Central Canadian Shield forests
Encyclopedia
The Central Canadian Shield forests are a taiga
ecoregion
of Canada
.
from eastern Manitoba
and Northern Ontario
running southeastwards through Thunder Bay District
to the north shore of Lake Superior
and then northeastwards into western Quebec
. The area has a cool climate with summer tempearatures averaging around 13°C dropping to a very cold -17°C in winter, with the hills around Lac Seul
in northwestern Ontario
being warmer and wetter than most of the area. Average rainfall in the eastern side of the ecoregion is 550mm per year, rising to 750mm in the centre (near Lake Nipigon
for example), up to 900mm in the west. Specific areas include Lake Nipigon and Big Trout Lake (Ontario)
. These forest contrast with more severe boreal forest ecoregions such as the Eastern Canadian Shield taiga
to the north, which covers most of Northern Quebec and Labrador
.
and some paper birch (Betula papyrifera) and in the warmer south-facing areas some trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides
), white spruce (Picea glauca), Ontario balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera
) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea). Many of the rocks of the area are covered with colourful lichen
s. The ecoregion contains large areas of wetland especially in the south east, and a greater variety of plant life on the north shore of Lake Superior.
(Rangifer tarandus), American black bear (Ursus americanus), Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) and grey wolf (Canis lupus). Birds of the area include Northern Hawk Owl
and Great Horned Owl
, sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), American black duck (Anas rubripes), wood duck (Aix sponsa), Canada goose (Branta canadensis) in the north, and hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) and pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) in the west.
in Quebec, and in the following protected areas: Wabakimi Provincial Park
northwest of Lake Nipigon, Pukaskwa National Park
near Marathon, Ontario
on the Lake Superior shore, a number of rivers and lakes in Northern Ontario (Winisk River
, Missinaibi River
, Albany River
north of Wabakimi Park, Severn River (northern Ontario)
, Attawapiskat Lake
/Attawapiskat River
and Brightsand River
), Kesagami Provincial Park, Michipicoten Island
in Lake Superior, all in Ontario
; and Aiguebelle National Park
in Quebec.
Taiga
Taiga , also known as the boreal forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests.Taiga is the world's largest terrestrial biome. In North America it covers most of inland Canada and Alaska as well as parts of the extreme northern continental United States and is known as the Northwoods...
ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Setting
This ecoregion consists of rolling hills, lakes, bogs and rocky outcrops covering a large curved swathe on the Canadian ShieldCanadian Shield
The Canadian Shield, also called the Laurentian Plateau, or Bouclier Canadien , is a vast geological shield covered by a thin layer of soil that forms the nucleus of the North American or Laurentia craton. It is an area mostly composed of igneous rock which relates to its long volcanic history...
from eastern Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
and Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
running southeastwards through Thunder Bay District
Thunder Bay District
Thunder Bay District is a district and census division in Northwestern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. The district seat is Thunder Bay....
to the north shore of Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
and then northeastwards into western Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The area has a cool climate with summer tempearatures averaging around 13°C dropping to a very cold -17°C in winter, with the hills around Lac Seul
Lac Seul
Lac Seul is a large, crescent shaped lake in northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is approximately long. It has a maximum depth of 47.2 m, with a surface elevation of 357 m above sea level. It is the second largest body of water entirely within the province of Ontario. The lake consists of open...
in northwestern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
being warmer and wetter than most of the area. Average rainfall in the eastern side of the ecoregion is 550mm per year, rising to 750mm in the centre (near Lake Nipigon
Lake Nipigon
Lake Nipigon is the largest lake entirely within the boundaries of the Canadian province of Ontario . It is sometimes described as the sixth Great Lake. Lying 260 metres above sea level, the lake drains into the Nipigon River and thence into Nipigon Bay of Lake Superior...
for example), up to 900mm in the west. Specific areas include Lake Nipigon and Big Trout Lake (Ontario)
Big Trout Lake (Ontario)
Big Trout Lake is a large lake in Northern Ontario. The lake has a community along its shore, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation ....
. These forest contrast with more severe boreal forest ecoregions such as the Eastern Canadian Shield taiga
Eastern Canadian Shield taiga
The Eastern Canadian Shield taiga is an ecoregion of Canada as defined by the World Wildlife Fund categorization system.-Setting:Located in northeastern Canada, this ecoregion covers a large part of northern Quebec and most of Labrador, reaching from Hudson Bay and James Bay in the west, across to...
to the north, which covers most of Northern Quebec and Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
.
Flora
These hills support a large area or rich taiga forest dominated by black spruce (Picea mariana) along with Jack PineJack Pine
Jack pine is a North American pine with its native range in Canada east of the Rocky Mountains from Northwest Territories to Nova Scotia, and the northeast of the United States from Minnesota to Maine, with the southernmost part of the range just into northwest Indiana...
and some paper birch (Betula papyrifera) and in the warmer south-facing areas some trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides
Populus tremuloides
Populus tremuloides is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America, commonly called quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, and Quakies,. The trees have tall trunks, up to 25 metres, with smooth pale bark, scarred with black. The glossy green leaves, dull beneath, become golden...
