Canadian Low Arctic Tundra - A Global Ecoregion

One of the largest, most outstanding examples of Arctic tundra in North America

About the Area
This region contains excellent habitat for waterfowl as many species of birds depend on these habitats for the majority, if not all of their nesting habitat.

These include much of the world's population of lesser and greater snow geese (Chen caerulescens), Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata), Canada geese (Branta canadensis), and others. Flowering herbaceous plants, many restricted to these habitats, brighten the tundra in summer.

Local Species
Most of the ecoregion is characterised by a continuous cover of shrubby tundra vegetation. Tundra-forest transitional areas include Black spruce (Picea mariana), White spruce (P. glauca), Tamarack (Larix laricina), Dwarf birch (Betula sp.), Willow (Salix spp.), heath species, and many lichen species. Barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus), Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) , Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus), Moose (Alces alces), Arctic ground squirrel (Spermophilus parryii), River otters (Lontra canadensis), Least weasels (Mustela nivalis), and Brown lemming (Lemmus trimucronatus) are other mammals typically found in this ecoregion.

Bird species characteristic of the area include Snowy owls (Nyctea scandiaca), Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus), Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus), and Hoary redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni).

Threats
Tourism, oil and gas exploration, and pollution are threats to the biodiversity in this ecoregion.

Resources
• NationalGeographic.com