Natural Vegetation

1. Natural Vegetation Ontario

2. What is Natural Vegetation? • Natural Vegetation refers to plants that grow without human interference. • A regions vegetation is determined by its climate and soil. • Plants must have moisture and heat for survival. The relative amounts affect what type of plats grow. • Canada has 7 natural vegetation regions that are composed of 3 types of natural vegetation: Tundra, Forest and Grassland • Of the 3 forest vegetation covers the most.

3. Natural Vegetation Diagram

4. Canada's Vegetation Regions

5. Ontario's Vegetation Regions • Of the 7 Ontario has 4 of Canada's vegetation regions. • The Largest Boreal and Taiga • The smallest a little stretch of Tundra along the southern shore of Hudson's Bay • The Deciduous Forest in Southern Ontario is the only one in Canada. • Mixed forest runs through the middle of the province.

6. Deciduous Forest • Is located in Southwest Ontario and is the only deciduous forest in Canada • The majority of the trees are: Maple, Beech, Hickory, Ash and Black Walnut. • The summers are long and hot and the winters mild. • Precipitation is Plentiful • These conditions are ideal because the trees need at least 5 months of warm weather to store sap for the winter. • The soil is among the most fertile in Canada. • Unfortunately due to great development and farming much of the forest has been cleared.

7. Mixed Forest(St.Lawrence Forest) • In Ontario runs through South East area up to around Thunder Bay. • Consists of coniferous and deciduous trees. • Varieties such as: Spruce, fir, pine cedar, hemlock, maple, beech, ash, oak and birch. • The mixed forest is a transition zone between the boreal forest to the North and the Deciduous forest to the south. • The climate is ideal for Coniferous and with warm summers the Deciduous trees can also flourish. • Precipitation is same as in the Deciduous Forest. • Since there is such a variety of trees the topsoil created from the leaves is deep grey-brown and is rich in minerals.

8. Boreal and Taiga Forest • To the north of the Mixed forest is the Boreal and Taiga forest which divides the forests from the Tundra. • It is separated from the Tundra by the tree line, North of the tree line it is too cold for trees to grow. • The denseness of the Boreal forest expands from north to south. • In the north there are barely any trees, in the southern region it gradually meets the warmer climate allowing for the mixed forest. • There is very little precipitation. • The temperature is too cold for Deciduous trees to grow. • Since coniferous trees don’t drop many needles the topsoil is very thin and there is little nutrients.

9. Tundra • The most northern Vegetation Region in Ontario. • It is located above the tree line. • Trees don’t grow here because its too cold and dry. • Most of the Tundra is covered by permafrost. • In the short summer the top meter or so thaw. • This allows for the growth of small shrubs, mosses and lichens. • The lack of vegetation limits the variety of wildlife.