ECOREGION Forest Barren Tundra Bog North Shore Forest NF 1 3 his ecoregion is interior of the Island, and the Eastern Hyper- T made up of a long oceanic Barrens, which covers the very northern 2 narrow zone about 20 tip of the straight shore near Lumsden and the km wide along the very northeastern tip of the Bonavista Peninsula. The northeastern edge of North Shore Forest subregion has forests similar 3 the island of . It includes the to the forests found in the Central Newfoundland coastal area of the Baie Verte Peninsula, Notre Forest ecoregion, yet has barrens and coastal Dame Bay, most of the "straight shore" (the area heathlands much like those in the Eastern Hyper- 4 of shoreline along the northeast coast, which has oceanic Barrens. fewer inlets and bays than the surrounding This area is the driest on the Island, coastline and so is "straighter"), and the despite its closeness to the ocean. This follows 5 western edge of the Bonavista Peninsula. the general rule that dryness increases as you One of the smallest ecoregions on the move from the interior of the Island northwards. 6 island, the North Shore Forest covers Because summers here are the warmest of any about 5,506.6 km2. coastal area in Newfoundland, and rainfall is less The landscape here is gently than other regions, moisture 7 rolling with small hills. Except for deficiencies — rare on the Island — the Baie Verte Peninsula, where can result. This means that more the terrain is more rugged and North Shore water evaporates from the soil than 8 can reach 315 metres above Ecoregion is replaced by precipitation or sea level, elevations are other sources. This usually 9 generally less than 130 metres. happens only at the end of The area is largely forested, with barrens summer and results in a lower occurring here and there — primarily along water-table. LAB exposed coastal areas. 1 Most of this ecoregion is in direct contact Soils: We find three basic kinds of soils in this with the North Atlantic Ocean. An irregular ecoregion. Surrounding are "humo coastline with numerous bays and islands ferric podzols." These are brown soils containing 2 extends the influence of the sea far inland. This mostly inorganic material that occur in relatively dry results in greater exposure to wind, which in turn, sites. North of Glenwood and Gander are areas of results in a decrease in the quality and height of "organic fibrisols" (soils that occur in peatlands and 3 are composed mostly of organic matter), while along the forests. As you move inland and away from the northeast we find "ferro humic podzols" (dark these winds, trees become straighter and taller. soils with a high organic content). Areas adjacent to 4 The North Shore Forest is intermediate Notre Dame Bay are characterized by exposed between the Central Newfoundland Forest, bedrock with little soil development. which lies to the south and includes much of the 5

Ecoregion: An area that has features. These characteristics, in A r c t i c - a l p i n e p l a n t s : A 6 distinctive and repeating patterns turn, influence the kinds of wildlife descriptive term for plants that o f v e g e t a t i o n a n d s o i l that can find suitable habitat cannot grow where there are hot d e v e l o p m e n t , w h i c h a r e within each ecoregion. summer temperatures. Arctic- 7 determined and controlled by alpine plants are generally found regional climate. Ecoregions can Fire stands: Groups of trees well farther north than the treeline (by be distinguished from each other adapted to conditions following latitude), or above the treeline 8 by their plant communities, forest fire and as a result are the elevation on mountains. landscapes, geology, and other first to colonize burnt areas. 9

Check your public library for a full set (36) of these booklets: one introductory document and one for each of the 35 ecoregions and subregions in the province. For more information about the series see page 4. 10 Landscape Profile — North Shore Forest Ecoregion black spruce balsam fir alder thicket sheep laurel 315 m white birch trembling aspen fen

