the Rawdon Hills, are covered with gravelly, medium- mean winter temperature is -5°C. The mean annual textured till veneer. precipitation ranges from 1100 to 1600 mm.

Vegetation. This hilly ecodistrict is far enough Vegetation. The mixedwood forest is composed inland to be buffered from the cold summer of sugar and red maple, yellow birch, red and white temperatures of the Atlantic coast and is elevated spruce, and balsam fir. This ecoregion is enough to produce a local climate that encourages distinguished from others by the abundance of tolerant hardwoods, such as sugar maple, yellow yellow birch at higher elevations. Hardwood forests birch, and beech, to grow on the ridges. Red spruce are susceptible to damage by snow and ice, which forests are significant in the Rawdon Hills and reduces their growth at the higher elevations. Other Mount Uniacke areas. The more poorly drained species, such as eastern white pine, eastern

23 hemlock, balsam fir, beech, and red and black and snowy winters and is exposed to strong winds spruce, also occur. The prominence of beech has from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic been greatly reduced by beech canker, which was Ocean. It has a mean annual temperature of 6.0°C introduced in the early 1900s. and mean summer and winter temperatures of 16.7 and -4.1 °C, respectively. The ecodistrict receives Landform and Soils. The ecoregion includes about 1549 mm of precipitation annually. It gets the Cobequid Mountains to the west, the dissected about 496 rom of rain between May and September Antigonish Highlands in the centre, and the and experiences a summer moisture deficit of dissected Cape Breton Hills to the northeast. These 37 rom. The ecodistrict receives and average highland plateaus are remnants of the Cretaceous snowfall of358 cm, which is one of the heaviest in peneplain surface, composed of Paleozoic Nova Scotia. The ecodistrict accumulates 1560 metamorphics and Proterozoic intrusives and annual growing degree-days (5°C basis) and has a volcanics, and range in maximum elevations from growing season of 195 days. 300 to 350 m asl. Undulating to rolling stony glacial till blankets, underlain by Paleozoic shale, Landform. This ecodistrict includes the steep, sandstone, and conglomerate, characterize the dissected slopes and valleys of the Cape Breton uplands and lowlands. Loamy Humo-Ferric Escarpment. Erosional processes characterize the Podzols predominate, but Ferro-Humic Podzols are unstable slopes, which are mantled in rubble, talus, common under hardwood stands at higher colluvium and soliflucted glacial till. Rolling to elevations. Inclusions of Gleysols, Gray Luvisols, rugged rock areas are common. Till veneers cover Fibrisols on bogs, and Mesisols on fens are the lower slopes and valley basins. Glaciofluvial significant. outwash, ice-contact stratified drift, and alluvium border the mouths and adjacent coast line of the Wildlife. The ecoregion provides habitat for brooks and rivers draining the highlands. white-tailed deer, moose, black bear, snowshoe hare, fisher, coyote, and porcupine. Vegetation. This ecodistrict is characterized by hardwood on the steep slopes. Sugar maple, beech, Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use. yellow birch, and red maple occupy the upper Farming on the lowlands (7% of the ecoregion) and slopes and high ridges; balsam fir, white spruce, localized blueberry and maple syrup production are hemlock, and, periodically, red spruce can be found significant land uses. Coal mining has been a major on ravine slopes. White birch, white spruce, and activity in the ecoregion. The major communities balsam fir are common on unstable and colluvial include Sydney, Glace Bay, New Waterford, Port slopes and valley bottoms. White and yellow birch, Hawkesbury, Antigonish, and Springhill. white spruce, and pin cherry on steep slopes facing the western coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence are often stunted by salt-laden winds. Cape Breton Escarpment Ecodistrict (521) Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized by rapidly to well-drained, cobbly sandy loam soils (Orthic The Cape Breton Escarpment Ecodistrict and Eluviated Sombric Brunisols and Orthic encompasses about 1619 km2 surrounding the Cape Humo-Ferric Podzols) on steep valley and canyon Breton Highlands on Cape Breton Island in colluvial and soliflucted till deposits. Rapidly northern Nova Scotia. drained cobbly soils (Orthic Regosols) are found on rubble fans and talus below rock outcrops on steep slopes. Well-drained, gravelly sandy loam Climate. The Cape Breton Escarpment Gibraltar, Thorn, and Shulie soils (Orthic Humo- Ecodistrict has late, cold springs, moist summers, Ferric Podzols) have developed on till veneers on

24 gently to strongly rolling lower till slopes. Rapidly discontinuous, stony till, residuum, and colluvium. drained, gravelly sand Hebert soils (Orthic Humo- Sandstone, siltstone, limestone, and gypsum of the Ferric Podzols) have developed on outwash and Caboniferous period underlie the narrow valleys kame terraces, whereas well-drained, sandy loam and are covered by moderately fine-textured till Cumberland soils (Orthic Regosols) are found on which extends up the coast to Cheticamp. Alluvial alluvial floodplains. floodplains border the rivers draining the valley bottoms. Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in this ecodistrict, where hardwood is utilized for Vegetation. Hardwood and mixedwood forests furniture, flooring, timber, and veneer. Tourism is are found predominantly on the uplands, whereas an important land use, as segments of the Cabot coniferous forests are typically located in the Trail and Cape Breton Highlands National Park are valleys. Sugar maple, yellow birch, beech, and red located within the ecodistrict. maple occupy the upper slopes and ridges; balsam fir, white spruce, and hemlock are found on upland flats and valley slopes. Black spruce and larch are Ainslie Uplands Ecodistrict (522) found on wet slopes and valley bottoms on the moderately fine-textured tills throughout the The Ainslie Uplands Ecodistrict covers about ecodistrict. White and yellow birch, white spruce, 1545 km2 on the western side of Cape Breton and pin cherry on steep slopes facing the western Island from St. Georges Bay to Cheticamp. coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence are often stunted by salt-laden winds. Old abandoned fields tend to Climate. The Ainslie Uplands Ecodistrict is be colonized by white spruce. affected by strong, cold winds from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and characterized by having the latest, Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized by rapidly coldest springs and shortest growing season in to well-drained, gravelly sandy loam Thom and Nova Scotia. The ecodistrict has a mean annual Shulie soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) on the temperature of 6.0°C and mean summer and winter uplands. Imperfectly drained, loam to clay loam temperatures of 16.7 and -4.4°C, respectively. The Queens and gravelly clay loam Diligence soils ecodistrict receives about 1410 mm of precipitation (Gleyed Brunisolic Gray Luvisols) are found in the annually, including about 503 mm of rain between valleys. Moderately well-drained, gravelly loam to May and September. The ecodistrict accumulates gravelly clay loam Woodbourne and well-drained, 1544 annual growing degree-days (5°C basis) and gravelly sandy loam Westbrook soils (Orthic has a growing season of 191 days. Humo-Ferric Podzols) are found on the lower hills and upper valley slopes with imperfectly drained, Landform. This ecodistrict is composed of a gravelly loam to gravelly clay loam Millbrook soils series of hills and uplands separated by narrow (Gleyed Humo-Ferric Podzols). Sandy loam to valleys. The Mabou Hills and Masons Mountain loam Cumberland soils (Regosols) are found on abut Northumberland Strait, shielding Lake Ainslie alluvial floodplains in valley bottoms. to the east. The Creignish Hills form the eastern border of the ecodistrict, separating the district Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in from the Bras d'Or Lowlands. These hills and the ecodistrict. Farming, fishing, and tourism are uplands reach elevations of 240 to 340 m and are significant activities. Small, mixed farming underlain predominantly by folded, resistant activities include hay, dairy, beef, and hog sediments of the Early Carboniferous Horton production. Main centres include Inverness and Group and Precambrian igneous and metamorphic Cheticamp. rocks. The hills and uplands are covered with thin,

