Natural VegetationNatural Vegetation

OntarioOntario

What is Natural Vegetation?What is Natural Vegetation?

Natural Vegetation refers to plants that grow without Natural Vegetation refers to plants that grow without human interference.human interference.

A regions vegetation is determined by its climate and A regions vegetation is determined by its climate and soil.soil.

Plants must have moisture and heat for survival. The Plants must have moisture and heat for survival. The relative amounts affect what type of plats grow.relative amounts affect what type of plats grow.

Canada has 7 natural vegetation regions that are Canada has 7 natural vegetation regions that are composed of 3 types of natural vegetation: Tundra, composed of 3 types of natural vegetation: Tundra, Forest and GrasslandForest and Grassland

Of the 3 forest vegetation covers the most.Of the 3 forest vegetation covers the most.

Natural Vegetation DiagramNatural Vegetation Diagram

Canada's Vegetation RegionsCanada's Vegetation RegionsVegetation Region

Types of Natural Vegetation

Temperature Characteristics

Precipitation Characteristics

Tundra

shrubs, mosses, lichens, small flowers

cold- short growing season

very little precipitation most areas less than 400mm

Boreal and Taiga Forest

Bare further north gradually becoming all Coniferous trees the mixing point from tundra to forests Cold

Mid Precipitation

Mixed Forest

Both Deciduous and Coniferous

Mid Temperature

Mid Precipitation

Deciduous Forest

Only in South West Ontario, only deciduous trees, Maple, beech, hickory, ash, and black walnut High

Mid Precipitation

Grassland

Moss, Short- Grass, Long Grass and Parkland

Large Range from very cold to very hot very dry

Cordilleran Vegetation

The vegetation varies depending from each part of the cordilleran: Grasses, Shrubs, Meadows of Flowers, Trees

Warm, temperatures but warmer at base of mountains than at the top

More rain of the windward side of the mountain and less on the leeward as it is in a rain shadow

West Coast Forest

lush forest, fir, Sitka spruce, red cedar, and western hemlock. A temperate rainforest High

heavy rainfall all year

Ontario's Vegetation RegionsOntario's Vegetation Regions Of the 7 Ontario has 4 of Of the 7 Ontario has 4 of

Canada's vegetation regions.Canada's vegetation regions. The Largest Boreal and The Largest Boreal and

TaigaTaiga The smallest a little stretch The smallest a little stretch

of Tundra along the of Tundra along the southern shore of Hudson's southern shore of Hudson's BayBay

The Deciduous Forest in The Deciduous Forest in Southern Ontario is the only Southern Ontario is the only one in Canada.one in Canada.

Mixed forest runs through Mixed forest runs through the middle of the province.the middle of the province.

Deciduous ForestDeciduous Forest Is located in Southwest Ontario and is Is located in Southwest Ontario and is

the only deciduous forest in Canadathe only deciduous forest in Canada The majority of the trees are: Maple, The majority of the trees are: Maple,

Beech, Hickory, Ash and Black Beech, Hickory, Ash and Black Walnut.Walnut.

The summers are long and hot and the The summers are long and hot and the winters mild.winters mild.

Precipitation is PlentifulPrecipitation is Plentiful These conditions are ideal because These conditions are ideal because

the trees need at least 5 months of the trees need at least 5 months of warm weather to store sap for the warm weather to store sap for the winter.winter.

The soil is among the most fertile in The soil is among the most fertile in Canada.Canada.

Unfortunately due to great Unfortunately due to great development and farming much of the development and farming much of the forest has been cleared.forest has been cleared.

Mixed Forest(St.Lawrence Mixed Forest(St.Lawrence Forest)Forest)

In Ontario runs through South East area In Ontario runs through South East area up to around Thunder Bay.up to around Thunder Bay.

Consists of coniferous and deciduous Consists of coniferous and deciduous trees.trees.

Varieties such as: Spruce, fir, pine Varieties such as: Spruce, fir, pine cedar, hemlock, maple, beech, ash, oak cedar, hemlock, maple, beech, ash, oak and birch.and birch.

The mixed forest is a transition zone The mixed forest is a transition zone between the boreal forest to the North between the boreal forest to the North and the Deciduous forest to the south.and the Deciduous forest to the south.

The climate is ideal for Coniferous and The climate is ideal for Coniferous and with warm summers the Deciduous trees with warm summers the Deciduous trees can also flourish.can also flourish.

Precipitation is same as in the Precipitation is same as in the Deciduous Forest.Deciduous Forest.

Since there is such a variety of trees the Since there is such a variety of trees the topsoil created from the leaves is deep topsoil created from the leaves is deep grey-brown and is rich in minerals.grey-brown and is rich in minerals.

Boreal and Taiga ForestBoreal and Taiga Forest To the north of the Mixed forest is the To the north of the Mixed forest is the

Boreal and Taiga forest which divides Boreal and Taiga forest which divides the forests from the Tundra.the forests from the Tundra.

It is separated from the Tundra by the It is separated from the Tundra by the tree line, North of the tree line it is too tree line, North of the tree line it is too cold for trees to grow. cold for trees to grow.

The denseness of the Boreal forest The denseness of the Boreal forest expands from north to south.expands from north to south.

In the north there are barely any trees, In the north there are barely any trees, in the southern region it gradually in the southern region it gradually meets the warmer climate allowing for meets the warmer climate allowing for the mixed forest.the mixed forest.

There is very little precipitation.There is very little precipitation. The temperature is too cold for The temperature is too cold for

Deciduous trees to grow.Deciduous trees to grow. Since coniferous trees don’t drop many Since coniferous trees don’t drop many

needles the topsoil is very thin and needles the topsoil is very thin and there is little nutrients.there is little nutrients.

TundraTundra The most northern Vegetation The most northern Vegetation

Region in Ontario.Region in Ontario. It is located above the tree line.It is located above the tree line. Trees don’t grow here because its Trees don’t grow here because its

too cold and dry.too cold and dry. Most of the Tundra is covered by Most of the Tundra is covered by

permafrost.permafrost. In the short summer the top meter In the short summer the top meter

or so thaw.or so thaw. This allows for the growth of This allows for the growth of

small shrubs, mosses and lichens.small shrubs, mosses and lichens. The lack of vegetation limits the The lack of vegetation limits the

variety of wildlife.variety of wildlife.