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Southern Hudson Bay taiga (WWF ecoregion NA0616)


black spruce and tamarack, near James Bay, Ontario (c) 2005 Scott and Ruth Bassett

Source of bioregions data: Olson, D. M. and E. Dinerstein. The Global 200: Priority ecoregions for global conservation. (PDF file) Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 89:125-126.

Distinctiveness (1=highest,4=lowest): 3 (bioregionally outstanding)
This ecoregion contains some of the most extensive wetlands in the North American boreal forest.  These support huge breeding colonies of waterfowl and support migrating birds.  The ecoregion also supports the world's southernmost polar bear populations.*

Conservation Status (1=most endangered, 5=most intact): 5 (relatively intact)
99% of the ecoregion is intact.  There is little fragmentation.*

Characteristic species*

Picea mariana (black spruce) (c) 2004 Maurice J. Kaufmann

Larix laricina (tamarack)
Betula (birch) species
Salix (willow) species
Ledum decumbens (Labrador tea)
Carex (sedge) species

Some views from the ecoregion

James Bay region, Ontario

boreal forest (c) 2005 Scott and Ruth Bassett  hires

Moose River (c) 2005 Scott and Ruth Bassett  hires

aerial view (c) 2005 Scott and Ruth Bassett  hires

* Ricketts, T.H., E. Dinerstein, D.M. Olson, C.J. Loucks, et al.  (1999) Terrestrial Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment.  World Wildlife Fund - United States and Canada.  Island Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 337-340.

Except as noted, images copyright 2002-2004 Steve Baskauf - Terms of use