25 Bras d'Or Lowlands Ecodistrict Vegetation. This ecodistrict is characterized by a (523) predominantly balsam fir, white spruce, black spruce, and white pine on the slopes and valley The Bras d'Or Lowlands Ecodistrict covers about bottoms. Poor-quality shade-tolerant hardwoods - 2585 km2 ofland in the central part of Cape Breton beech, sugar maple, and scattered yellow birch - Island. The ecodistrict extends from the Strait of are found on the better-drained higher ground. Old Canso to Glace Bay and includes Bras d'Or Lake fields and former pastures have regenerated to pure which occupies about 1069 km2. ' stands of white spruce. Red spruce is rare but can be found on steep slopes and along watercourses. Climate. The Bras d'Or Lowlands Ecodistrict has Black spruce and larch grow in the wetter sites. late, cold, wet springs, because of its proximity to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It has a mean annual Soils. The western half of the ecodistrict is temperature of5.8°C and mean summer and winter characterized by imperfectly drained, loam to clay temperatures of 16.4 and -4.5°C, respectively. The loam Queens soils (Gleyed Brunisolic Gray ecodistrict receives about 1502 rom of precipitation Luvisols) and gravelly loam to gravelly clay loam annually, including about 503 rom of rain between Millbrook and Diligence soils (Gleyed Humo- May and September. The ecodistrict accumulates Ferric Podzols) that have developed on the 1512 annual growing degree-days (5°C basis) and moderately fine-textured tills. In the eastern half of has a relatively short growing season of 193 days. the ecodistrict, well-drained Shulie soils (Orthic Like the Cape Breton Escarpment and Ainslie Humo-Ferric Podzols), imperfectly drained Uplands ecodistricts, it is affected by strong coastal Springhill soils (Gleyed Humo-Ferric Podzols), and winds. poorly drained Economy soils (Orthic Gleysols) have developed on shallow, stony, gravelly sandy Landform. This ecodistrict occupies a rolling to loam glacial till derived predominantly from undulating lowland plain separated into eastern and sandstone. Rapidly drained Hebert and Torbrook western halves by Bras d'Or Lake. The lowlands soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) have developed are underlain by Carboniferous sediments. The on ice-contact stratified sands and gravels. Very western half is covered with moderately fine- poorly drained Organic soils (Fibrisols) have textured glacial till derived from the underlying developed on the bogs. shale, sandstone, limestone, and gypsum of the Windsor, Canso, and Riversdale groups. Areas of Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in karst topography are found between Little Narrows the ecodistrict, supporting a pulp and paper mill at and Iona near Bras d'Or Lake. The eastern half is Port Hawkesbury. Farming, fishing, and tourism covered predominantly with shallow, stony, are significant activities. Small, mixed farming moderately coarse-textured glacial till derived activities include hay, dairy, beef, and hog primarily from the underlying sandstones of the production. Coal mining and steel production have Pictou and Morien groups. The lowlands encircle a had a long history in the ecodistrict. Electrical series of hills that rise from the shores of Bras d'Or power is generated for local and mainland markets Lake. Alluvial floodplains border the rivers near Sydney and Point Tupper. Gypsum and draining the valley bottoms. Ice-contact stratified limestone are mined in the ecodistrict. Main centres drift is associated with the major rivers. Extensive include Sydney, Glace Bay, New Waterford, and peatland is found in the northeast section of the Port Hawkesbury. ecodistrict.

26 Bras d'Or Uplands Ecodistrict ravine slopes. Black spruce and eastern larch grow (524, 526) in the wetter sites.

Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized by well- The Bras d'Or Uplands Ecodistrict includes two drained, gravelly sandy loam Thorn soils (Orthic elevated blocks adjacent to Bras d'Or Lake that are Humo-Ferric Podzols) that have developed on surrounded by the Bras d'Or Lowlands. North shallow, stony, moderately coarse-textured glacial Mountain (map unit 526), the smallest of the two till veneers. Imperfectly drained Mira soils (Gleyed blocks, lies north of West Bay and covers 115 km2. Humo-Ferric Podzols) and poorly drained Arichat The larger block (map unit 524) covers 740 km2 surrounding East Bay on the eastern shore of Bras soils (Orthic Gleysols) are minor inclusions associated with Thorn soils. Very poorly drained d'Or Lake and consists of a continuous band of Organic soils (Fibrisols) have developed on the uplands that include the East Bay, Boisdale, and bogs. Coxheath hills. The ecodistrict covers a total of 855 km2. Land Use. Forestry is the principal land use in Climate. The Bras d'Or Uplands Ecodistrict is the ecodistrict. The soils are poorly suited for characterized by cold, wet springs, moist summers, agriculture. and snowy winters. The ecodistrict is influenced by the cold, strong winds from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It has a mean annual temperature of Antigonish Lowlands Ecodistrict 6.0°C and mean summer and winter temperatures (525) of 16.6 and -4.5°C, respectively. The ecodistrict receives about 1533 mm of precipitation annually The Antigonish Lowlands Ecodistrict is located in and gets about 519 mm of rain between May and Antigonish County adjacent to S1. Georges Bay. It September. The ecodistrict accumulates 1530 extends inland to Lochaber Lake and covers annual growing degree-days (5°C basis) and has a 869 km2. On the coast, the ecodistrict extends from relatively short growing season of 194 days. Malignant Cove to the Strait of Canso.

