1. Canada’s Ecozones

2. What is an ecozone?
A unique region defined by the combination of its geologic, landform, soil, vegetation, climate, water, wildlife and human factors.
Each ecozone is very similar throughout, and is significantly different from any other place in Canada.

3. How do the natural
characteristics of Canada
influence human activity,
and how might human
activity influence Canada’s
natural characteristics?

4. ECOZONE Regions based on unique ecological characteristics. Or
A large geographical area in which human activities interact with the natural world

5. ECOZONE
Areas are grouped as separate ecological zones based on the way geologic, landform, soil, vegetation, climate, water, wildlife, and human factor are linked to each other
If one part of the system is changed, then the rest of the system is changed
Ex. Temperature - affects growth of plants… affects animals’ ability to obtain food etc.

6. Canada has 15 AWESOME Ecozones!!
CANADA’S ECOZONES
Canada has
15 AWESOME Ecozones!!

7. How many ecozones are in Canada?
Each one differs from its neighbour because of a change in:
Landform region
Climate/Soil/ Vegetation Region
Human Activities
There are 15 terrestrial (land) ecozones
and 5 maritime (water) ecozones.

9. CANADA’S ECOZONES
Ecozones are defined by a variety of physical and human conditions
Using ecozones to study the land helps us understand the INTERCONNECTIONS among natural and human systems

10. Natural Systems Are All Connected!

11. Boreal Shield Ecozone We live in the Boreal Shield Ecozone
Area: km2
Landforms: plains and low hills of the Canadian Shield
Climate: long winters (-15ºC) and short summers (17ºC)
Vegetation: Coniferous (black spruce, white spruce, Jack pine, balsam fir) mixed with deciduous (yellow birch, sugar maple, black ash)
Soils: Heavily leached soils; bare rock; swampy areas
Human activities: total population ; GDP $49 billion; forestry, mining tourism, recreation, trapping
Major Cities: St. John’s Chicoutimi, Sudbury,
Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay,
*See pages: for complete list

12. A Comparison of Two Ecozones
Factor
Boreal Shield
Mixedwood Plain
Landform Region
Canadian Shield
Great Lakes Lowland
Climate Region
Boreal
Southeastern
Vegetation Region
Coniferous and Mixed Forests
Deciduous and Mixed Forests
Wildlife
Moose, Bear, Caribou
Racoon, Squirrel, Skunk
Human Activities
Forestry, mining
Urban, farming