BIOL 1218 Assignment 2: Canada’s Biomes and Conservation Issues
USAME ELIBRAHIM
100442721
The intent of this assignment is to introduce you to some Canadian biomes (aka
ecozones) and a few Canadian issues in conservation biology. We will be talking about
these biomes/issues in more detail in lecture.
You will need to look at satellite images using Google Earth (or Google Maps using the
satellite layer) to answer the questions; these online tools are very useful, free resources
for thinking about ecology at the landscape level.
Part 0 – Biome
a) Define biome (for our purposes there is much overlap between biome and
ecozone):
A biome is a large area with specific climates, plants, and animals around the world and it
is similar in different places.
Part 1- Temperate Rainforest
a) Indicate the position of the Canada’s Temperate Rainforest on Map 1.
The west coast in Canada, facing the Pacific Ocean from British Columbia, is a location
to the country's only piece of temperate rainforest. Its area covers from Northern
California up to Alaska, and most of it falls within British Columbia.
b) What are the main abiotic factors that define Canada’s Temperate Rainforest?
(don’t just say precipitation and temperature How much rainfall? What temp?
Etc.)
Precipitation: It is characterized by high levels of
rainfall that usually range between 2,500 and 5,000 mm (98 to 197 inches) .
Temperature: The average temperature throughout the year in the temperate rainforest is
light, with a general temperature measuring from 5°C to 25°C (41°F to
77°F); it has fairly cool summers and mild winters.
Humidity: It is highly wet because of the endless rainfall and land close to the ocean.
Soil: The soils of the temperate rainforests are usually rich in organic matter and high
in nutrients, therefore supporting thick vegetation growth.
Light: Due to the very dense canopy cover of the rainforest, less sunlight reaches the
forest land to create a different understory environment
c) Using Google Maps survey this biome from different elevations.
1-1
, d) Zoom in on the forests of northern Vancouver Island around the town of
Quatsino. What is probably the most pressing environmental concern facing BC’s
temperate forest?
Zooming into the forests of northern Vancouver Island around the town of Quatsino, the
most likely environmental concern would be deforestation. This is
because logging and wood demand can remove ancient trees and degrade the habitats
further affecting biodiversity and ecological balance in the temperate rainforest.
e) Paste a screen shot of those forests and the environmental concern here:
Part 2 - Grasslands
a) Indicate the position of Canada’s Grasslands on Map 1. Are there grasslands in
BC? Google this. See if you can find some on Google Maps
Yes, there are some grasslands in British Columbia, but not as extensive as those of the
midland regions. They occur as south inland areas, such as the Okanagan Valley and the
Cariboo region.
b) What are the main abiotic factors that define Canada’s Grasslands? (again, don’t
just say precipitation and temperature How much rainfall? What temp? Etc.)
1-2
USAME ELIBRAHIM
100442721
The intent of this assignment is to introduce you to some Canadian biomes (aka
ecozones) and a few Canadian issues in conservation biology. We will be talking about
these biomes/issues in more detail in lecture.
You will need to look at satellite images using Google Earth (or Google Maps using the
satellite layer) to answer the questions; these online tools are very useful, free resources
for thinking about ecology at the landscape level.
Part 0 – Biome
a) Define biome (for our purposes there is much overlap between biome and
ecozone):
A biome is a large area with specific climates, plants, and animals around the world and it
is similar in different places.
Part 1- Temperate Rainforest
a) Indicate the position of the Canada’s Temperate Rainforest on Map 1.
The west coast in Canada, facing the Pacific Ocean from British Columbia, is a location
to the country's only piece of temperate rainforest. Its area covers from Northern
California up to Alaska, and most of it falls within British Columbia.
b) What are the main abiotic factors that define Canada’s Temperate Rainforest?
(don’t just say precipitation and temperature How much rainfall? What temp?
Etc.)
Precipitation: It is characterized by high levels of
rainfall that usually range between 2,500 and 5,000 mm (98 to 197 inches) .
Temperature: The average temperature throughout the year in the temperate rainforest is
light, with a general temperature measuring from 5°C to 25°C (41°F to
77°F); it has fairly cool summers and mild winters.
Humidity: It is highly wet because of the endless rainfall and land close to the ocean.
Soil: The soils of the temperate rainforests are usually rich in organic matter and high
in nutrients, therefore supporting thick vegetation growth.
Light: Due to the very dense canopy cover of the rainforest, less sunlight reaches the
forest land to create a different understory environment
c) Using Google Maps survey this biome from different elevations.
1-1
, d) Zoom in on the forests of northern Vancouver Island around the town of
Quatsino. What is probably the most pressing environmental concern facing BC’s
temperate forest?
Zooming into the forests of northern Vancouver Island around the town of Quatsino, the
most likely environmental concern would be deforestation. This is
because logging and wood demand can remove ancient trees and degrade the habitats
further affecting biodiversity and ecological balance in the temperate rainforest.
e) Paste a screen shot of those forests and the environmental concern here:
Part 2 - Grasslands
a) Indicate the position of Canada’s Grasslands on Map 1. Are there grasslands in
BC? Google this. See if you can find some on Google Maps
Yes, there are some grasslands in British Columbia, but not as extensive as those of the
midland regions. They occur as south inland areas, such as the Okanagan Valley and the
Cariboo region.
b) What are the main abiotic factors that define Canada’s Grasslands? (again, don’t
just say precipitation and temperature How much rainfall? What temp? Etc.)
1-2