Landform. The ecodistrict is composed of a Climate. The Antigonish Lowlands Ecodistrict is series of elongated northeast-southwest-oriented characterized by a cold spring and moist summer fault blocks that rise to about 220 m on the East with no moisture deficit. It has a mean annual Bay and Boisdale Hills and to 250 m asl on North temperature of 5.8 °C and mean summer and winter Mountain. The uplands have steep-sided, incised temperatures of 16.7 and -4.9°C, respectively. The margins and rolling tops covered with stony, ecodistrict experiences about 1377 mm of moderately coarse-teJl..'tured glacial till veneer precipitation annually, receiving about 515 mm of derived from the underlying igneous and rain between May and September. The ecodistrict metamorphic Precambrian bedrock. Some peatland accumulates 1555 annual growing degree-days is found in depressions on the flatter portions of the (SOC basis) and has a growing season of 194 days. uplands on the Boisdale and East hills. Landform. This ecodistrict represents a large Vegetation. This ecodistrict is characterized by lowland basin of undulating to rolling till plain, sugar maple, yellow birch, beech, and shade- which rises inland to the south and southwest from intolerant hardwoods on the upper slopes and the coast to about 180 m as!. The till is derived ridges. Balsam fir, white spruce, hemlock, and, from the underlying Carboniferous sediments of the occasionally, red spruce cover the upland flats and Horton, Canso, and Windsor groups. Adjacent to the coast, deep, moderately coarse-textured and

27 moderately fine-textured tills on gently rolling have developed on deposits of ice-contact sands topography overlay shale and sandstone of the and gravels. Canso Group. Resistant Devonian conglomerate and sandstone dominate the northern extent of the Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use. district at Cape George. This steep-sided, incised, Farming and the fishery are significant contributors and elevated extension of the lowlands is covered to the economic base within the ecodistrict. Small, with a stony, moderately coarse-textured till veneer mixed farming activities include hay, dairy, beef, derived from the underlying bedrock. Farther and hog production. Limestone is mined in the inland, the plain is covered predominantly by ecodistrict. moderately fine-textured till, which is moderately stony and gravelly. The West, South, Black, Pomquet, and North Tracadie rivers flow Pictou-Antigonish Highlands northward across the ecodistrict to St. Georges Ecodistrict (527) Bay. Deposits of alluvium and ice-contact stratified sand and gravel are found adjacent to these major The Pictou-Antigonish Highlands Ecodistrict nvers. straddles the boundary between Antigonish and Pictou counties and covers 1227 km2. The Vegetation. This ecodistrict is characterized by ecodistrict extends from just east of the East River sugar maple and beech, but white pine, white valley in Pictou County to just north of Antigonish. spruce, and balsam fir are widely distributed. Its southern limit is marked by the East River of Coniferous forest is found primarily on steep slopes Pictou. Lochaber Lake is located in the southeast in narrow valleys, on wide valley floors, and on corner of the ecodistrict. The northern boundary of outwash plains. Intolerant stands of red maple, the ecodistrict follows the Hollow Fault from just wire birch, and aspen are also common. Black east of New Glasgow to Malignant Cove in spruce is found on poorly drained depressions and Antigonish County. flats. White spruce typically colonizes old abandoned fields. Climate. High elevations influence the climate of the Pictou-Antigonish Highlands Ecodistrict, which Soils. The southern half of the ecodistrict is is characterized by late, cool springs, cold winters, characterized by the moderately well- and and the lowest mean annual temperature in Nova imperfectly drained Woodbourne soils (Orthic and Scotia (5.4°C), which it shares with the St. Marys Gleyed Humo-Ferric Podzols) and the imperfectly Block Ecodistrict. It has mean summer and winter drained Millbrook soils (Gleyed Humo-Ferric temperatures of 16.6 and -5.9°C, respectively. The Podzols), which have developed on gravelly loam ecodistrict experiences about 1409 mm of and gravelly clay loam till. At lower elevations near precipitation annually and receives about 505 mm the coast, well-drained, sandy loam Merigomish ofrain between May and September. The soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) and imperfectly ecodistrict accumulates 1521 annual growing drained, loam to clay loam Queens soils (Gleyed degree-days (5°C basis) and has a relatively short Brunisolic Gray Luvisols) are found. Well-drained, growing season of 192 days. gravelly sandy loam Westbrook, Hansford, and Thorn soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) are Landform. The ecodistrict is a wedge-shaped found in the Malignant Cove-Cape George area. elevated block of resistant bedrock. It has a level Moderately well-drained, silty clay loam Stewiacke plateau surface, with an average elevation of about soils (Orthic Regosols) are found on the alluvial 173 m rising to a maximum of 304 m asl. The floodplains adjacent to the major rivers. Rapidly margins of the plateau fall abruptly, with little drained Hebert soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) dissection by streams or valleys. This ecodistrict is

