Ecozones of Canada: Difference between revisions
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{{About|[[Environment and Climate Change Canada]] classifications|an alternate classification system|List of ecoregions in Canada (WWF)}} |
{{About|[[Environment and Climate Change Canada]] classifications|an alternate classification system|List of ecoregions in Canada (WWF)}} |
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[[File:Terrestrial ecozones and |
[[File:Terrestrial ecozones and ecoprovinces of Canada, 2017.gif|thumb|right|275px|Geographic distribution and extent of Canada's terrestrial ecozones and ecoprovinces]] |
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The '''ecozones of Canada''', established by the [[Environment and Climate Change Canada]] in cooperation with the [[Commission for Environmental Cooperation]] (CEC), consist of fifteen terrestrial and five marine [[ecozone]]s. These are further subdivided into 53 [[ecoprovince]]s, 194 [[ecoregion]]s, and 1021 [[ecodistrict]]s.<ref name="ecoregions">{{Cite web |
The '''ecozones of Canada''', established by the [[Environment and Climate Change Canada]] in cooperation with the [[Commission for Environmental Cooperation]] (CEC), consist of fifteen terrestrial and five marine [[ecozone]]s. These are further subdivided into 53 [[ecoprovince]]s, 194 [[ecoregion]]s, and 1021 [[ecodistrict]]s.<ref name="ecoregions">{{Cite web |
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|url=http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/environment/ecology/framework/ecologicalframework |
|url=http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/environment/ecology/framework/ecologicalframework |
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Revision as of 09:36, 7 November 2020
The ecozones of Canada, established by the Environment and Climate Change Canada in cooperation with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), consist of fifteen terrestrial and five marine ecozones. These are further subdivided into 53 ecoprovinces, 194 ecoregions, and 1021 ecodistricts.[1][2] An ecozone is a large sub-continental geographical division with distinct representative biotic and abiotic features in the ecological unit.[2]
Marine ecozones
The Canadian marine ecozones adjoin to each other, except for the Pacific ecozone which is adjacent to international marine ecozones and terrestrial Canadian ecozones. The largest is the Arctic Archipelago, which actually extends to subarctic regions.
| Ecozone | Area (km²) Territorial waters |
Area (km²) Exclusive Economic Zone |
Percentage of total area (for EEZ) | Percentage of marine area (for EEZ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Marine | 102,920 | 457,646 | 3.1 | 8.3 |
| Arctic Basin Marine | 24,997 | 704,849 | 4.8 | 12.7 |
| Arctic Archipelago Marine | 2,051,393 | 2,178,998 | 14.8 | 39.3 |
| Northwest Atlantic Marine | 536,895 | 1,205,981 | 8.2 | 21.8 |
| Atlantic Marine | 72,144 | 996,439 | 6.8 | 17.9 |
| Total | 2,788,349 | 5,543,913 | 37.7 | 100.0 |
Terrestrial ecozones
The largest Canadian ecozone is the Boreal Shield,[3] an expanse of diverse ecoregions situated on the Canadian Shield.
| Ecozone | Area (1000 km²) | Percentage of total area | Percentage of land area | Percentage protected[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Maritime | 207.3 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 25.1 |
| Semi-Arid Plateaux | 55.9 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 9.1 |
| Montane Cordillera | 426.3 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 18.6 |
| Boreal Cordillera | 526.8 | 3.4 | 5.5 | 19.3 |
| Taiga Cordillera | 217.5 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 8.8 |
| Arctic Cordillera | 239.1 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 25.6 |
| Northern Arctic | 1,438.0 | 9.4 | 15.0 | 6.8 |
| Southern Arctic | 895.8 | 5.8 | 9.4 | 16.6 |
| Taiga Plains | 522.2 | 3.4 | 5.5 | 7.7 |
| Taiga Shield | 1,262.0 | 8.2 | 13.2 | 7.6 |
| Boreal Plains | 750.6 | 4.9 | 7.8 | 7.7 |
| Prairies | 459.6 | 3.0 | 4.8 | 6.3 |
| Hudson Plains | 339.2 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 13.0 |
| Boreal Shield | 1,868.5 | 12.2 | 19.5 | 9.2 |
| Mixed Wood Plains | 176 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| Atlantic Highlands | 94.5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| Atlantic Maritime | 115.2 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 5.4 |
| Total | 9,566.3 | 62.4 | 100.0 | 10.4 |
Subdivisions
The terrestrial ecozones are divided into 53 ecoprovinces. These are major geographical units with a characteristic macro climate, whose constituent physiographic forms, faunal and floral realms, hydrological systems and soils are inter-related. An ecoprovince is fully contained within only one ecozone.[2] These subdivisions were defined in accordance with environmental provisions which established the Commission for Environmental Cooperation in 1994, under the North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico.[2] These were needed to address ecological issues common to, or overlapping the borders of, the three countries. They are also useful for national and regional planning.
An ecoregion further divides an ecoprovince, though no ecoregion extends beyond one ecoprovince. These geographical units exhibit regional ecological characteristics distinct from neighbouring ecoregions, though there are typically gradual gradations between them.[2] There are 194 ecoregions.
An ecodistrict is a portion of one ecoregion having a unique collection of landforms, fauna, flora, soils, geological composition, and water features.[2] Originally, 1031 ecodistricts were defined, but ten were later removed, leaving 1021 current districts.
Further subdivisions include ecosections, ecosites, and the smallest unit, ecoelements.[5]
See also
References
- ^ "Ecological Framework: Abstract". Atlas of Canada. Archived from the original on 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
- ^ a b c d e f I. B. Marshall and P. H. Schut (1999). "A NATIONAL ECOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR CANADA, Overview". Environment Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
- ^ Wiken, Ed. "Casting the bottom line on the blue planet". Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
- ^ "Percent of ecozones that are protected in Canada, 2013". Protected Areas Data Tables. Environment Canada. 3 March 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
- ^ "Human Activity and the Environment: Annual Statistics". Statistics Canada. 2006. Archived from the original on November 4, 2008. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
From the broadest to the smallest, the hierarchical classification consists of seven levels of generalization: ecozones, ecoprovinces, ecoregions, ecodistricts, ecosections, ecosites and ecoelements.
External links
- Ecological Land Classification Description by Statistics Canada, 2017
- Ecological Land Classification Structure by Statistics Canada, 2017
- Ecozones of Canada interactive map by Esri Canada, 2015
- Terrestrial Ecozones and Ecoregions of Canada map by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Environment Canada, 1995
- Ecozones: The Ecological Framework of Canada
- Canada's Ecozones from the Canadian Biodiversity Project at McGill University's Redpath Museum
- Ecozones introduction Canadian Council on Ecological Areas, 2014 Update
- Ecozones of Canada / Écozones du Canada Canadian Council on Ecological Areas, 2014 Update
- Ecozones Digital files Canadian Council on Ecological Areas, 2014 Update
