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Questions and Answers
What is a primary characteristic of Northern Arctic Ecology?
What is a primary characteristic of Northern Arctic Ecology?
Which of the following species is NOT typically found in the Northern Arctic Ecosystem?
Which of the following species is NOT typically found in the Northern Arctic Ecosystem?
How does permafrost affect the Northern Arctic environment?
How does permafrost affect the Northern Arctic environment?
Why is primary productivity low in Northern Arctic ecosystems?
Why is primary productivity low in Northern Arctic ecosystems?
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What effect do warming temperatures have on Arctic ecosystems?
What effect do warming temperatures have on Arctic ecosystems?
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Which mammal is NOT found in the Boreal forest?
Which mammal is NOT found in the Boreal forest?
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What is the mean July temperature range in the Taiga Cordillera Ecozone?
What is the mean July temperature range in the Taiga Cordillera Ecozone?
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How much precipitation does the Taiga Plains receive in the north?
How much precipitation does the Taiga Plains receive in the north?
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Which tree species is commonly found in the southern upland foothill area of the Taiga Plains?
Which tree species is commonly found in the southern upland foothill area of the Taiga Plains?
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What is the approximate annual mean precipitation in the Taiga Shield Ecozone?
What is the approximate annual mean precipitation in the Taiga Shield Ecozone?
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What is the average summer temperature in the Arctic Tundra?
What is the average summer temperature in the Arctic Tundra?
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Which of the following plants can resist the cold climate in the Arctic Tundra?
Which of the following plants can resist the cold climate in the Arctic Tundra?
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Which bird species is associated with the Taiga Plains?
Which bird species is associated with the Taiga Plains?
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What animal hibernates during the winter months in the Arctic Tundra?
What animal hibernates during the winter months in the Arctic Tundra?
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In which ecozone would you likely find the open tundra and lichen woodland?
In which ecozone would you likely find the open tundra and lichen woodland?
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What is a characteristic of plants in the Arctic Tundra?
What is a characteristic of plants in the Arctic Tundra?
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What is the mean January temperature range in the Taiga Plains?
What is the mean January temperature range in the Taiga Plains?
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Which mammals are commonly found in the Hudson Plains Ecozone?
Which mammals are commonly found in the Hudson Plains Ecozone?
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What is the primary reason for the short growing season in the Arctic Tundra?
What is the primary reason for the short growing season in the Arctic Tundra?
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During which month does soil generally start to thaw in the Arctic Tundra?
During which month does soil generally start to thaw in the Arctic Tundra?
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What is a common adaptation of animals in the Arctic Tundra for winter survival?
What is a common adaptation of animals in the Arctic Tundra for winter survival?
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What is the primary food source for Woodland Caribou?
What is the primary food source for Woodland Caribou?
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Which of the following statements about Woodland Caribou is true?
Which of the following statements about Woodland Caribou is true?
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When do male Woodland Caribou lose their antlers?
When do male Woodland Caribou lose their antlers?
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What characteristic is shared by both Barren ground and Woodland Caribou?
What characteristic is shared by both Barren ground and Woodland Caribou?
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What is a significant factor for Woodland Caribou when living in their habitat?
What is a significant factor for Woodland Caribou when living in their habitat?
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Why do female Woodland Caribou travel to isolated areas?
Why do female Woodland Caribou travel to isolated areas?
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What happens to the hooves of Woodland Caribou in winter?
What happens to the hooves of Woodland Caribou in winter?
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Since when have Woodland Caribou been listed on the Canadian Species at Risk Act?
Since when have Woodland Caribou been listed on the Canadian Species at Risk Act?
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During which season do Barren-ground Caribou primarily gather for calving?
During which season do Barren-ground Caribou primarily gather for calving?
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What habitat do Barren-ground Caribou prefer during the summer?
What habitat do Barren-ground Caribou prefer during the summer?
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What triggers the migration of female Barren-ground Caribou and calves?
What triggers the migration of female Barren-ground Caribou and calves?
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What is the primary migration pattern for Barren-ground Caribou in the fall?