Geology: This ecoregion is one of the most geologically diverse regions in the province, with underlying rock formations belonging to four geologic zones. The Dunnage zone includes those rocks west of the Gander River and are comprised of shales, sandstones, conglomerates, and volcanic rocks formed 430 to 550 million years ago. East of the Gander River is the Gander zone. These rocks are generally older sandstones and shales formed about 570 million years ago. The Avalon zone rocks, which occur along the very eastern portion of this ecoregion, are older still and are comprised of sandstones, shales and conglomerates formed between 570 million and one billion years ago. Finally, the Humber zone (rocks along the western edge of the Baie Verte Peninsula) are sandstones, shales, and volcanic rocks about 550 million years old. The sandstones, shales, and conglomerates to the south and east of Lewisporte are the youngest — created about 420 million years ago. Sea Level and increased exposure to wind, adapted to these conditions. Alder there are several important swamps are well adapted to Vegetation Profile differences. One is that white wooded areas that experience spruce is more common here than frequent flooding and have here are several important in the Central Newfoundland waterlogged soils. Tfactors that separate the Forest. Also, trembling aspen, However, compared to vegetation patterns found here which forms stands in much of the other coastal areas, the North from neighbouring ecoregions. The Central Newfoundland Forest, is Shore Forest has higher summer first is low moisture levels. As you found only in the southern part of temperatures. This results in the travel northward from the interior of the Bonavista Peninsula, and it absence of several arctic-alpine the Island, the land becomes does not form stands. plants (such as diapensia) increasingly drier. This puts the Another difference is that normally found in coastal areas. North Shore Forest ecoregion at alder swamps contain mostly The region is home to many the most northern — and driest — mountain alder, replacing the common coastal species such as end of the moisture gradient. speckled alder found farther south. alpine bilberry, and both Swedish Because of this, forest fires occur This is because summers are bunchberry (Cornus suecica) and regularly and are often extensive. colder and shorter here than to the bunchberry (C. canadensis). Black spruce fire stands are south, and mountain alder is better common; in fact, they are more common here than in the Central Species in Focus: Newfoundland Forest. In those Black spruce (Picea areas that have escaped recent m a r i a n a ) i s a n fires, balsam fir forests with an important species in understory of sheep laurel or t h e p r o c e s s o f feathermoss occur. succession because it

i s a d a p t e d t o n

The ocean is another o i

colonizing recently s i

influence on plant growth. This v disturbed sites such i D influence becomes obvious as you as burn-overs. This s a move closer to the shoreline. Here, e remarkable tree grows r A trees are smaller and less vigorous well in damp soils and l a r due to fiercer wind conditions. can be found in this u t The vegetation of the North ecoregion along the a N

Shore Forest is very similar to that edges of bogs and d n a other wetlands or in of the neighbouring Central s k

areas where drainage r Newfoundland Forest ecoregion, a P

is poor. :

with widespread balsam fir and o t o

black spruce forests. However, due h to its slightly more northerly location P 2 North Shore Forest ecoregion Wildlife Profile

his ecoregion is home to several Tseabird colonies. The largest is Little Fogo Island, where 38,000 pairs of Leach's storm-petrels breed. Slightly smaller than a robin, this sooty-brown bird lays a single white egg at the end of a burrow.

While their mates feed at sea during n a l e

the day, incubating adults (both h P

males and females share this task) g u o

do not stir from their burrows. When D

:

night arrives, birds return to the o t o

colony and the air fills with their h P shadowy, fluttering flight and soft, twittering calls. Species in Focus: A characteristic breeding bird of this Other seabirds breeding in ecoregion, the common tern is grey above and white below, with this ecoregion include herring gulls, a black cap. Both the legs and bill are reddish. It nests on the ring-billed gulls, common terns, open edges of sandy and gravelly beaches, mostly on islands, a r c t i c t e r n s , b l a c k - l e g g e d and forages over inshore coastal waters. Common terns kittiwakes, great black-backed primarily eat small fish, which they capture by folding their wings gulls, and Atlantic puffins. The many and plunging into the water, sometimes appearing to submerge islands and the extensive coastline completely below the surface. provide seabirds with ideal nesting locations. Common eiders historically rivers support a variety of fish rainbow smelt, and American eel. nested in this ecoregion, but around including Atlantic salmon and brook The green frog, which was the turn of the century numbers trout, which are both important introduced to the Island, occurs in were severely reduced due to species for recreational fisheries. ponds and marshes in low hunting for both meat and feathers. Other fish include arctic char, three- numbers. Since then, populations have spine and nine-spine sticklebacks, experienced a steady, if slow, increase, with reports that some eiders are now nesting on offshore islands in this ecoregion. Other birds occurring in the North Shore Forest are typical of those found elsewhere on the Island, including the bald eagle, boreal owl, osprey, blackpoll warbler, gray-cheeked thrush, yellow warbler, Wilson's warbler, n a

