Unit Three

1. Unit Three The Ecozone Jigsaw

2. Curriculum Outcomes • 2.0 – Students are expected to explainhuman-environmental interactions withinecozones. • 2.1 – Explain the concept of ecozones. • 2.2 – Identify and describehuman- environmental interactions in selectedecozones. • 2.3 – Respond to issues influencinghuman- environmental interactions in a selectedecozone.

3. What is an Ecozone? • A geographical region that shares similar natural and human characteristics • What type of characteristics are we talking about???

4. Characteristics of Ecozones • Humans • Landforms • Water • Climate • Soil • Natural Vegetation • Wildlife • Geology

5. Biodiversity in Ecozones • All Ecozones vary in Biodiversity • Biodiversity -> • Bio – living things • Diversity – a large variety • Biodiversity is the variety of living things • All ecozones vary in the different species that live there

6. Ecozones of Canada • The Ecozones of Canada are divided into two parts. • 5 Marine (water) Ecozones • This Ecozone will be covered in another chapter. • 15 Terrestrial (land) Ecozones • We will cover four of the fifteen ecozones

7. Terrestrial Ecozones 1. Boreal Shield 2. Mixedwood Plains 3. Montane Cordillera 4. Prairies

8. Boreal Shield • The boreal, which means forest is the largest biome and natural ecosystem in the world. • A biome is a large region on the Earth, such as a rainforest or desert, which is named for the distinct characteristics of the plants that live within it. • A ecosystem is a community of plants and animals that interact with one another and with their physical environment.

9. Boreal Shield (Big Wild) • The Boreal Shield is a combination of two important natural features: • The rocky Canadian Shield. • The coniferous northern forest.

10. Boreal Shield Landscape • Glaciation developedthinnedsoils, exposedancient granite bedrock, and manydepressions. • Thesedepressionsfilledwith water, forminglakes, swamps and bogs. • It has a richbiodiversity of plants and animals.

11. BorealShieldVegetation • Black spruceis the mostcommon type of tree. • Hardy deciduoustrees, such as birch and poplarfound on the southernedge. • Lichens and shrubslikeblueberry bushes providefood for the moose and black bear.

12. Boreal Shield Wildlife • Largermammalslike black bear, lynx, coyote, timberwolf and moose. • Smallermammalslikebeaver, fox, marten, otter, redsquirrel and snowshoehare, as wellfish and amphibians. • 230 different types of birds

13. Boreal Shield Wildlife con’t • Newfoundland Labrador supports aquaticanimalslikeseals, whales, northernpike, pickerel, trout, and smallmouthbass. • Bugs, includedbeetles, dragonflies, mosquitoes, etc. providedfood for birds, fish and frogs.

14. Boreal Shield Climate • ContinentialClimate A climate type with a wideannual range of temperature and lowprecipitationinfluenced by its location awayfrom the moderating influence of an ocean. • Maritime Climate A wet, moderateclimate type thatisinfluenced by the closeness of an ocean.

15. Boreal Shield People • The Scatteredcommunities support about 4 million people. • Aboriginals, as well as others, rely on the resourceslikeminerals, forestry, fishing, farming and hunting. • People are alsodependent on businesses in construction and tourism.

16. Boreal Shield • Turn to page 121 and do questions 1-4.

17. Case Study -> Moose in Gros Morne National Park • Complete the following questions • What is the problem addressed in this case study? • Describe THREE reasons why the moose population has grown so much in the park. • Choose THREE stakeholders from the final page and describe how you think these people would feel about this situation • What is your opinion on how this situation should be handled? Explain

19. Mixedwood Plains • This is the smallest ecozone covering only 9% of Canada’s total land area. • More than 60% of the total Canadain population and is home 50% of Canada’s endangered species.

20. Mixedwood Plains • Borders three of the five Great Lakes and extends alond the St. Lawrence Seaway to Quebec City. • Next door to its most important trading partner-USA, which is convenient for the transportation of people and goods.

21. Mixedwood Plains Climate, Soil, etc. • Relatively warm and moderate climate. • Mainly flat land with rich fertile soils to support agriculture and food-processing industries. • Produce such as fruits, vegetables and wines.

