Ecosystems of Alberta

Slide 1 Ecosystems of Alberta LHAP 104 Slide 2 Slide 3 Introduction to Ecosystems of Alberta Slide 4 http://www.albertapcf.org/about-prairies/alberta-natural-areas photo by Carla Koenig RSS Slide 5 Grasslands From french praieire meaning meadow 4 subregions - Northern Fescue, Foothills Fescue, Dry Mixed Grassland , Mixed grassland. Occupies approx 14% of Alberta Flat to gently rolling plains , few major hill systems Low precipitation (semi-arid) summers hot, winters freezing coldwarmest driest region in Alberta, longest growing season Mostly grasses small trees and shrubs, perennials and annuals Slide 6 https://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlands/grasslands/ Slide 7 Parkland Foothills Parkland , Central Parkland and Peace River Parkland subregions Covers approx 10 % of the province - most densely populated Transition between grassland and forestMoister climate than grassland, rich black soil, rolling terrain and abundant wetlands Combination of grassland, aspen forests and wetlands provides a rich diversity of trees, shrubs and perennial plants. Slide 8 https://mapio.net/pic/p-25237428/ - Warburg SW of Edmonton Slide 9 Foothills Lower and Upper Foothills subregions. About 10% of Alberta Characterized by forested hills (lodgepole pine, and white spruce in upper, aspen and other deciduous trees and shrubs in lower) rolling grasslands, and broad river valleys Understory (upper) - labrador tea, bilberry, low bush cranberry, Climate - moist and cool - short wet summers, cold frosty wintersChinooks, strong winds, 350-450mm precipitation. Red Squirrel , Flying Squirrel, Cougar, Elk, Pileated Woodpecker Slide 10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foothills Slide 11 Rocky Mountains Montane, Alpine and Subalpine Approx 7.4% of Alberta Short cool wet summers and long cold winters with heavy snow Reflect Different environmental conditions due to altitude Montane - pattern of open forest and grasslands Subalpine - closed forests - engelmann Spruce, subalpine fir, lodgepole pine, white spruce, false azalea, bearberry, buffaloberry Alpine - bare areas, glaciers, vegetated areas. - dwarf shrubs, grasses, flowering plants, Abundance of streams Slide 12 https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/alberta-hopes-success-in-rocky-mountain-tourism-will-spread-to-other-areas-1.2980815 Slide 13 Boreal Forest Dry Mixedwood, Central Mixedwood, Lower Boreal, Upper Boreal, Peace - Athabasca Delta, Northern Mixedwood, Boreal subarctic subregions. Largest area in the province - covers 58% of the province Expanses of forests consisting of white spruce, balsam fir, aspen, balsam poplar, jack pine, Lodgepole pine Extensive Wetlands - black spruce, larch Peatlands - Limited oxygen, low nutrients, acidic soil bog loving plants Bird nursery, lynx, snowshoe hare, Slide 14 https://techlifetoday.ca/articles/2018/alberta-boreal-forest-protection Slide 15 Canadian shield One subregion - Kazan Upland Granite rock outcrops (cliffs) and pockets (crevices) Numerous lakes and wetlands, Open forest - Jack Pine upland Black Spruce in wet areasUnderstory - bearberry, common blueberry, bog cranberry, labrador tea, mosses, lichens ferns, Chickadee, moose, beaver, gray wolf, Lynx Slide 16 http://gradefive.mrpolsky.com/regionsofcanada/canadian-shield-region.html https://getawaytips.azcentral.com/what-are-the-bodies-of-water-in-the-canadian-shield-12535475.html Slide 17 More information on subregions Click here Slide 18 The Grasslands LHAP 104 Slide 19 Grassland History Underlain by sedimentary bedrock .When scoured produced glacial till, lacustrine and fluvial deposits. Landforms include lake beds, morainal hills, sand dunes, river valleys and meltwater channels Soils developed Chernozems - thick dark coloured surface horizonSolonetzic - where sodium salts occur close to the surface, Regosols - weakly developed soils , associated with sand dunes, flood plains and steep slopes Gleysols - nutrient poor. Form in wetlands where decomposition is hindered by flooding . Slide 20 Grasslands - climate Low precipitation (semi-arid) summers hot, winters