Harold Draper

Southwest Iberian Mediterranean sclerophyllous and mixed forests

May 17, 2019

Southwest Iberian Mediterranean sclerophyllous and mixed forests (PA 1221) are found on the Atlantic coastal strip of southern Portugal and Spain, especially in the Guadiana, Tajo, and Guadalquivir River basins. The most common forest is of cork oaks, mixed with other genera such as Laurus, Arbutus, Erica, and Ilex. Holm oak and holly oak are … More Southwest Iberian Mediterranean sclerophyllous and mixed forests

Great Slave Lake and Queen Maud Gulf

April 18, 2019

North of the 60th parallel in Northwest Territories and Nunavut Territory, the boreal forests become sparser and grade into tundra vegetation. This post describes four ecoregions located between the 60th and 70th parallels in this region. Muskwa-Slave Lake forests ecoregion was described last month. The Great Slave Lake, the deepest lake in North America at … More Great Slave Lake and Queen Maud Gulf

Muskwa-Slave Lake Forests, Part 2

March 4, 2019

Muskwa-Slave Lake forests, Part 2 This ecoregion is in northern Alberta, British Columbia, and Northwest Territories and includes the area to the south of Great Slave Lake. Sites in Alberta and British Columbia were described in a previous post. Vegetation consists of closed stands of quaking aspen, spruce, and balsam fir with lesser amounts of … More Muskwa-Slave Lake Forests, Part 2

Budd, Knox, and Sabrina Coasts

February 5, 2019

East Antarctic Tundra Ecoregion The Budd, Knox, and Sabrina Coasts of East Antarctica were first reported by the U.S. Exploring Expedition in 1840. They are all part of Wilkes Land, named for the officer in charge of the expedition. From west to east, the Knox Coast extends from Cape Hordern (S66o15’ E100o31’), to the Hatch … More Budd, Knox, and Sabrina Coasts

East Siberian Taiga

January 3, 2019

Central Siberian Plateau: Tunguska, Siberian Traps, and Kraton-3 Location: Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Sakha Republic This map area is almost completely in the East Siberian Taiga ecoregion, with small areas in the northwest grading into the Taimyr-Central Siberian tundra. The taiga is characterized by larch forests but without large bogs or swamps. On maps this taiga ecoregion … More East Siberian Taiga

Muskwa-Slave Lake and Northern Cordillera Forests

December 5, 2018

In northern Alberta and British Columbia, two boreal forest ecoregions occupy the landscape. The Muskwa-Slave Lake Forests include the area east of the Rocky Mountains and east to Wood Buffalo National Park. The Northern Cordillera forests are in the northern Rocky Mountains. Muskwa-Slave Lake Forests The Muskwa-Slave Lake Forests ecoregion is in northern Alberta … More Muskwa-Slave Lake and Northern Cordillera Forests

British Columbia Coastal Forests

November 7, 2018

This posts includes information about three ecoregions north of the 50th parallel that are in the coastal area of British Columbia–British Columbia Mainland Coastal Forests, Central Pacific Coastal Forests, and Puget Lowland Forests. British Columbia Mainland coastal forests (NA506) The most extensive mountain fiord complex in the world exists where the Cascades, Kitimat, and Ness … More British Columbia Coastal Forests

Cascades Mountains Leeward Forests, Part 3

October 5, 2018

The east side of the Cascades and Chilcotin Ranges grade from montane forests to near-desert grasslands. Montane forests of lodgepole pine, quaking aspen, white spruce, and Douglas-fir grade into low-elevation parklands of ponderosa pine, bunchgrass and sagebrush. Animals include bighorn sheep, mountain goat, grizzly bear, black-tailed deer and coyote. The ecoregion is also home to … More Cascades Mountains Leeward Forests, Part 3

Fraser Plateau and Basin

September 4, 2018

The Fraser Plateau is drained by the Fraser River and its tributaries and extends from just south of Stuart Lake to the Marble and Chilcotin Ranges. Several isolated shield volcanoes are in the western portions of the plateau, including the Rainbow, Ilgachuz, and Itcha Ranges. These Miocene-age structures are dome-like piles of lava. Vegetation includes … More Fraser Plateau and Basin

Central British Columbia Mountain Forests

August 1, 2018

This ecoregion includes the Rocky Mountain trench, the Hart Range, Muskwa Range, Omineca Mountains, and Skeena Mountains. At low elevations, western red cedar, western hemlock, lodgepole pine, quaking aspen, white spruce, and black spruce are present. At higher elevations, Engelmann spruce and alpine fir are characteristic of the ecoregion. Animals include woodland caribou, elk, moose, … More Central British Columbia Mountain Forests

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Author: Harold Draper