What is the primary migration pattern for Barren-ground Caribou in the fall?
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In winter, how do the living arrangements change for mature bulls?
In winter, how do the living arrangements change for mature bulls?
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What factors threaten the Barren-ground Caribou population?
What factors threaten the Barren-ground Caribou population?
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What distinguishes the summer behavior of Barren-ground Caribou from other seasons?
What distinguishes the summer behavior of Barren-ground Caribou from other seasons?
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What is the primary characteristic of the calving grounds for Barren-ground Caribou?
What is the primary characteristic of the calving grounds for Barren-ground Caribou?
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What type of habitat is preferred by Woodland Caribou?
What type of habitat is preferred by Woodland Caribou?
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What happens at the end of summer for Barren-ground Caribou?
What happens at the end of summer for Barren-ground Caribou?
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Study Notes
Northern Arctic Ecology
- The study of ecosystems in the Arctic with a focus on the unique interactions between living organisms (plants, animals, humans, and microorganisms) and their physical environment (climate, soil, and water).
Northern Arctic Ecosystems
- Environment Canada has classified Canada's ecosystems into 15 terrestrial and 5 marine ecozones.
- 10 terrestrial zones and 3 marine zones are located in the north.
Key Characteristics of a Northern Arctic Ecology
- Extreme Climate: Long, cold winters and short, cool summers.
- Short Growing Season: Vegetation has a limited period to grow and reproduce, resulting in adaptations like mosses, lichen, and tundra shrubs being common species.
- Permafrost: Most of the Arctic land is underlain by permafrost, which impacts soil composition, plant growth, and animal shelter.
- Specialized Species: Arctic wildlife, like polar bears, arctic foxes, seals, walruses, migratory birds, and cold-water fish, are highly adapted to extreme conditions.
- Food Chains: Primary productivity is low due to limited sunlight and nutrients, but there is a strong reliance on marine ecosystems. Phytoplankton, zooplankton, and ice algae form the base of the marine food web, supporting species like fish, seals, and polar bears.
- Climate Sensitivity: Arctic ecosystems are extremely sensitive to climate change. Warming temperatures lead to melting sea ice, thawing permafrost, and species distribution shifts, disrupting the balance of the ecosystem.
Boreal Forest
- Characterized by species like white spruce, black spruce, alpine fir, pine, aspen, balsam poplar, and white birch.
- Common mammals in this ecosystem include woodland caribou, moose, Dall's sheep, mountain goat, black bear, grizzly bear, marten, lynx, and American pika.
Taiga Cordillera Ecozone
- Located in the northern extent of the Rocky Mountain System with steep ridges and narrow valleys.
- Located in the northern portion of Yukon and southwest Northwest Territories.
- Climate is dry and cold with annual mean precipitation of 300mm.
- Mean January temperatures range from -5 to -30°C, while July temperatures average 12 to 15°C.
- Mammals: Dall's sheep, woodland and barren-ground caribou, moose, mountain goats, black bears, grizzly bears, lynx, arctic ground squirrel, American pika, and wolverine.
- Birds: Gyrfalcon and willow ptarmigan.
Taiga Plains Ecozone
- Located in the western portion of the Northwest Territories, northeastern British Columbia, and northwestern Alberta.
- Semi-arid and cold with precipitation ranging from 200mm in the north to 400mm in the south.
- Mean January temperatures range from -22.5°C to -35°C, while July temperatures are 10 to 15°C.
- The north features typical tundra with dwarf birch, labrador tea, mosses, and sedges.
- The south upland foothill area is warmer and includes white and black spruce, tamarack, white spruce polar, and pine.
- Mammals: Moose, woodland caribou, bison, walk, black bear, marten, and lynx.
- Wood Buffalo National Park Reserve: 44,807 km² home to boreal forest and plains, as well as some of the largest undisturbed grass and sedge meadows in Canada.
Taiga Shield Ecozone
- Split by Hudson's Bay, with an eastern portion including central Quebec (Nunavik) and Labrador.
- The western portion covers northern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and parts of southern Nunavut and southern central Northwest Territories.