and common redpoll. y R

Mammals commonly found n e l G

elsewhere on the Island can be A

seen here as well. These include : o t

moose, snowshoe hare, mink, red o h fox, black bear, meadow vole, otter, P beaver, and the little brown bat. The Forests here often grow right up to the shoreline. Trees closest to red squirrel, lynx, and muskrat can the shore are usually the most stunted by wind and can have also occur. unusual shapes due to this weathering. The region's many lakes and North Shore Forest ecoregion 3 White Protected Bay Areas Notre Dame Bay Dildo Run Twillingate Profile Baie Provincial Park Verte Wesleyville

H ortions of this TC West Brook 463 m Ecological Reserve y 562 m a e c o r e g i o n a r e B P 500 m Notre Dame r d e a Provincial d o protected by Terra n R 536 m 569 m a Park G Nova National Park 555 m Gaff Topsails 584 m Grand Caribou Herd TCH Gander a n d D i l d o R u n Range Falls

y 482 m a Terra Nova Deer Lake w h Gander Provincial Park. These g National Park

Buchans i H

Lake r ver i a r e a s t o g e t h e r Ri o ts p Exploi s r

E e

' iv

represent 2.3% of the d

R Pine Marten

400 m y a

a v Habitat o B N subregion. a rr Te r r a N o v a Te Northern Peninsula National Park includes North Shore Forest 2 Forest almost 402 km of the er iv TCH Central Newfoundland R hwes t Long Range Barrens rt North Shore Forest, o Forest N with the remainder Hyper-oceanic Barrens Maritime Barrens falling within the Forest Central Newfoundland 0 50 Kilometres Forest. The park, which Bonavista includes the scenic Bay estuary of Newman Sound, represents the Climate southern, inner coastal features of this ecoregion. However, it does not include the The warmest summers of any coastal area in northern coastal features characteristic of this Newfoundland occur here. It is also the driest ecoregion. ecoregion on the Island, with moisture deficiencies Dildo Run Provincial Park is located common in summer. The growing season is 150 days. just south of Twillingate. It includes boreal Night frosts may occur in summer. forest and a sheltered coastal area, and offers Annual rainfall a spectacular view of the coves and islands of 1100-1300 mm Notre Dame Bay. However, it is too small (3.2 Annual snowfall km 2 ) to provide adequate ecoregion 2.5-3.5 cm representation. Mean daily temperatures February -5 C to -7 C July +15 C to +16C.

Protected Areas Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PAA) gratefully acknowledges the following partners for their generous contributions to the Newfoundland and Labrador Ecoregion Brochures project: ! Department of Environment and Conservation ! A l i a n t Parks and Natural Areas Division ! Mountain Equipment Co-op ! Department of Natural Resources ! The Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation ! Gros Morne National Park of Canada - Parks Canada ! WWF Canada ! Terra Nova National Park of Canada - Parks Canada ! Western Newfoundland Model Forest ! Natural Resources Canada - Canadian Forest Service ! Gros Morne Co-operating Association To view this full brochure series visit http://www.paanl.org – To obtain additional copies contact PAA or any of the following: Department of Environment and Conservation Terra Nova National Park of Canada Gros Morne National Park of Canada Parks & Natural Areas Division General Delivery P.O. Box 130 33 Reid’s Lane, Deer Lake NL A8A 2A3 Glovertown, NL A0G 2L0 Rocky Harbour, NL A0K 4N0 PH (709) 635-4520 PH (709) 533-2801/3154 PH (709) 458-2417 FAX (709) 635-4541 FAX (709) 533-2706 FAX (709) 458-2059 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Http://www.gov.nl.ca/parks/ http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nl/terranova/ http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nl/grosmorne/ For comments on this series, contact PAA: (709)726-2603 [email protected] http://www.paanl.org/ 4 North Shore Forest ecoregion Printed on Domtar Sandpiper. 100% post-consumer waste. Made in Canada. 2000. Updated Fall, 2008.