Vegetation+Regions+of+Canada

REVISE

media type="file" key="Vegetation Note.mp3" width="240" height="20"

The biosphere has three components which include flora, fauna, and human activity.

Flora - Vegetation:
The vegetation regions of Canada include:
 * Boreal and Taiga Forest
 * Cordilleran Vegetation
 * Deciduous Forest
 * Grasslands
 * Mixed Forest
 * Tundra
 * West Coast Forest

Do you know the difference between deciduous and coniferous trees? Deciduous trees have broad, flat leaves which change colour in the autumn and fall off when the weather gets cold. Coniferous trees have thin, needle-like leaves which stay green and on the tree all year round. They are also called evergreens. Most of our Christmas trees are evergreen trees, or probably look like evergreen trees if they are artificial. In the **Mixed Forest** there are both types of trees: coniferous and deciduous.

Fauna
Fauna can be described as the wildlife that exists across Canada. We learned earlier that Canada has numerous regions. The landforms, vegetation, climate, and water availability in each of these regions will support different wildlife. How humans live on the earth affects how fauna can live on the earth. Consider the issues discussed in this short video clip about the Peregrine Falcon (choose this name from Select Species drop box at bottom of screen).

How we live on, use, and alter the earth.
The impact of human activity on our planet has been huge. We have removed most of the forests of the world, used the best land for our cities and roads, and replaced the flora and fauna that otherwise would be there. We have tried to get rid of what we call pests and weeds in dangerous ways. We are called to be stewards of our planet. The need for stewardship is more necessary than ever. This includes using friendlier means for getting rid of pests and weeds such as using predators and organic farming methods. Scientists are working towards ensuring balance within the biosphere by using **Biomes** as their research labs. You can access information about the different Biomes around the world by visiting this Berkeley website.

Activity: You are to create a page on this wikispace about ONE of the Biomes on the Berkeley website. Here is the catch....you CAN NOT cut and paste text. You CAN NOT use pictures from that site, but you must have at least 2 on your page. Your written portion must be at least 2 well-written paragraphs in your own words. You need to summarize what your chosen Biome is clearly, concisely and accurately.