Canadian+Taiga

=__The Eastern Canadian Shield Taiga__      = ===__Description__     === <span style="COLOR: rgb(29,114,42)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(43,105,45)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(39,139,83)">This is a region that spans much of northern Quebec and much of Labrador.It stretches from Hudson Bay in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east. The Shield Taiga has cool summers and very cold winters, which is caused by the Atlantic Ocean. The Larch Plateau and the Richmond make up the western taiga. The world's largest migrating herd visit this ecosystem, the herd being composed of caribou, and visiting the Geor     <span style="COLOR: rgb(29,153,26)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(74,140,85)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(22,70,27)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(29,114,42)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(43,105,45)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(39,139,83)">      <span style="COLOR: rgb(29,153,26)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(74,140,85)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(22,70,27)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(29,114,42)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(43,105,45)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(39,139,83)">ge River regularly. The taiga is dotted with string bogs, which may be some of the most extensively developed bogs in North America. Steep-sided, rounded mountains, U-shaped valleys, and fjords line the East Labrador coast. This taiga has been formed from the process of glaciation. <span style="COLOR: rgb(39,139,83)">     <span style="COLOR: rgb(29,153,26)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(74,140,85)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(19,83,23)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(43,105,45)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(27,90,44)">

<span style="COLOR: rgb(29,153,26)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(74,140,85)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(22,70,27)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(29,114,42)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(43,105,45)"> ===<span style="COLOR: rgb(29,153,26)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(74,140,85)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(39,139,83)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(22,70,27)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(29,114,42)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(43,105,45)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(19,83,23)">__Climate__      === <span style="COLOR: rgb(29,153,26)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(74,140,85)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(19,83,23)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(43,105,45)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(29,114,42)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(22,70,27)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(39,130,65)">The Eastern Canadian Shield Taiga has cool summers, which are shorter in the coastal barrens, and very cold winters, which are longer in the barrens. The length of seasons vary in the barrens due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The average yearly temperature in this region ranges from one to negative six degrees. It is warmer near East Labrador, and it is cooler near Hudson Bay. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 30-40 centimeters south of Ungava Bay to one whole meter of rain in the southeastern part of this ecosystem. <span style="COLOR: rgb(27,90,44)">The taiga has subarctic climates:high, low, and medium. <span style="COLOR: rgb(27,90,44)"> <span style="COLOR: rgb(29,153,26)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(74,140,85)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(2,54,33)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(39,139,83)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(22,70,27)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(29,114,42)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(43,105,45)">

<span style="COLOR: rgb(29,153,26)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(74,140,85)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(19,83,23)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(43,105,45)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(27,90,44)">__Flora & Fauna__
<span style="COLOR: rgb(29,153,26)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(74,140,85)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(27,90,44)">__**Flora**__ <span style="COLOR: rgb(27,90,44)">Balsam Fir - a medium-sized conifer reaching 40 to 60 feet in height Black Spruce - a small coniferous tree that is easily windthrown from the soil Douglas-Fir - this evergreen could grow anywhere from 70 feet to 250 feet Eastern Red Cedar - a needleleaf tree that has reddish-brown bark that peels in long strips Jack Pine - a small, bushy conifer that grows to 100 feet at most Paper Birch - a deciduous tree whose bark can peel off in sheets Siberian Spruce - a perennial conifer that has dull green needles looks something like a pyramid White Fir - an evergreen that can age for 350 years and loses its lower branches as it grows older White Poplar - a deciduous tree that grows quickly and has silvery-white leaves White Spruce - this conifer is cone shaped, like many others, and when the needles are crushed, a stench emanates from them <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <span style="COLOR: rgb(29,154,42)">__<span style="COLOR: rgb(29,153,26)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(74,140,85)">**Fauna** __ <span style="COLOR: rgb(29,153,26)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(74,140,85)">American Black Bear - a mammal that eats mainly plants and hasthe ability to run up to 25 miles an hour Bald Eagle - a large bird with a strong, curved beak; the eagle weighs eight to twelve pounds Bobcat - a small mammal about 2 feet tall with scissor-like teeth and the ability to climb trees Canadian Lynx - a not-so common wild cat; quickly and slyly, it can strike at any moment Gray Wolf - the largest wild canine, this carnivore can survive as long as there is food and a somewhat cold climate Grizzly Bear - a stout and havy bear, this omnivore has a distinguisnable shoulder hump that any other bear does not have Long-Eared Owl - an 8 to 10 ounce bird that has its ears onits head, but one ear is larger than the other, and is higher up on its head Red Fox - a rusty-red colored nocturnal carnivore that that is very intelligent River Otter - this 2-2.5 foot mammal has self-closing nostrils for when it swims underwaterand has webbed feet Snowshoe Rabbit - a small herbivore whose fur changes with the seasons, from grayish-brown in the summer to white in the winter Wolverine - this 45-pound weasel can bite through frozen meat and bone and has wonderful hunting skills

__Impact__
Uranium, nickel, copper, and diamond expeditions are the most common forms of habitat disturbance. Caribou hunting is a threat to their survival due to poor surveillance. Hydroelectric equipment also threatens the lives of the local wild population by permanently flooding five percent of the ecoregion. Logging industries destroy the environment as well by cutting down animal homes. The Sand Lakes Provincial Park, the Caribou River Provincial Park, the Numaykoos Lake Provincial Park, and the Baralzon Lake Ecological Reserve are protecting 20,375 square kilometers of land. The local grizzly bear population could easily be wiped out.

__Biotic & Abiotic Factors__
Abiotic Factors Soil - none on outcrops, just sand and peat Climate - low precipitation with long, very cold winters and short, cool summers Topography - many small lakes and streams feed into the Great Slave Lake, and fjords line the Atlantic and is dotted with hills Biotic Factors Animals - large migrating herd of caribou and a small population of seals in Quebec; many common woodland animals, such as bears, owls, and rodents Plants - few tall trees mainly in the south, and a large assortment of small bushes and undergrowth