28 predominantly a rolling till plain. The underlying Cumberland Hills Ecodistrict (528) bedrock consists of Precambrian and Silurian volcanics and metamorphics, which have been The Cumberland Hills Ecodistrict is located west extensively faulted and intruded by pockets of and north of the Cobequid Highlands in the granite. Stony, moderately coarse-textured glacial southern part of Cumberland County. It covers a till blankets and veneers, perforated by rock 1573-km2 area, extending from Chignecto Bay to outcrops, dominate the rugged landscape. the eastern border with Colchester County. Significant inclusions of gravelly, medium-textured till derived from Silurian shale form a band around Climate. The Cumberland Hills Ecodistrict has the western edge of the ecodistrict. Minor. cold winters and receives comparatively low levels inclusions of reddish-brown, moderately fine- of annual precipitation. It has a mean annual textured till are scattered throughout the ecodistrict. temperature of5.5°C and mean summer and winter Ice-contact stratified drift is found in the hollow temperatures of 16.4 and -6.0°C, respectively. The between French River and Barneys River Station. ecodistrict experiences about 1193 mm of In the northeastern corner of the ecodistrict, precipitation annually. It receives about 467 mm of colluvial deposits blanket the slopes of steeply precipitation between May and September and incised river valleys which emanate from Eigg experiences a summer moisture deficit of 37 mm. Mountain. The ecodistrict accumulates 1534 annual growing degree-days (5°C basis) and has a growing season Vegetation. This ecodistrict is characterized by of 195 days. shade-tolerant hardwoods, with yellow birch, sugar maple, and beech being the most common. Red Landform. The ecodistrict constitutes a tilted spruce, white spruce, eastern hemlock, and balsam plain underlain by gray sandstone, siltstone, shale, fir are scattered on the flat upland surfaces and and conglomerate of the Late Carboniferous period. form coniferous stands on lower slopes and valley The plain slopes westward towards Chignecto Bay bottoms. and northward to the Pictou-Cumberland Lowlands from an elevation of about 250 m, where it Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized by the well- connects with the Cobequid Highlands. At these drained, stony sandy loam Cobequid, (Orthic and higher elevations, a band of hilly and dissected Sombric Ferro-Humic Podzols), Kirkmount, Thorn, terrain covered with stony, moderately coarse- and Wyvern soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols), textured glacial till derived from conglomerate, which have developed on tills derived from igneous marks the southern edge of the ecodistrict. Farther and metamorphic rocks. The well-drained, gravelly to the west and north, the topography becomes loam Barney soils (Orthic Hurno-Ferric Podzols) gently rolling and undulating. Undulating plain have developed on till originating from Silurian characterizes a 15-km-wide band, which runs shales. Imperfectly drained Millbrook soils (Gleyed parallel to Chignecto Bay from Apple River to Humo-Ferric Podzols) have developed on reddish- north of Springhill. Here, stony, moderately coarse- brown, gravelly loam to gravelly clay loam till. textured glacial till veneers derived from gray Rapidly drained Hebert soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric sandstone are dotted with peatland and rock Podzols) have developed on the ice-contact sands outcrops. Alluvium and ice-contact sand and gravel and gravels. deposits are found adjacent to the major rivers flowing northward to the Northumberland Strait Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in and Cumberland Basin. the ecodistrict. The ecodistrict is popular with hunters because of its excellent moose range. Vegetation. This ecodistrict is characterized by shade-tolerant hardwoods, with yellow birch, sugar

29 maple, and beech being the most common on the winter temperatures of 16.7 and -4.5°(, upper slopes. Red spruce, balsam fir, black spruce, respectively. The ecodistrict receives considerable and hemlock are found on the upland flats as well annual precipitation and the highest amount of May as middle and lower slopes. Jack pine, aspen, through September rainfall in Nova Scotia, at 1528 spruce, and wire birch are abundant after fire on and 541 rom, respectively. It experiences no lowland flats. Much of the ecodistrict has been summer moisture deficit. The ecodistrict either cleared or burned. accumulates 1582 annual growing degree-days (5°C basis) and has a growing season of 197 days. Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized by the well- drained, stony sandy loam Westbrook, Shulie, and Landform. The Mulgrave Plateau Ecodistrict Rodney soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) that covers most of the Guysborough Highlands and have developed on till derived from conglomerate, consists of a block of gently rolling to hilly and sandstone, and sandstone with amounts of dissected till plain that ranges in elevation from sea conglomerate and crystalline rocks, respectively. level to 210 m. The ecodistrict has a mean Significant areas of imperfectly drained, stony elevation of 120 m asl. The underlying strata are sandy loam Springhill soils (Gleyed Humo-Ferric principally resistant Late and Middle Devonian Podzols) and poorly drained, stony sandy loam conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, and slate and Economy soils (Orthic Gleysols) are associated includes some volcanic intrusions. Stony, with Shulie soils on undulating terrain adjacent to moderately coarse-textured glacial till blankets and Chignecto Bay. Pockets of very poorly drained veneers dominate the landscape. Pockets of Organic soils (Fibrisols and Mesisols) are moderately fine-textured drumlinized till plain are primarily associated with Economy soils. Rapidly dispersed through the ecodistrict. Wetlands and drained Hebert soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) lakes are common. have developed on ice-contact deposits of sand and gravel. Well-drained sandy loam Cumberland soils Vegetation. On the deeper soils west of (Regosols) are found on alluvium. Mulgrave, mixedwood forests are characterized by balsam fir, black spruce, hemlock, sugar maple, Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in and beech. White spruce, yellow birch, and aspen the ecodistrict. Small, mixed farming activities and are found on well-drained sites while black spruce, significant blueberry production characterize balsam fir, and larch occur on the wetter sites. agricultural activities. The ecodistrict has a history Balsam fir, black spruce, white spruce, larch, red of coal mining that was centred at Springhill. maple, birch, and aspen are common on shallow soils.

Mulgrave Plateau Ecodistrict (529) Soils. The eastern third of the ecodistrict is characterized by the imperfectly drained, shallow, The Mulgrave Plateau Ecodistrict is a 1072-km2 gravelly loam Riverport soils (Gleyed Humo-Ferric block located south of the Strait of Canso, west of Podzols). The western two-thirds of the district are Chedabucto Bay, and is bound to the south, in part, characterized by the well-drained, gravelly sand by the Chedabucto Fault in Guysborough County. loam Kirkhill soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) Its western end is located at Lochaber Lake. that have developed on till derived from shale and slate and the gravelly sandy loam Thorn soils Climate. Proximity to the Atlantic Ocean gives (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) that have developed the Mulgrave Plateau Ecodistrict a humid climate, on till derived from igneous and metamorphic with wet springs and summers. It has a mean rocks. The imperfectly drained, gravelly loam to annual temperature of 6.0°C and mean summer and gravelly clay loam Millbrook soils (Gleyed Humo-

