Produce a module summary on Arctic Norths region. This summary should highlight the major processes and landforms found in each region, and can be used as a review tool for the final exam. Summary sh

Page%|%1%%%MODULE'4:'ARCTIC'NORTH'UNIT'3:'SOILS,'FLORA'AND'FAUNA'Slide%1:%Welcome%to%the%third%unit%in%the%module%on%the%Arctic%North%physiographic%region.%%As%with%the%previous%modules,%we%will%be%examining%the%soils,%flora%and%fauna%found%in%this%region,%and%how%these%three%characteristics%are%related%to%the%climate%and%topography%of%the%region.%%As%we%work%through%this%unit,%I%would%like%you%to%remember%that%all%of%these%factors%are%interrelated,%and%they%may%not%be%completely%unique%to%this%physiographic%region%in%Canada.%%Let’s%start%discussing%the%soils,%flora%and%fauna%of%this%physiographic%region.%%Slide%2:%Canada%can%be%divided%into%15%ecozones,%which%divides%the%country%into%different%areas%or%zones%based%on%similar%geography,%climate,%vegetation,%and%animal%life.%%Two%of%these%ecozones%are%found%in%the%Arctic%North%region:%the%Northern%Arctic%and%Arctic%Cordillera%ecozones.%%We%will%first%discuss%the%Northern%Arctic%ecozone.%%%%%%Slide%3:%Most%of%the%Arctic%North%region%is%classified%as%Northern%Arctic%ecozone.%%The%map%on%this%slide%shows%the%spatial%extent%of%this%ecozone%(show%in%the%light%blue%area%and%indicated%by%the%arrow).%%The%Northern%Arctic%ecozone%extends%over%most%of%the%Arctic%islands%that%make%up%the%archipelago,%and%includes%the%northPeastern%part%of%the%Northwest%Territories,%most%of%Nunavut%and%the%northern%sections%of%Quebec.%%This%ecozone%can%be%found%in%most%of%the%nonPmountainous%region%of%the%Arctic%islands.%%It%occupies%over%1.5%million%square%kilometers,%which%represents%about%15%%of%the%area%of%Canada.%%It%is%the%largest%arctic%ecosystem%found%in%the%world.%%%%%% Page%|%2%%%Slide%4:%The%topography%of%the%Northern%Arctic%ecozone%is%composed%primarily%of%low%rolling%plains,%which%are%covered%by%glacial%deposits%and%landforms%formed%during%the%last%glacial%period.%%The%glacial%deposits%consist%of%till%plains%and%rock%deposits%producing%landforms%such%as%moraines.%%FrostPpatterned%soils%and%frostPshattered%limestone%are%also%common%in%the%low%rolling%plains.%%This%frostPpatterned%ground%is%indicative%of%a%surface%that%has%undergone%repeated%freezing%and%thawing%cycles.%%The%photo%on%this%slide%provides%an%example%of%this%topography%found%in%the%Northern%Arctic%ecozone.%%%Since%this%ecozone%is%found%among%the%main%islands%that%make%up%the%Canada%Arctic%Archipelago,%coastlines%are%found%throughout%the%Northern%Arctic%ecozone.%%These%coastlines%can%have%wide%flat%plains%that%extend%many%kilometers%inland.%%Since%glaciation%was%a%recent%feature%in%this%region%(as%discussed%in%the%previous%unit),%the%coastlines%are%undergoing%isostatic%rebound%or%uplift%produced%by%the%recent%removal%of%the%thick%mass%of%ice.%%Features%consistent%with%this%rebound,%such%as%ancient%beach%terraces%and%boulder%barricades%are%common%topographic%features.%An%additional%topographic%feature%that%is%common%in%this%ecozone%is%broad%plateaus%with%VPshaped%fluvial%channels.%%This%feature%creates%very%steep%cliffs%(up%to%300%m%in%height),%making%the%coastline%almost%inaccessible%to%terrestrial%animals,%however%are%used%as%habitat%for%seabirds.%%Slide%5:%Most%of%the%ground%in%this%ecozone%is%characterized%by%permafrost%or%permanently%frozen%soil.%%The%cold%temperatures%result%in%the%freezing%of%the%water%in%the%soil,%with%only%the%top%most%centimeters%thawing%in%the%spring/summer%period%when%surface%temperatures%are%above%zero%degrees%Celsius%(known%as%the%active%layer).%%The%occurrence%of%this%permafrost%and%the%cold%temperatures,%limit%soil%forming%processes%and%thus%most%of%the%Northern%Arctic%ecozone%is%comprised%of%cryosolic%soils.%%In%these%soils,%the%thawing%of%the%active%layer%will%produce%a%saturated%waterlogged%surface%in%the%spring/summer%period%resulting%in%the%formation%of%a%thin%layer%of%soil.