Chap 3- Bioregions: Balanced Communities (page 54-68)
Words to Know
bioregion / wetland / biodiversity / habitat / tundrasoil profile / humus / chernozem / podzol / woodlot
producer / consumer / herbivore / carnivore / coniferous trees
omnivore / decomposer / fragmentation / natural corridor / deciduous trees
What Is a Bioregion?
Remember your first day in high school? You probably felt like a fish out of water. It took a while to figure out where your classrooms were, good places to go during lunch, what group you wanted to be around, and which ones you wanted to avoid. After a few weeks in your new environment, though, you had probably adapted pretty well.
A bioregion is like that. The living and non-living inhabitants of a bioregion have learned to adapt to that particular place and to one another. ______are large ______of the Earth defined by the ______found there. A ______on theother hand, is a part of the Earth’s ______identified by its combination of ______and ______characteristics. Some bioregions are ______and some are small. Regardless of its size, every bioregion combines ______(including humans) and the ______factors that support them. The result is a part of the ______surface with distinct characteristics—an______.
To get a better sense of how these communities work, let’s look at three bioregions found in different parts of Canada: tundra, wetland, and woodlot.
TUNDRA
In the ______, living things must adapt to a ______climate. Arctic Canada has long, cold ______, resulting in a very short ______. This is the time when ______are warm enough for ______to grow. Most plants don’t come up as soon as the ______, because they require temperatures of about ______. Tundra vegetation is ______: shrubs, wildflowers, moss, and ______—the colourful plant growth found on ______. These plants can complete their annual ______in a very ______time, so they are well suited to the Arctic ______. Caribou herds graze on the sparse ______, and then, like the birds, migrate south to ______regions at the end of ______. Human ______is ______. Inuit who ______take advantage of the ______, hunting ______in summer and ______in winter.
WETLANDS
In the ______region, the ______is usually not very far beneath the surface. Water will not ______the rock, and is often ______in low-lying areas. ______are areas of ______and marsh, home to plants that thrive with ______. You may think of these areas as useless land, but from an ecological point of view, wetlands are ______. That’s because they have ______—a great variety of ______and ______. Although few ______live in wetlands, many visit to see the ______or to hunt or ______.
For example, have you ever seen ______floating on water, each with one large white or yellow ______? They actually have a long stem, ______in the soil at the bottom. ______from the soil travel up the stem to feed the
plant. Water ______like these thrive in wetland areas. They also attract ______, another wetland ______, whose long legs and big ______are well suited to ______into northern ______to feed on a buffet of water plants.
WOODLOT
European settlers in the ______—______region cleared the ______to establish ______. But they often left a ______of forest at the ______for ______and maple sugar bush. These ______are cool and damp. They are good places to find Ontario’s provincial ______, the trillium. They also provide ______, or homes, for deer and raccoon, two species that help themselves to farmers’______in neighbouring fields by night. Both ______are often victims of speeding ______when their habitat is near roads and ______. Living things in these ______must adapt to large ______.
Chap 3- Bioregions: Balanced Communities (page 54-68)
Words to Know
bioregion / wetland / biodiversity / habitat / tundrasoil profile / humus / chernozem / podzol / woodlot
producer / consumer / herbivore / carnivore / coniferous trees
omnivore / decomposer / fragmentation / natural corridor / deciduous trees
What Is a Bioregion?
Remember your first day in high school? You probably felt like a fish out of water. It took a while to figure out where your classrooms were, good places to go during lunch, what group you wanted to be around, and which ones you wanted to avoid. After a few weeks in your new environment, though, you had probably adapted pretty well.
A bioregion is like that. The living and non-living inhabitants of a bioregion have learned to adapt to that particular place and to one another. Landform regionsare large areas of the Earth defined by the type of landform found there. A bioregionon theother hand, is a part of the Earth’s surface identified by its combination of natural and human characteristics. Some bioregions are large and some are small. Regardless of its size, every bioregion combines living species(including humans) and the non-livingfactors that support them. The result is a part of the Earth’s surface with distinct characteristics—an ecological community.
To get a better sense of how these communities work, let’s look at three bioregions found in different parts of Canada: tundra, wetland, and woodlot.
Tundra
In the Arctic, living things must adapt to a harsh climate. Arctic Canada has long, cold winters, resulting in a very short growing season. This is the time when temperatures are warm enough for plants to grow. Most plants don’t come up as soon as the snow melts, because they require temperatures of about 6°C. Tundra vegetation is small: shrubs, wildflowers, moss, and lichen—the colourful plant growth found on rocks. These plants can complete their annual growth cycle in a very short time, so they are well suited to the Arctic environment. Caribou herds graze on the sparse vegetation, and then, like the birds, migrate south to forested regions at the end of summer. Human habitation is sparse. Inuit who hunt take advantage of the seasonal changes, hunting caribou in summer and seal in winter.
Wetlands
In the Canadian Shield region, the rock is usually not very far beneath the surface. Water will not soak throughthe rock, and is often trapped in low-lying areas. Wetlands are areas of swamp and marsh, home to plants that thrive with wet roots. You may think of these areas as useless land, but from an ecological point of view, wetlands are very important. That’s because they have biodiversity—a great variety of plants and animals. Although few people live in wetlands, many visit to see the wildlife or to hunt or fish.
For example, have you ever seen lily pads floating on water, each with one large white or yellow flower? They actually have a long stem, rooted in the soil at the bottom. Nutrients from the soil travel up the stem to feed the plant. Water plants like these thrive in wetland areas. They also attract moose, another wetland inhabitant, whose long legs and big hooves are well suited to wading into northern swamps to feed on a buffet of water plants.
Woodlot
European settlers in the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence region cleared the forests to establish farms. But they often left a block of forest at the back of the farm for firewood and maple sugar bush. These woodlotsare cool and damp. They are good places to find Ontario’s provincial flower, the trillium. They also provide habitat, or homes, for deer and raccoon, two species that help themselves to farmers’crops in neighbouring fields by night. Both species are often victims of speeding traffic when their habitat is near roads and highways. Living things in these bioregions must adapt to large human populations.