30 Ferric Podzols) are scattered across the ecodistrict Vegetation. The plateau surface supports sugar on drumlinized till. maple, yellow birch, and beech on the deeper, well- drained so~ls. Shallow soils support balsam fir with Land Use. Forestry, including Christmas tree red and black spruce. Poorly drained depressions production, serves as the economic base for this and flats support balsam fir and black spruce. sparsely populated ecodistrict. Guysborough and Hemlock is found in ravines, while white spruce, Mulgrave are the principal communities. red spruce, and balsam fir, form mixed stands with sugar maple, yellow birch, and red maple on the slopes. Hardwoods are stunted at the higher Cobequid Highlands Ecodistrict elevations as a result of ice and snow damage. (530) Soils. Well-drained, stony sandy loam Cobequid The Cobequid Highlands Ecodistrict is a 1558-km2, soils (Orthic and Sombric Ferro-Humic Podzols) elevated, cigar-shaped block located north of developed on till derived from igneous and Cobequid Bay and Minas Basin in Cumberland, metamorphic rocks and well- to rapidly drained Colchester, and Pictou counties. It is 115 km long Wyvern soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) and extends from Parrsboro to Scotsburn. developed on granitic till are found on upper to mid-slopes and ridges. Their associated imperfectly Climate. The Cobequid Highlands Ecodistrict has drained soils (Gleyed Ferro-Humic Podzols and average spring and summer temperatures, but Gleyed Humo-Ferric Podzols) are found on lower colder than average winters. It has a relatively low slopes and seepage sites. Associated poorly drained mean annual temperature of 5 .5°C and mean soils (Orthic Gleysols and Orthic Humic Gleysols) summer and winter temperatures of 16.5 and are found on shallow flats and in depressions. -5.8°C, respectively. The ecodistrict receives Well-drained, gravelly sandy loam Westbrook soils relatively low levels of annual precipitation and (Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols) are found on May through September rainfall amounts of 1182 shallow tills and colluvial deposits (Orthic Dystric and 453 mm, respectively. It experiences a summer Brunisols) derived from conglomerate. Rapidly moisture deficit of about 45 mm. The ecodistrict drained, gravelly sand Hebert soils (Orthic Humo- accumulates 1524 annual growing degree-days Ferric Podzols) have developed on ice-contact (5°C basis) and has a growing season of 195 days. stratified sands and gravels.

Landform. The ecodistrict is a steep-sided Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in plateau with an average elevation of 220 m, rising this sparsely populated ecodistrict. Hardwood from to a maximum elevation of 360 m asl. The plateau this ecodistrict had supplied a once-thriving surface is a rolling, dissected till plain. The tills are furniture industry and now is utilized for flooring. derived from the underlying Precambrian to Some sugar maple stands are managed for maple Devonian metamorphic, volcanic, and granitic syrup production. Blueberry production is the main bedrock. Stony, moderately coarse-textured glacial agricultural activity. till veneers dominate the landscape. Bedrock outcrops are common. The eastern end of the ecodistrict is characterized by hilly, heavily St. Marys Block Ecodistrict (531) dissected terrain. In this area, large ravines and steep valley slopes are covered with colluvium, and The St. Marys Block Ecodistrict is a 1909-km2 large deposits of ice-contact stratified drift cover band of upland located both south of, and between, the valley bottoms around EarltoWIl. There are few the Cobequid and Pictou-Antigonish Highlands. It wetlands or lakes. is approximately 150 km long and extends from

31 north of Bass River in Colchester County eastward Vegetation. The easternhalf ofthe ecodistrict to Cross Roads Country Harbour in Guysborough has a relatively flat to gently undulating surface, County. which drains slowly. This subdued topography favours softwood forests of balsam fir, white pine, Climate. The St. Marys Block Ecodistrict has red spruce, and eastern hemlock on the well- average spring and summer temperatures but drained sites. White pine, red maple, and black colder than average winters. The ecodistrict shares spruce, are scattered on extensive barrens the lowest mean annual temperature in Nova Scotia originating from repeated burning. Mixedwood of 5.4°C with the Pictou-Antigonish Highlands forest characterizes Pictou Basin, where beech and Ecodistrict. Mean summer and winter temperatures sugar maple predominate, but white pine, white are 16.5 and -5.9°C, respectively. The ecodistrict spruce, and balsam fir are widely distributed. Black receives average amounts of annual precipitation spruce is common on poorly drained terrain. Much and May through September rainfall amounts of of the land that was once cleared has regenerated to 1373 and 498 mm, respectively. The ecodistrict white spruce. Softwood forest characterizes the accumulates 1506 annual growing degree-days western portion of the ecodistrict south of the (5°C basis) and has a growing season of 193 days. Cobequid Highlands, where abandoned farmlands supports stands of white spruce and balsam fir in Landform. The eastern half of the ecodistrict is many areas. Scattered sugar maple, beech, and the St. Marys graben, a downfaulted block of Early yellow birch occur locally on low ridges, but Carboniferous strata of the Horton Group, between spruces, balsam fir, white birch, red maple, eastern the Chedabucto fault and the Pictou-Antigonish hemlock, and white pine are common on well- Highlands to the north and the St. Marys River and drained, mid-slopes sites. Southern Uplands to the south. The block slopes eastward from about 300 m at the Pictou- Soils. On the graben part of the ecodistrict, well- Colchester county border to about 100 m in drained, stony sandy loam Perch Lake soils (Orthic Guysborough County. The ecodistrict includes the Humo-Ferric Podzols) have developed on till Pictou Basin, a lowland sloping northward and derived from Horton sandstone, and shallow, bounded by the Cobequid Highlands to the west, gravelly sandy loam Kirkhill soils (Orthic Humo- the Pictou-Antigonish Highlands to the east, and Ferric Podzols) have developed on till veneers the elevated western end of the graben to the south. derived from Horton shales. In Pictou Basin, well- The basin bottom is underlain by soft Early drained, gravelly sandy loam Thorn soils (Orthic Carboniferous shale, sandstone, and limestone of Humo-Ferric Podzols) have developed on till the Windsor Group. West of Pictou Basin, the derived from metamorphic and sedimentary rock ecodistrict is confined between the Triassic and are associated with imperfectly drained, lowlands north of Cobequid Bay and the Cobequid gravelly loam to gravelly clay loam Millbrook soils Highlands, forming a thin wedge underlain by (Gleyed Humo-Ferric Podzols). Moderately weIl- Carboniferous strata of the Canso, Pictou, and and imperfectly drained, gravelly loam to gravelly Riversdale groups. Stony, moderately coarse- clay loam Woodbourne soils (Orthic and Gleyed textured tills dominate the ecodistrict. Moderately Humo-Ferric Podzols) characterize the basin fine-textured glacial tills characterize Pictou Basin bottom. West of the basin, well-drained, gravelly and are found in many smaller areas throughout the sandy loam Folly soils (Orthic Humo-Ferric ecodistrict. Significant amounts of ice-contact Podzols) and imperfectly drained, gravelly clay stratified sands and gravels are found in the central loam Diligence soils (Gleyed Brunisolic Gray part of the ecodistrict. Wetlands are associated Luvisols) are found south of the Cobequid with level and drumlinized terrain in the eastern Highlands. Rapidly drained Hebert soils (Orthic part of the ecodistrict. Humo-Ferric Podzols) have developed on stratified sands and gravels. Very poorly drained Organic