%%Cryoturbation,%or%the%mixing%of%soil%material%among%the%soil%horizons,%may%occur%in%regions%and%is%indicated%by%the%formation%of%the%patterned%ground%discussed%in%the%previous%slide.%%%% Page%|%3%%%Slide%6:%Most%people%consider%the%Arctic%and%the%Northern%Arctic%ecozone%as%an%area%devoid%of%life,%constituting%a%cold,%dry,%desolate%region%of%the%world.%%This%is%not%the%case.%%Plant%life,%while%limited,%does%exist%in%this%ecozone.%%There%are%approximately%150%plant%species%that%make%the%Northern%Arctic%ecozone%home,%a%low%number%relative%to%the%other%ecozones%found%in%the%other%physiographic%region.%%The%main%vegetation%types%are%lichens%and%herbs%in%the%upland%areas%and%sedges%and%mosses%in%the%wetter%lowlands.%%Examples%include%arctic%poppy,%cottongrass,%arctic%willow,%white%heather%and%mountain%avens.%%%These%plant%species%have%developed%adaptive%strategies%to%cope%with%an%environment%with%limited%soil%nutrients,%water%and%cold%temperatures.%%Some%of%the%adaptations%include%growing%close%to%the%ground%and%in%large%numbers%close%together%to%minimize%heat%loss%in%the%cold%windy%environment;%development%of%shallow%roots%to%uptake%water%and%nutrients%that%are%commonly%found%close%to%the%surface%in%this%permafrost%dominated%environment;%cupPshaped%flowers%that%funnel%the%solar%energy%into%the%plant%and%follow%the%sun%on%its%daily%route%in%the%sky;%and%the%formation%of%furry%stems%and%flowers%to%protect%against%the%harsh%climate.%An%example%of%such%plant%is%the%Arctic%poppy%show%in%the%photo%on%this%slide.%%As%you%can%see,%this%plant%forms%in%large%cluster,%close%to%the%ground%with%cupPshaped%petals.%%%%Slide%7:%While%the%Northern%Arctic%ecozone%is%not%devoid%of%life,%as%we%discussed%in%the%previous%slide,%the%limited%amount%of%plant%species%(both%in%terms%of%numbers%and%diversity)%as%well%as%the%harsh%climate%has%resulted%in%limited%fauna%making%this%ecozone%home.%%This%ecozone%is%home%to%fewer%than%20%species%of%mammals,%which%represents%only%10%%of%the%total%species%found%in%Canada.%%The%mammals%that%are%found%include%the%caribou,%muskoxen,%arctic%fox,%polar%bear%(a%marine%mammal),%collared%lemming%and%arctic%hare%(shown%in%the%photo%on%this%slide).%Bird%species,%including%the%snowy%owl,%ptarmigan,%snow%geese%and%snow%bunting%make%this%ecozone%home%and%have%adapted%to%the%climate.%%Not%surprisingly,%coldPblooded%reptiles%and%amphibians%are%not%found%in%this%ecozone.%%Because%these%groups%of%fauna%cannot%control%their%body%temperature,%they%take%on%the%temperature%of%their%surroundings.%%Therefore%in%cold%temperatures,%reptiles%and%amphibians%become%very%sluggish%and%cannot%survive.%%The%lack%of%sunlight%for%large%periods%of%the%year%also%limits%the%ability%of%reptiles%and%amphibians%to%survive%in%this%harsh%environment.%%Insects%such%as%black%flies%and%mosquitoes%can%be%found%in%large%numbers%during%the%summer%season%in%this%ecozone.%%%%%Slide%8:%The%second%ecozone%found%in%the%Arctic%North%physiographic%region%is%the%Arctic%Cordillera.%This%ecozone%is%found%primarily%along%the%eastern%edge%of%the%Canadian%Arctic,%extending%from%Ellesmere%Island,%through%Devon%and%Baffin%Islands%to%the%northern%parts%of%Labrador.%%The%Arctic%Cordillera%ecozone%is%also%found%in%the%western%parts%of%Greenland.%%This%ecozone%is%shown%in%very%light%blue%on%the%map%on%this%slide%(and%indicated%by%the%red%arrow).%%It%occupies%only%2.5%%or%just%over%250%thousand%square%kilometers%of%Canada.%%% Page%|%4%%%%Slide%9:%As%its%name%suggests,%the%Arctic%Cordillera%ecozone%is%composed%primarily%of%mountainous%topography.%%Like%the%Western%Cordillera%region,%a%large%mountain%chain%forms%the%backbone%of%this%ecozone,%containing%some%of%the%highest%mountain%peaks%in%Canada.%%Due%to%the%inhabited%area,%these%peaks%are%not%as%popular%or%known%as%those%in%the%Rocky%Mountains.%%Due%to%the%high%elevation%and%cold%temperatures,%these%mountainous%regions%are%typically%topped%with%glaciers%and%ice%caps,%containing%some%of%the%largest%glaciers%in%Canada%(as%discussed%in%the%previous%unit).