- Tundra
- Boreal Forest
- Temperate Forest
- Grassland
The tundra biome extends from the southward part of the North Pole. There is very small amounts of Biodiversity and is very vulnerable to damage. A short summer and a harsh, long winter doesn't allow many plants to grow. This cold weather also affects the soil, as most of the soil is frozen permanently and never thaws. This is called permafrost. The active layer is on top of the permafrost and it allows plants to grow; hence its name. Permafrost prevents large trees from growing as roots are required to dig deep into the soil.
Boreal Forest:
This biome is just south of the tundra, and it covers 50% of Canada's land. Like the tundra it has a long winter and a short summer, but it has more precipitation because the temperature changes rapidly from hot to cold. The climate can't support many trees; that's why there is a lot of coniferous trees (Pine Trees, etc.). Also, coniferous trees last year-round due to the thick cuticle of transparent wax around their needles. Ferns and mosses grow underneath the shade of the conifers. This gives some shelter for insects, as well as food. From there, the food cycle can sustain.
Temperate Forest:
Located just below the boreal forest, the temperate forest area has plenty of deciduous trees (trees that have leaves that drop during fall). It also has 4 well-defined seasons, (summer, fall, winter, and spring) in comparison to the tundra or boreal biomes. There are a lot of flourishing species of animals, and plants since the growing season is long. The temperate forest has plenty of biodiversity.
Grassland:
The grassland biome covers mainly the south of the prairie provinces. It has plenty of rich soil, thus great for agriculture. The precipitation in the area is fairly low, and it does cause the occasional drought. Animals such as bison, cattle, deer and horses inhabit this biome, as they have plenty of land to graze on. There is a fair amount of biodiversity, but due to droughts not too many plants or animals can flourish.
This is some of a LOT of information on the 4 Canadian Biomes.