), white spruce (Picea glauca), Ontario balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera
Populus balsamifera
Populus balsamifera, commonly called balsam poplar, bamtree, eastern balsam poplar, hackmatack, tacamahac poplar, tacamahaca,...
) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea). Many of the rocks of the area are covered with colourful lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s. The ecoregion contains large areas of wetland especially in the south east, and a greater variety of plant life on the north shore of Lake Superior.
Fauna
Mammals of the taiga include moose (Alces alces), the southernmost populations of Migratory Woodland CaribouMigratory Woodland Caribou
The migratory woodland caribou , also known as the forest caribou or woodland caribou , is a subspecies of the caribou...
(Rangifer tarandus), American black bear (Ursus americanus), Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) and grey wolf (Canis lupus). Birds of the area include Northern Hawk Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
The Northern Hawk-Owl is a non-migratory owl that usually stays within its breeding range. It sometimes irrupts southward.-General:It is the only living species in the genus Surnia...
and Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl, , also known as the Tiger Owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas.-Description:...
, sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), American black duck (Anas rubripes), wood duck (Aix sponsa), Canada goose (Branta canadensis) in the north, and hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) and pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) in the west.
Threats and preservation
This is fairly well-preserved ecoregion with 40% of original forest intact (less so in Manitoba) while most has been heavily changed by logging and in some areas by mining and hydroelectric power generation. Large blocks of undisturbed forest do remain, for example north of Lake Nipigon in Ontario and around Lake MistassiniLake Mistassini
Lake Mistassini is the largest natural lake by surface area in the province of Quebec, Canada, with a total surface area of approximately 2,335 km² and a net area of 2,164 km². It is located in the Jamésie region of the province, approximately east of James Bay...
in Quebec, and in the following protected areas: Wabakimi Provincial Park
Wabakimi Provincial Park
Wabakimi Provincial Park is a wilderness park located to the northwest of Lake Nipigon in the province of Ontario, Canada. The park contains a vast and interconnected network of more than 2,000 kilometres of lakes and rivers...
northwest of Lake Nipigon, Pukaskwa National Park
Pukaskwa National Park
Pukaskwa National Park is a national park located south of the town of Marathon, Ontario in the Thunder Bay District of northern Ontario, Canada. Established in 1978, Pukaskwa is known for its vistas of Lake Superior and boreal forests...
near Marathon, Ontario
Marathon, Ontario
Marathon is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Thunder Bay District, on the north shore of Lake Superior north of Pukaskwa National Park, in the heart of the Canadian Shield.- History :...
on the Lake Superior shore, a number of rivers and lakes in Northern Ontario (Winisk River
Winisk River
The Winisk River is a river in northern Ontario, Canada, that starts at Wunnummin Lake and flows east to Winisk Lake. From there it continues in a mostly northly direction to Hudson Bay. The Winisk River is 475 km long and has a drainage basin of . The name is from Cree origin meaning...
, Missinaibi River
Missinaibi River
The Missinaibi River is a river in northern Ontario, Canada, which flows northeast from Missinaibi Lake, north of Chapleau, and empties into the Moose River, which drains into James Bay. This river is in length...
, Albany River
Albany River
The Albany River is a river in Northern Ontario, Canada, which flows northeast from Lake St. Joseph in Northwestern Ontario and empties into James Bay. It is long to the head of the Cat River, tying it with the Severn River for the title of longest river in Ontario...
north of Wabakimi Park, Severn River (northern Ontario)
Severn River (northern Ontario)
The Severn River is a river in northern Ontario. The northern Ontario river has its headwaters near the western border of the province. From the head of the Black Birch River, the Severn River is long and its drainage basin is 102,800 km² , a small portion of which is in Manitoba...
, Attawapiskat Lake
Attawapiskat Lake
Attawapiskat Lake is a lake in Kenora District, Ontario, Canada. The primary inflows are the Otoskwin River, the Marten-Drinking River and the Pineimuta River...
/Attawapiskat River
Attawapiskat River
The Attawapiskat River is a river in Kenora District in northwestern Ontario, Canada that flows east from Attawapiskat Lake to James Bay.-Course:The Attawapiskat River travels a distance of , and has a drainage area of ....
and Brightsand River
Brightsand River
The Brightsand River is a river in the James Bay drainage basin in Unorganized Thunder Bay District in northwestern Ontario, Canada.-Course:...
), Kesagami Provincial Park, Michipicoten Island
Michipicoten Island
Michipicoten Island is an island in Ontario, Canada, in the northeastern part of Lake Superior, approximately 175 km northwest of Sault Ste. Marie and 65 km southwest of Wawa, Ontario...
in Lake Superior, all in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
; and Aiguebelle National Park
Aiguebelle National Park
Aiguebelle National Park is a national park of Quebec, Canada. It is located in western Quebec in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, west of Amos, Quebec and east of Kirkland Lake, Ontario.-External links:* - official site...
in Quebec.