22. Mixedwood Plains con’t • This region is called the Canadian Heartland and an Industrial Powerhouse, where two-thirds of the country’s goods are produced. • Around the area of Lake Ontario (Greater Golder Horseshoe) is a dense concentration of industries and commerce. • The larger region is known as the Windsor-Quebec Corridor; industrial parks, heavy industry (oil refineries) and rows of hydroelectric power lines.

23. Mixwood Plains con’t • Tourism and recreation are important part of this regions diverse economy. • Niagara Falls, Ontario Science Centre, CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum and old Quebec City. • Hockey, Baseball, Basketball, Football and Lacrosse.

24. Mixedwood Plains con’t • 100 people per square kilometre – ten times denser than anywhere else in Canada. • Ontario has 12.8 million residents with 90% living in Mixedwood Plains. • Quebec has 8 million with 80% living in Montreal, Quebec City and Trois-Rivieres.

25. Mixedwood Plains • Argriculture, logging and the growth of cities have completely changed this ecosystem. • More than 90% of the original wetlands have been drained for farming and urban development. • This ecosystem originally consisted of thick, green forest cover with a mix of coniferous trees (eastern pine, red pine and hemlock).

26. Mixedwood Plains • This region also included abundance of deciduous (sugar maple, red oak, and white elm). • Most species have disappeared with the exception of white-tailed deer, foxes, and grey and black squirrels. • Some species have adapted including coyotes, raccoons, mice, and groundhogs. • Living within cities (nuissance)

27. Mixedwood Plains • Turn to page 149 and do questions 1 & 2.

28. Montane Cordillera • Most of this ecozone lies in British Columbia with about 10% in Alberta. • Rows of mountains are separated by wide valleys, and a plateau, which is an area of elevated, flat land.

29. Montane Cordillera • Natural vegetation depends on its location on the mountains or in the valleys. • Windward (west) side of a mountain recieves orographic precipitation creating dense coniferous forest. • Alpine tundra is found on the top of the mountain where it is too cold and wind swept for tree to grow.

31. Montane Cordillera • Leeward (east) side of the mountain do not receive as much precipitation and are protected from the westerly winds. • Grasses and sagebrush grow in the valleys of these dry regions.

32. Montane Cordillera • The beauti of watersheds, mountains and forests provides an excellent opportunity for tourism and recreation. • Forestry is also an important industry in this region providing many jobs. • The soils is ideal for fruit farming and vineyards. • Coal deposits have resulted in many mines.

33. Montane Cordillera • Two major challenges: 1. Only 5% of the land is suitable for agriculture. 2. Urban growth, industrialization, and increasing tourism are causing increasing pressure on the fresh water supply of the ecozone.

34. Montane Cordillera • Turn to page 127 and do questions 1-4.

35. Prairie • Appears flat, but has manypotholes and slough (pronouncedsloo) canbeseen due to glaciation. • Manydepressions are filledwith water supporting a widevariety of plants and wildlife. • Duringperiod of dry weatherthisregionexperiencesdrought.

36. Prairie • River valleyswithmanysmalltributariescanbeseenflowingacross Prairie land. • The area includesmanyhills and erodedbadlandscreated by the erosion of sedimentary rock. • Gentlyrollinggrasslandsgivesway to trees, mainlyaspen and poplar.

37. Prairie • A continental climatecanbefound in thisregion, dry withextreme range in temperature, winters are cold and summers are hot. • Climateiscaused by: centre of continent, Rocky Mountainsis a barrier to rain-bearingwinds, dry arctic air makingwinters long and cold, long distance fromany large bodies of water.

38. Prairie • Extremesummerthunderstorms and in some case tornadoes. • Lowestrainfall in Canada rangingfrom 250-700 millimeters. • Manyfarmersbuildshelterbelts and windbreaks to protectfarmsfromchinookwinds.

39. Prairie • Growsmanycropssuch as, wheat, barley, canola, peas and lentils. • Livestockoperationssuch as, beef, dairycattle and hogs. • Soil has a thick layer of topsoilprovidingrich, fertile organicmateralknown as humus.

40. Prairie • Factorssuch as pesticides, over farming, drought and over grazing by animalscanbedetermental to thisecozone. • The economy for thisregionis the oil and gasindustry, agriculture and mining.

41. Prairie • Turn to page 136-137 and do questions 1-5.

42. Protecting The Ecozones • United Nations guidelines suggested each Country protect 12% of total land use. • All people involved with the use and protection are called Stakeholders. • Stewardships involve taking care of private land or donating land for protection.