32 soils have developed on bogs (Fibrisols), fens and are commonly associated with Humo-Ferric (Mesisols), and swamps (Mesisols). Podzols and Dystric Brunisols on steep slopes, Fibrisols on domed and sloping bogs, and Mesisols Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use in on fens. the ecodistrict. Small, mixed farming is concentrated in the Pictou Basin. Blueberry WildHfe. The region provides habitat for moose, production is an important agricultural activity in snowshoe hare, black bear, and lynx. the ecodistrict. Land Use. Forestry is the dominant land use. Tourism and recreation are important activities in CAPE BRETON HIGHLANDS the Cape Breton Highlands National Park located ECOREGION (129) within the ecoregion. There are no major communities located within the ecoregion. The Cape Breton Highlands Ecoregion occupies 2291 km2 on the northern tip of Cape Breton Island. Cape Breton Plateau Ecodistrict (532) Climate. The ecoregion is marked by cool, wet summers and long winters. Fog is common. The The Cape Breton Plateau Ecodistrict occupies mean annual temperature is 6°C. The mean 1991 km2 on the northern tip of Cape Breton summer temperature is about 16.5°C, and the mean Island. winter temperature is -4°C. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 1400 to 1600 mm. Climate. The ecodistrict has cold, late springs, average summer temperatures, and snowy winters. Vegetation. The ecoregion is strongly influenced It has a mean annual temperature of 6.0°C and by severe winds on exposed upper slopes, where mean summer and winter temperatures of 16.7 and sparse, low-growing spruce, balsam fir, and kalmia -4.2°C, respectively. The ecodistrict receives heath predominate. The sheltered lower slopes are average amounts of annual precipitation and May characterized by intermediate to tall balsam fir, through September rainfall amounts of 1493 and white spruce, and white birch. Associated with 480 mm, respectively. Heavy snowfalls of about peatlands and seepage sites are open stands of 347 cm are typical. The ecodistrict accumulates black spruce and eastern larch, with an understory 1564 annual growing degree-days (5°C basis) and of sphagnum. has a growing season of 196 days. The ecodistrict is subjected to some of the highest winds in the Landform and Soils. The ecoregion covers the province. Fog and low-level cloud shroud the highest part of the Nova Scotia Highlands ecodistrict for many days of the year. physiographic division, a remnant of the old Appalachian peneplain composed of Proterozoic Landform. The ecodistrict occupies a high metamorphics and volcanic rocks. The peneplain is plateau with an average elevation of 460 m rising deeply incised around its margins and has a to a maximum of 525 m as!. The plateau surface is remarkably flat interior and an average elevation of a hilly, dissected till plain. The tills are derived about 450 m asl. Ridged to hummocky, stony from the underlying Silurian to Precambrian glacial tills are predominant; bedrock exposures, metamorphic, volcanic, and granitic bedrock. residuum, colluvium on the very steep slopes, and Stony, moderately coarse-textured glacial till peatlands on the plateau are also present. Shallow, veneers, residual rubble, and rockland dominate the loamy Ferro-Humic Podzols are the dominant soils landscape. Cobbly colluvium covers the ravines

33 and steep river valleys. Peatlands are common on Cape Breton Barrens Ecodistrict flat areas. (533)

Vegetation. The ecodistrict supports a The Cape Breton Barrens Ecodistrict occupies a characteristic boreal forest of balsam fir, white 300-km2 area within the northern end of the Cape birch, and white spruce. On shallow granitic soils, Breton Plateau Ecodistrict. It is located at the balsam fir, black spruce, jack pine, and white pine highest elevation in Nova Scotia and has an fonn young stands. On ridges and exposed slopes, average elevation of 460 mas!. high winds and winter ice blasting create krummholz forests of stunted and defonned trees. Climate. The ecodistrict has cold, late springs, The perimeter of the plateau is distinguished by the average summer temperatures, and harsh, snowy presence of tolerant hardwoods where it joins the winters. It has a mean annual temperature of 6.0°C Cape Breton Escarpment Ecodistrict. Poorly and mean summer and winter temperatures of 16.7 drained depressions and shallow flats support and -4.2°C, respectively. The ecodistrict receives balsam fir and black spruce. abundant annual precipitation and average May through September rainfall amounts of 1503 and Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized by well- 479 mm, respectively. It experiences a summer drained, stony sandy loam soils (Orthic Ferro- moisture deficit of about 45 mm. Winter snowfalls Humic Podzols) developed on till and residual of 397 cm are the heaviest in the Nova Scotia. The rubble derived from igneous and metamorphic ecodistrict accumulates 1535 annual growing rocks. Imperfectly drained, stony sandy loam soils degree-days (5°C basis) and has a growing season (Gleyed Ferro-Humic Podzols) are found on lower of 194 days. The ecodistrict is subjected to slopes and seepage sites. Poorly drained, stony abnonnally strong winds during much of the year sandy loam soils (Orthic Gleysols and Orthic making winter conditions severe where winds blow Humic Gleysols) occupy shallow tableland and across the large barren expanses characteristic of depressions. Well- to rapidly drained, cobbly sandy this ecodistrict. Fog and low-level cloud shroud the loam soils (Orthic Sombric Brunisols and Orthic ecodistrict, maintaining high relative humidity for Dystric Brunisols) are found on steep valley and many days of the year. canyon colluvial and soliflucted till deposits. Rapidly drained cobbly soils (Regosols) are found Landform. The ecodistrict encompasses the on rubble fans and talus below rocky outcrops on elevated tableland of the Cape Breton plateau, steep slopes. Organic soils are found on raised which has an average elevation of 460 m but rises plateau and domed bogs (Fibrisols) on flat and to the highest elevations in the province at 525 m depressional terrain. Sloping bogs and fens as!. The plateau surface is undulating, with low (Fibrisols) occupy gently sloping terrain. hills and shallow valleys. It is exposed and barren, with large areas of bare rock. Till veneers are Land Use. Forestry is the main land use within derived from the underlying schist, gneiss, and this sparsely populated ecodistrict. Tourism and granitic bedrock of Silurian and Ordovician age. recreation are concentrated within the Cape Breton Stony, moderately coarse-textured glacial till Highlands National Park. Several dams regulate veneers and rockland dominate the landscape. water flow for electrical power generation. Peatlands and small, shallow lakes are common. Peatland complexes are found on flat to gently rolling seepage slopes and depressional areas, and often their surface fonn takes the shape of the underlying mineral topography. Sloping bogs and fens spread over undulating terrain. Raised plateau

