ECOREGIONS AND BIODIVERSITY

ECOREGIONS◦ TERMS TO KNOW◦ ECOREGION DEFINITION◦ NL ECOREGIONS◦ OUR ECOREGION

BIODIVERSITY◦ DEFINITION◦ FACTORS THAT AFFECT BIODIVERSITY◦ ACTIVITY

OUTLINE

ECOSYSTEM◦All the living organisms and the physical

environment in which they live.

RANGE OF TOLERANCE◦The unique set of physical conditions in which

organisms can SURVIVE.◦ Example:

Cod have a temperature range of tolerance of -0.5oC to 10oC

OPTIMUM RANGE◦The narrower range in which organisms can

THRIVE.◦ Example:

Cod prefer a much smaller temperature range.

TERMS TO KNOW

POPULATION◦The total number of the SAME SPECIES living in an area.

◦Example: Brook Trout population in George’s Lake

COMMUNITY◦The total number of all of the DIFFERENT SPECIES living in an area.

◦Example: George’s Lake Community

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TERMS TO KNOW. . .

ECOREGIONS are areas of general similarity in ecosystems.

In other words, an ecoregion is:◦An area of land or water that contains a geographically distinct collection of natural communities.

ECOREGION DEFINITION

NL ecoregions are defined by the following factors:◦Climate◦Soil◦Geology◦Topography◦Flora (plants)◦Fauna (animals)

There are 9 ecoregions on the island of Newfoundland and 12 ecoregions in Labrador.

Picture p. 59 in TEXT

NL ECOREGIONS

SOUTHWESTERN NEWFOUNDLAND

OUR ECOREGION

OUR LOCATION:◦Runs from just south of Northern Peninsula to west of the southern Long Range Mountains and the Buchans Plateau.

◦Major communities are: Stephenville and Corner Brook.

◦Most common land use activities are: Forestry, pulp and paper, farming, fishing,

hunting

SOUTHWESTERN NL

OUR CLIMATE:◦ Seasonal trends:

Cool Summers, Snowy Cold Winters◦ Mean Temperatures:

Annual overall: 4oC Summer: 12oC Winter: -3.5oC

◦ Precipitation: Annual: 1000-1200 mm

SOUTHWESTERN NL

OUR SOIL:◦Best growing conditions on the island, because Long Range Mountains protect parts of the ecoregion from Northeasterly winds.

SOUTHWESTERN NL

OUR TOPOGRAPHY:◦Elevations range from SEA LEVEL to JUST OVER 800 m ABOVE sea level, in the Lewis Hills, the highest point in Newfoundland.

◦A lowland runs from St. George’s to Grand Lake.

SOUTHWESTERN NL

OUR FLORA◦Balsam Fir is the dominant tree species.

◦Also some black spruce, tamarack, and shrubs growing in poorly drained areas.

SOUTHWESTERN NL

OUR FAUNA:◦Black bear◦Moose◦Caribou◦Red fox◦Marten◦Lynx

SOUTHWESTERN NL

DEFINITION: Variety of life on Earth.

Why is BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANT?◦Biodiversity measures of the HEALTH of

ecosystems. The GREATER the biodiversity, the GREATER

the sustainability of the ecosystem. In other words:

Biodiverse ecosystems can bounce back more easily from any changes that may take place in the area.

BIODIVERSITY

1. SPECIES DIVERSITY◦Different kinds of species living in an area.

◦Allows for more feeding relationship variety.

3 FACTORS THAT AFFECT BIODIVERSITY

2. GENETIC DIVERSITY◦A variety of genetic traits in a population.

◦Allows for greater chances of species survival.

3 FACTORS. . .

3. ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY◦A variety of flora and fauna in an area.

◦Allows for greater overall ecosystem stability in response to change.

◦Changes can include: Natural disturbances

Example: Forest Fire, Disease, Extreme Weather

Human disturbances Example: Pollution,

Habitat Disturbance

3 FACTORS . . .