%%UPshaped%valleys%created%by%the%movement%of%these%glaciers%are%also%common%in%this%ecozone.%%Due%to%its%location%along%the%eastern%coast%of%the%Canadian%Arctic,%the%glaciers%will%move%into%areas%dominated%by%sea%water%creating%deep%fjords%over%1%000%meters%in%height.%%The%fjords%are%created%by%the%submergence%of%the%glacial%valley%and%formed%by%the%erosion%that%accompanies%the%movement%of%the%glaciers%down%the%UPshaped%valleys.%%The%photo%on%this%slide%shows%the%ice%caps%and%UPshaped%valleys%created%in%this%ecozone.%%Isostatic%rebound%is%also%occurring%in%this%ecozone,%resulting%in%the%formation%of%raised%beaches.%%Slide%10:%Due%to%the%presence%of%ice%and%bare%rock%over%three%quarters%of%the%area%within%the%Arctic%Cordillera%ecozone,%soil%is%not%plentiful.%%The%majority%of%this%region%is%either%glaciated%or%has%recently%been%glaciated%therefore%soils%have%not%had%the%time%to%form.%%The%cold,%windy%environment%has%also%slowed%down%the%soil%formation%in%this%ecozone,%limiting%the%occurrence%of%soils.%%If%soils%are%present%in%the%ecozone,%they%are%composed%exclusively%of%cryosolic%order,%due%to%the%presence%of%permafrost.%%These%soils%area%similar%to%those%found%in%the%Northern%Arctic%ecozone,%as%discussed%in%this%previous%slides.%%The%grey%area%on%the%map%of%the%spatial%distribution%of%soil%types%found%on%this%slide%show%the%occurrence%of%areas%with%no%soil%(or%barren%rock%or%ice).%%Slide%11:%As%discussed%in%the%previous%slide,%the%Arctic%Cordillera%ecozone%is%primarily%void%of%soils%thus%limiting%the%presence%of%vegetation.%%This%region%is%also%considered%a%desert,%receiving%limited%amounts%of%precipitation%due%to%the%cold%temperatures.%Typically%vegetation%is%only%found%in%some%lower%mountain%slopes%and%sheltered%valleys%and%coastlines%where%conditions%favour%plant%growth%and%soils%may%be%present.%%In%these%areas,%lichens,%lowPgrowing%shrubs,%sedges%and%herbs%are%the%dominant%plant%types.%%Species%include%cottongrass,%willows,%moss%campion,%arctic%heather%and%mountain%avens,%species%similar%to%those%found%in%the%Northern%Arctic%ecozone.%%The%photo%on%this%slide%is%of%mountain%avens.%%These%species%have%developed%similar%adaptation%strategies%as%those%discussed%in%the%pervious%ecozone.%%At%higher%elevation%and%in%some%valleys,%the%presence%of%ice%and%absence%of%soils,%along%with%extreme%cold%and%high%winds,%results%in%an%absence%of%vegetation.%%%% Page%|%5%%%Slide%12:%One%of%the%consequences%of%a%lack%of%or%limited%vegetation%is%the%presence%of%few%terrestrial%animals.%%In%the%Arctic%Cordillera,%the%abundance%and%diversity%of%animals%are%limited.%%In%small%pockets%within%this%ecozone%(which%correspond%to%the%presence%of%vegetation),%terrestrial%animals%such%as%Arctic%hare,%arctic%fox,%and%collared%lemmings%can%be%found%but%these%species%are%not%common.%%Large%animals,%such%as%caribou%and%muskox%are%not%found,%again%limited%by%lack%of%food%(i.e.%vegetation)%in%this%ecozone.%%In%addition%few%species%of%songP%and%shorebirds%make%this%ecozone%home,%however%black%guillemots,%little%ringed%plover%and%snow%bunting%can%be%found.%%The%photo%on%this%slide%shows%a%male%snow%bunting.%%Due%to%its%location%along%the%coast,%large%marine%mammals%may%be%found%in%the%area,%including%polar%bears%(especially%in%the%summer%when%sea%ice%is%limited),%walrus%and%various%species%of%whales%including%narwhal,%beluga%and%killer%whales.%%%%Slide%18:%This%concludes%the%unit%on%soils,%flora%and%fauna%for%the%Artic%North%physiographic%region.%%You%should%again%contemplate%the%similarities%and%differences%in%the%soil,%flora%and%fauna%in%the%ecozones%within%this%region,%as%well%as%how%these%features%relate%to%the%over%geology%and%climate%of%the%region.%You%should%review%the%supplementary%information%that%corresponds%to%this%unit%and%read%the%readings%listed.%%In%the%next%section%we%will%discuss%the%human%aspects%related%to%the%natural%environment%of%this%physiographic%region,%by%exploring%the%natural%resources%and%national%parks.%%