34 and domed bogs are found on relatively flat terrain. Soils. The ecodistrict is characterized by shallow, Bog ponds are a common feature within the well- to imperfectly drained, stony sandy loam ecodistrict. Peat depths can range from less than barren soils (Ortstein Ferro-Humic Podzols, Placic 1 m to over 3 m. Peat areas are surrounded by Ferro-Humic Podzols, Gleyed Ortstein Ferro- barrens, that are underlain by till, bedrock, or Humic Podzols) developed on till veneer or rubbly rubble. metamorphic and igneous bedrock. Poorly drained, shallow, stony sandy loam barren soils (Orthic Vegetation. Harsh winters, high precipitation, Humic Gleysols, Placic-Humic Podzols) are found and poorly drained terrain favour conifers, bog, on toe slopes or in depressions associated with and barren vegetation. The stable association on Organic soils. Barren soils with restricted drainage the few deep, well-drained soils is stunted black commonly have thick organic surface layers. spruce, white spruce, balsam fir, and white birch. Fibrisols are found on raised plateau and domed Exposure to wind and ice blasting creates a bogs and sloping bogs and fens. krummholz forest of stunted and deformed black spruce and balsam fir alternating with peat bogs. Land Use. The ecodistrict is best known as a Shallow soils on low ridges support ericaceous conservation area, since it is part of the Cape heath shrubs, while sedge and sphagnum moss Breton Highlands National Park. Very little of the blanket peatlands found on seepage slopes and in ecodistrict is capable of economic wood depressions. Stunted black spruce, ericaceous production. The barrens provide summer habitat shrubs, lichens, and sphagnum form dense covers for moose. over exposed barrens.

35 REFERENCES

Acton, D.F., Padbury, G.A., and Stushnoff, C.T. Dzikowski, P. 1984. Nova Scotia agroclimatic 1998. The ecoregions of Saskatchewan. atlas. Soils and Crops Branch, Nova Scotia Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Department of Agriculture and Marketing, Management and Canadian Plains Research Truro, Nova Scotia. Centre, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan. 205 pp. Dzikowski, P.A., Kirby, G., Read, G., and Richards, W.G. 1984. The climate for Bootsma, A. and Ballard, M. 1997. Canadian agriculture in Atlantic Canada. Atlantic ecodistrict climatic normals 1961-1990. Advisory Committee on Agrometeorology. Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Publication No. ACA 84-2-500. Canada, Research Branch and Pole Star Geomatics Inc., Ottawa. Eastern Ecological Research Ltd. 1978. Cape http://res.agr.ca/CANSIS/NSDB/ECOSTRA T/ Breton Highlands National Park. Volume 2. DISTRICT/climate.html Ecological land classification. Ecological components. 237 pp. Bostock, HS. 1970. Physiographic subdivisions of Canada. In R.J.W. Douglas (ed.), Geology and Ecological Stratification Working Group. 1995. economic minerals of Canada. Geological Terrestrial ecozones, ecoregions and Survey of Canada, Energy, Mines and ecodistricts of Newfoundland & Labrador, Resources Canada. Economic Report No.1. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. A national ecological Canada Soil Inventory. 1989. Soil landscapes of framework for Canada. Centre for Land and Canada, Maritimes. Land Resource Research Biological Resources Research, Research Centre, Research Branch, Agriculture Canada. Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Contribution No. 87-18. Ottawa, Ontario and Ecozone Analysis Branch, State of the Environment Directorate, Commission for Environmental Cooperation. 1997. Environment Canada, Hull, Quebec. Map at Ecological regions of North America: Toward 1:2000 000 scale. a common perspective. Montreal, Quebec. 71 pp. and 1 map. Ecological Stratification Working Group. 1996. A national ecological framework for Canada. Davis, D. and Browne, S. (eds.). 1996. The natural Centre for Land and Biological Resources history of Nova Scotia. Volume II. Theme Research, Research Branch, Agriculture and Regions. Nova Scotia Museum. Nimbus Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario and Publishing. 304 pp. and 1 map. Ecozone Analysis Branch, State of the Environment Directorate, Environment Donohoe, H.Y. and Grantham, R.G. 1989. Canada, Hull, Quebec. Report and national Geological highway map of Nova Scotia. 2nd map at 1:7500000 scale. edition. Atlantic Geoscience Society, Halifax, Nova Scotia. AGS Special Publication No.1.

36 Ecoregions Working Group. 1989. Ecoclimatic Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests. regions of Canada, first approximation. 1986b. Forest cover. In The Nova Scotia Sustainable Development Branch, resource atlas. Nova Scotia Department of Conservation and Protection, Environment Development, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Map at Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Ecological Land 1:2 000 000 scale. Classification Series, No. 23. 118 pp. and map at 1:7 500 000 scale. Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests. 1986c. Land capability and mill locations. In Environment Canada. 1985. Ecodistricts database. The Nova Scotia resource atlas. Nova Scotia Unpublished open file. Canada Land Data Department of Development, Halifax, Nova System. Lands Directorate, Ottawa, Ontario. Scotia. Map at 1:2 000 000 scale.