- Climate: Subarctic continental with low precipitation (175-200mm).
- Mean January temperatures range from -17.5°C to -27.5°C, while July temperatures range from 7.5°C to 17.5°C.
- The northern end marks the poleward limit of tree growth, transitioning to lichen woodland and open tundra.
- The central portion is unproductive with stunted coniferous and deciduous stands of black spruce, alders, willows, and tamarack in fens and bogs.
- Mammals: Barren-ground caribou, limited woodland caribou, moose, wolf, snowshoe hare, black bear, and grizzly bear.
Hudson Plains Ecozone
- Features the largest wetlands in Canada, centered in northern Ontario, western Quebec, and northeastern Manitoba.
- Influenced by the cold and moisture of Hudson's Bay.
- January mean temperature is -19°C.
- July mean temperature is 12 to 16°C.
- Mammals: Woodland caribou, moose, black bear, polar bear, marten, arctic fox, and fisher.
Arctic Tundra
- Growing season ranges from 50 to 60 days.
- Desert-like conditions with 15-25cm of precipitation, including melting snow.
- Average summer temperatures are 3 to 12°C, while average winter temperatures are -34°C.
- Soil forms slowly above the permafrost layer, often comprised of gravel and finer material.
- When the top layer thaws, it can become saturated, forming bogs and ponds.
- Plants have shallow root systems, but there are approximately 1,700 species adapted to the cold climate, including low shrubs, sedges, reindeer mosses, liverworts, grasses, 400 varieties of flowers, and crustose and foliose lichen.
Plant Adaptations in Arctic Tundra
- Plants are low to the ground, clump together, and have thick, rubbery leaves for protection.
- Photosynthesis occurs at lower temperatures and lower light intensity.
- Most plants reproduce by budding and division instead of pollination.
Animal Adaptations in Arctic Tundra
- Animals have adapted to survive long, cold winters and breed and raise young quickly during the short summer months.
- Some hibernate in the winter, while others migrate south.
- Animals and birds have added fat for insulation and make long-distance yearly migrations.
- They gather in large groups at common calving locations in the spring and seek cool, damp, and windy habitats in the summer.
Barren-Ground Caribou
- In spring (June), female (cows) and calves from the previous year travel north to calving grounds, coinciding with the greening of the tundra and peak nutrient availability.
- Non-pregnant cows and young bulls move north, followed by adult bulls.
- The group lives together on the tundra during the summer.
- In late summer and early fall, they move south towards the treeline, feeding and preparing for mating season.
- Fall is mating season, with mature bulls living separately from cows and calves in the forest during the winter.
- Barren-ground caribou move around based on food availability and are facing threats like habitat loss, disturbance, contamination, climate change, disease, and predation.
Woodland Caribou
- Live in the boreal forest, boreal plain, and boreal shield, sometimes overlapping with barren-ground caribou in the northern part of the boreal shield.
- They are the largest caribou subspecies, reaching 1 to 1.2 meters tall.
- Their heads and legs are longer than those of barren-ground caribou.
- They mainly rely on lichen for food, with a diet that includes grass, moss, willow leaves, and other plants in the summer.
- They are non-migratory and live in small groups of about 15.
- They relocate to areas with less disturbance, highlighting the importance of habitat connectivity.
- Females travel to isolated areas with plentiful food and fewer predators to calve.
- Male and females live together in groups, but females live separately during calving.
- Woodland caribou are listed as a species at risk in Canada since 2003.
Similarities between Barren-Ground and Woodland Caribou
- Lifespan: 4.5 to 15 years
- Crescent-shaped hooves for navigating snow, water, and soft ground.
- They develop hard, hairy hooves for winter and softer, hairless hooves for summer.
- Produce a scent when they sense danger.
- Have thick, broad antlers that grow for a year and then are lost.
- Males lose their antlers after mating in the fall, and females lose theirs in the spring after giving birth.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the unique ecosystems of the Arctic region. This quiz covers the characteristics of northern Arctic ecology, including its climate and species adaptations. Explore the interactions between living organisms and their environment in this extreme landscape.
