Vegetation Regions

Tundra

Types of Natural Vegetation- Shrubs, mosses, lichens, small flowers

Temperature Characteristics- cold, short growing season

Precipitation Characteristics- Very little ; most areas <400mm

Soil Characteristics

-thin soils, permafrost

Boreal and Taiga ForestTypes of Natural Vegetation- Coniferous and hearty deciduous trees

Temperature Characteristics- Cold temperatures, short growing season

Precipitation Characteristics- Wet climate

Soil Characteristics

- Very little humus, shallow grey-coloured topsoil, acidic, most minerals washed away, leached , infertile soil, few bacteria and earthworms

Mixed ForestTypes of Natural Vegetation

-coniferous and deciduous trees, small shrubs

Temperature Characteristics- Temperate climates- warm summers, cool

winters- In Maritimes, cold winds create harsh climates

on coast

Precipitation Characteristics- regular, abundant

Soil Characteristics

-deep, grey-brown top soil(rich in minerals), lots of humus, few soluble mineral because of leaching, suitable for farming

Deciduous ForestTypes of Natural Vegetation

-deciduous trees

Temperature Characteristics

-long, hot summers, mild winters

-min. 5 months of warm weather

Precipitation Characteristics- Plentiful

Soil Characteristics

-less acidic and more humus than Mixed Forest, humus rich dark brown topsoil, some leaching, most fertile soil in E. Canada

Tundra

Types of Natural Vegetation

Temperature Characteristics

Precipitation Characteristics

Soil Characteristics

Grasslands- Short GrassTypes of Natural Vegetation

-drought resistant short grass, sagebrush and cactus

Trembling aspen, willow and spruce (in river valley)

Temperature Characteristics

-cold winters, hot summers

Precipitation Characteristics

-very dry, limited rainfall, high evaporation

Soil Characteristics

-limited humus, calcified soil, unsuitable for crops, good for animal grazing

Grassland- Long GrassTypes of Natural Vegetation- Long grass, grains, oil seeds

Temperature Characteristics- Cold winters, hot summers

Precipitation Characteristics- dry, increased precip., enough rainfall to

keep minerals in reach of roots

Soil Characteristics

-rich, black humus (large amounts), richest soil in Canada, produces some of worlds best grains

Grassland-ParklandTypes of Natural Vegetation

-long grass with clumps of trees(coniferous in North, Deciduous in South)

Temperature Characteristics

-cold winters, hot summers

Precipitation Characteristics

-more in grass areas than forested area

Soil Characteristics

-transitional- rich, black soil in grass and grey soil in Boreal forest

Cordilleran VegetationTypes of Natural Vegetation-varies due to precipitation and temperature

-grasses and cactus (dry, hot valleys east of mountains)

-coniferous forests on lower slopes (higher precipitation)

-flower meadows and shrubs(Tundra areas and higher on slopes)

-no vegetation on highest slopes

Temperature Characteristics- Warmer in valleys than high in mountains- Dry, hot valleys on east side of mountains- Temp is colder with elevation

Precipitation Characteristics-heavier on west side of mountains- Drier on east side- Heavier on lower slopes- - snow and ice in highest slopes

Soil Characteristics

-various types depending on area

- Irrigation is often required for agriculture

West Coast ForestTypes of Natural Vegetation

- Temperate rain forest, trees more than 1m in diameter and over 50 m high

Temperature Characteristics- Mild climate

Precipitation Characteristics- Heavy rainfall

Soil Characteristics

- Lots of humus, leached soil