Gates, A.D. 1975. The tourism and outdoor Nova Scotia Department of Mines and Energy. recreation climate of the Maritime provinces. 1986a. Coal resources. In The Nova Scotia Atmospheric Environment Service, resource atlas. Nova Scotia Department of Environment Canada, Toronto, Ontario. Development, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Map at 133 pp. 1:2000 000 scale.

Grant, D.R. 1988. Surficial geology, Cape Breton Nova Scotia Department of Mines and Energy. Island, Nova Scotia. Geological Survey of 1986b. Industrial minerals. In The Nova Scotia Canada, Map 1631A, scale 1:125 000. resource atlas. Nova Scotia Department of Development, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Map at Hirvonen, H.E. 1984. The Atlantic Region of 1:2 000 000 scale. Canada: An ecological perspective. Lands and Integrated Programs Directorate, Atlantic Nova Scotia Power Corporation. 1986. Electrical Canada, Environment Canada. 28 pp. energy. In The Nova Scotia resource atlas. Nova Scotia Department of Development, Ironside, G.R. 1991. Canada Committee on Halifax, Nova Scotia. Map at 1:2 000 000 Ecological Land Classification: Achievements scale. (1976-1989) and long-tenn plan. CCELC Secretariat, Ecological Applications Research Patterson, G.T. and Langman, M.N. 1992. Division, Sustainable Development, Merging census of agriculture data with Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Agricultural Resource Areas of Nova Scotia. Centre for Land and Biological Resources Loucks, O.L. 1961. A forest classification for the Research, Research Branch, Agriculture Maritime provinces. Proceedings of the Nova Canada; Nova Scotia Department of Scotia Institute of Science, 25 (Part 2): Agriculture and Marketing. NSCP Project 87-167. SCM02. 22 pp. and 6 maps.

Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests. Roland, A.E. 1982. Geological background and 1986a. Biophysical land classification. In The physiography of Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia Nova Scotia resource atlas. Nova Scotia Institute of Science. Ford Publishing Co., Department of Development, Halifax, Nova Halifax, Nova Scotia. 311 pp. Scotia. Map at 1:2 000 000 scale.

37 Royal Society of Canada. 1995. Looking ahead: Task Group on Ecosystem Approach and Long-tenn ecological research and monitoring Ecosystem Science. 1996. The ecosystem in Canada. Final report of the Long-tenn approach: Getting beyond the rhetoric. Ecological Research and Monitoring Panel of Environment Canada, Hull, Quebec. 21 pp. the Canadian Global Change Program. Canadian Global Change Program Technical Wiken, E. 1986. Terrestrial ecozones of Canada. Report No. 95-1. Lands Directorate, Environment Canada. Ecological Land Classification Series, No. 19. Simmons, M.D.L., Davis, D., Griffiths, L., and 26pp. Muecke, A 1984. Natural history of Nova Scotia. 2 volumes. Nova Scotia Department of Wiken, E. B. and Gauthier, D. 1996. Conservation Education and Nova Scotia Department of and ecology in North America. In E.B. Wiken Lands and Forests, Halifax, Nova Scotia. (00.), Reflections on a home place. Canadian 807 pp. Plains Research Centre and University Extension Service, Regina, Saskatchewan. Soil Classification Working Group. 1998. The 15 pp. Canadian system of soil classification. 3rd edition. Research Branch, Agriculture and Wiken, E.B., Rubec, C.D.A, and Ironside, G. Agri-Pood Canada. NRC Research Press, (compilers). 1993. Canada terrestrial Ottawa, Ontario. Publication 1646, 187 pp. ecoregions. National Atlas Infonnation Service, Energy, Mines and Resources Canada; Stea, R.R., Conley, H, and Brown, Y. (compilers). and State of the Environment Reporting, 1992. Surficial geology of the province of Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Map Nova Scotia. Mines and Energy Branches, at 1:7 500 000 scale. Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Map 92-3. Wiken, E.B., Gauthier, D., Marshall, I.B., Lawton, K., and Hirvonen, H 1996. A perspective on Tansley, AG. 1935. The use and abuse of Canada's ecosystems: An overview of the vegetational concepts and terms. Ecology, 16: terrestrial and marine ecozones. Canadian 284-307. Council on Ecological Areas, Ottawa, Ontario. Occasional Paper No. 14.95 pp.

38

")"):1) ))() )") J" J 1") ") 1) J") J J) J")")")")")")) ) J ") ) ) ") ) 1 J")") J J l") 1

66' 65' 64' 63' 62' 61' 60' 47" 47" AGRICULTURE AND 1.1AGRI-FOOD CANADA 1.1 ENVIRONMENT CANADA

TERRESTRIAL ECOREGIONS and ECODISTRICTS of NOVA SCOTIA

Scale 1 :2.100.000 or 1 centlmetre represents 21 kllometres

o 25 50 75 100 125 kllomeIr8s ' , , , , , kllome1r8s

46" 46"

Digital maps prepared by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Centre for Land and Biological Resoun:es Research, Canada Soil Infonnatioo System (CanSIS), Ottawa.

45' I 45'

509 LEGEND

ECOREGION No ECODISTRICT No Maritime Pictou-CumberlandLowlands504 Lowlands 122

FundyCoast Chignecto-MinasShore 507 123 NorthMountain 509 No ECODISTRICT No Southwest SouthMountain 510 NovaScotia CapeBretonEscarpment 521 NovaScotia Chester 511 Highlands I AinslieUplands 522 Uplands 512 Brasd'OrLowlands 523 124 TusketLunenburgRiverDrumlins . 513 --H4' 44" '10 I L.< \ \ I I I 524 514 Brasd'OrUClands 525 ClydeROSSi'lrolIver 515 I 128 1 AntigonishBrasd'OrUplandsowlands 526 527 AtlanticCoast 125 CumberlanPictou-Anti9onishHills Highlands 528 529 MulgravePlateau Annapolis-Minas126 WindsorLowlands 517 CobequidHighlands 530 Lowlands AnnapolisValley 518 St.MarysBlock 531 ..South-Central SheetHarbour 519 CapeBreton 532 NovaScotia 127 Beaverbank 520 Highlands 533 Upllll!. ""J'

W 65' 64' 63' 62' 61' 50'