| Canadian Low Arctic tundra | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Ecoregion territory (in green) | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Nearctic |
| Biome | Tundra |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 798,399 km2 (308,264 sq mi) |
| Country | Canada |
| Province/Territory | |
| Coordinates | 66°15′N102°15′W / 66.25°N 102.25°W /66.25; -102.25 |
| Climate type | Polar andsubarctic |
TheCanadian Low Arctic Tundraecoregion covers a rolling landscape of shrubby tundra vegetation along the northern edge of the mainlandCanada along the border of theNorthwest Territories andNunavut, and a small portion inQuebec on the northeast coast ofHudson Bay.[1][2][3][4][5] The region is important for large herds of caribou and other large mammals, and for large nesting colonies of birds such as snow geese. The region is mostly intact, with 95% remaining intact.
The ecoregions stretch for 3,100 kilometres (1,900 mi) across the northern tier of mainlandCanada. The northwestern end is at theMackenzie River Delta, stretching east across the plains north ofGreat Bear Lake, theNunavut mainland,Southampton Island, theOttawa Islands, and a portion of northernQuebec.[1] Mean elevation is 229 metres (751 ft), with a high point of 854 metres (2,802 ft).[3]
Most of the terrain is flat or rolling lowlands on thin soil over thePrecambriangranite bedrock, with many outcrops. A notable feature of the region is long, windingeskers of glacial gravel, some reaching 100 km in length.[1] Permafrost is continuous, except for some areas of discontinuous permafrost in the Ottawa Islands.
The climate of the ecoregion isSubarctic climate, without dry season (Köppen climate classificationSubarctic climate (Dfc)). This climate is characterized by mild summers (only 1-3 months above 10 °C (50.0 °F)) and cold, snowy winters (coldest month below −3 °C (26.6 °F)).[6][7] Average precipitation ranges from 200 mm/year in the northwest to 500 mm/year in Quebec.[1]
The ecoregion is a transition zone between thetaiga forests to the south, and the treeless arctictundra to the north. 50% of the territory is herbaceous cover, 18% moss and lichen, 6% shrubs, and about 1% tree cover in protected areas and along river courses.[3] The region can support limited subalpine forests of black spruce (Picea mariana, tamarack (Larix laricina), white spruce (Picea glauca), dwarf birch (Betula nana), and willow (Salix spp.)[4] There are extensive wetlands in the low areas.
Many mammal species are adapted to live in this environment. In the west there are herds of barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus ssp. arcticus), with collective total 1.5 million individuals. Woodland caribou are found in the east. Other notable mammals include polar bears (Ursus maritimus) on the coasts, grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and black bear (Ursus americanus) in Quebec, and wolf (Canis lupus), moose (Alces alces), Arctic ground squirrel (Urocitellus parryii), and brown lemming (Lemmus sibiricus).[4]
The region is important for large nesting colonies of snow geese (Anser caerulescens), Ross's goose (Anser rossii) and many other migratory birds.[1]
Over 17% of the ecoregion is officially protected.[3] These protected areas include:
Media related toCanadian Low Arctic Tundra Ecoregion at Wikimedia Commons