freezing cold Large variety of different habitats. Natural prairie vegetation controlled by grazing, fires, drought and low temperatures. Grasslands are among the most productive and diverse of earth’s ecosystems Slide 21 Grasslands - vegetation Mixed grasslands dominate in Alberta grasslands South Short grasses - blue gramma, Northern Wheatgrass, June grass, wheat grass, needle and thread and porcupine grass ( vary according to slope and soil) More north - rough fescue At the fringe grasslands intermingle with aspen woodlands to form parklands Grasses are adapted to survive cold winters and summer moisture deficit Deep roots, growing points close to ground surface, narrow leaves, small wind pollinated flowers, tough stems and leaves Slide 22 https://www.wildaboutflowers.ca/plant_detail.php?Rough-Fescue-42 https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/grass-sedge-rush/needle-and-thread-grass Slide 23 Grassland Vegetation Lichens, Mosses, and Broad leafed plants - small portion annuals, most perennials ( better competitors) Deep taproots or storage roots, leaf adaptations ( hairs, thick epidermis, narrow or compound leaves to reduce surface, toxic substances), - Three flowered avens, prairie crocus, coneflower yucca, cacti, sunflowers Slide 24 Grassland Vegetation cont. Taller shrubs and trees mostly willow and poplarfound in depressions where there is sufficient moisture. ( river valley’s, coulees) -Have deep roots or rhizome roots , leaf adaptations to reduce water loss ( surface hairs, thick epidermis) - Poplar deep taproot - draws on groundwater Narrow-leaf cottonwood, silver sagebrush , willow Slide 25 Grasslands vegetation cont. Low to mid size shrubs Adaptations - hairs on leaves, compound leaves prickly rose, wolfwillow, potentilla Slide 26 Grassland - other inhabitants (FYI) Baird’s sparrow, sprague’s pipit, chestnut-collared longspur, richardson’s ground squirrel, porcupine, mule deer, white tail deer, pronghorn antelope, spadefoot toad, northern leopard frog , wandering garter snake, https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bairds_Sparrow/overview http://www.albertaefp.com/species-at-risk/attachment/northern-leopard-frog Slide 27 The Parklands LHAP 104 Slide 28 Parkland Occupies approx 10% of Alberta, Transition between grassland and boreal Share characteristics of both neighbouring communities. Slide 29 Parkland climate Rich black soil Moister climate than the grassland regions and less than the Rocky Mountain Region Rolling terrain, abundant water bodies “Winters are cooler in the more northerly Peace River Natural Subregion owing to the stronger polar influences, and warmer in the Foothills Parkland Natural Subregion because of Chinooks. “ https://www.albertaparks.ca/media/6256258/natural-regions-subregions-of-alberta-a-framework-for-albertas-parks-booklet.pdf pg 26 Slide 30 Parkland vegetation To the north, aspen stands are more common, and closed aspen and balsam poplar stands with intermixed grasslands are typical, forming a park-like mosaic. Trembling aspen on upland sites, Shrubs - Snowberry, saskatoon, chokecherry, prickly rose, pincherry, silverberry, beaked hazelnut Perennials - Prairie crocus, purple peavine, pink wintergreen, Gaillardia, Wild Sarsaparilla, bunchberry Slide 31 Parkland vegetation cont. Balsam poplar on moister sites in depressions and in the northern part of the subregion Bebb’s willow, red osier dogwood , pussy willow, gooseberry, green alder, bracted honeysuckle , tall lungwort , baneberry , mitrewort Shrub communities more in the northern portion - buckbrush, saskatoon, chokecherry, prickly rose, pincherry, silverberry Slide 32 http://albertaregions.weebly.com/uploads/2/0/9/2/20922820/parkland_region.pdf https://www.manitoba.ca/agriculture/crops/production/fruit-crops/pincherry-production.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_acicularis Slide 33 Other inhabitants (FYI) White tail Deer, coyote, snowshoe hare, red squirrel, beaver, muskrat, coyote, bluejay, northern flicker, garter snake, central subregion - duck factory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colaptes