Lecture 23: Alberta’s Natural Regions,

Ecosites and Indicator Species

Trisha Needham, RPFT

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

 AGENDA
1. Natural Regions of
Alberta
2. Species Distribution
3. Ecosites and
Indicator Species
4. Green vs White
Zones
 1. NATURAL REGIONS
OF ALBERTA
Lecture 23: Alberta Natural Regions, Ecosites and
Indicator Species

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

 NATURAL
REGIONS AND
SUBREGIONS OF
ALBERTA
Regions and Subregions Map
Downing and Pettapiece (2006)

Regions and subregions were

determined by using:
• Climate (MAT, MAP, growing
degree days >5°C)
• Physiography (ie.
Topography, elevation)
• Vegetation
• Soils
https://www.albertaparks.ca/media/3706579/al bertas-natural-regions-map-2005-.pdf
 6 NATURAL REGIONS:
DOMINANT VEGETATION
1. Rocky Mountain: Open and closed conifer stands; some
herbaceous meadows
2. Foothills: Forested; lodgepole pine, but also mixedwood or
deciduous stands
3. Grassland: Typical prairie (e.g., northern fescue; needle-
and-thread); cultivated (productive cropland); poplar along
rivers
4. Parkland: Grassland in the southern part; aspen/shrubland
in the northern part; also cultivated/used for grazing
5. Boreal Forest: Mosaic of upland forests (mixedwood and
conifers) and wetlands
6. Canadian Shield: Rock barren with lichens; jack pine
https://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlands/foothills/
Photo Source: Zoey Archibald
Photo Source: Zoey Archibald
https://friresearch.ca
https://www.techlifetoday.ca/articles/2018/alberta-boreal-forest-protection
https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/behind-the-canadian-shield/
 2. SPECIES
DISTRIBUTION
Lecture 23: Alberta Natural Regions, Ecosites and
Indicator Species

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

 PLANT SPECIES DISTRIBUTION
• Plants respond to climate, soils, physiography
• Examples:
• Drought tolerance for needle and thread grass
• Jack pine prefers sandy soils
• Alpine plants adapted to harsh
conditions

Stipa comata Astragalus alpinus

https://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/nature/native-desert- https://newfoundland- Pinus banksiana
grasses.htm labradorflora.ca/gallery/index.cfm?ParentID=26&alpha=A https://www.awes-ab.ca/species/jack-pine/
 PLANT SPECIES DISTRIBUTION

• Plants can influence soil genesis

(in addition to parent material
deposition) e.g., plains rough
fescue building rich black soils
• A species’ range is determined
by these major factors:
temperature, moisture,
growing degree days, and soil
chemistry
https://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Awareness/Hungary.html
 CLIMATIC PARAMETERS
AFFECTING DISTRIBUTION
1. Mean annual temperature (MAT) — The average
temperature over the course of an entire year, partly
indicative of relative energy available for plant
metabolism
2. Mean annual precipitation (MAP) — The average
precipitation over the course of an entire year, partly
indicative of relative moisture availability for plant
growth
3. Growing degree-days greater than 5°C (GDD5) —
A measure of energy available for plant growth
 MEAN SEASONAL TEMPERATURE AND
MEAN ANNUAL PRECIPITATION

Government of Alberta
 PLANT SPECIES DISTRIBUTION

• In addition to climatic factors, the ecological niche

can play a large role!
• Generalists: occupy a broad range of environmental /
ecological parameters
• Specialists: occupy a very specific range of
environmental / ecological parameters
 • Generalists: dandelion,
Kentucky bluegrass, aspen
trees (in Alberta), slender
wheatgrass

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

 • Specialists: whitebark pine,
orchids, alpine plants

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

 3. ECOSITES AND
INDICATOR SPECIES
Lecture 23: Alberta Natural Regions, Ecosites and
Indicator Species

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

 ECOSITES AND INDICATOR SPECIES

• Ecosite: specific area influenced by natural history and

long-term climate
• e.g., glacial deposition and soil development; moisture levels;
temperature; growing season, etc

• Plant species have adapted → distinct plant communities

evolved
• How can we describe these communities – and
also take soil, slope, aspect, etc. in consideration?
• By looking for a mix of species that is always
present in a certain quantity (percent cover)
• Referred to as “indicator species”
 INDICATOR SPECIES

• Plants respond to environmental

and ecological parameters
• Certain plants will be present in
certain “locations”, indicating the
environmental and ecological Sphagnum fuscum– rusty peat moss
https://upload.w ikimedia.org/w ikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Sphagnum

conditions (soil chemistry, _fuscum.jpg/1200px-Sphagnum_fuscum.jpg

moisture, light, etc.)

• For example: Sphagnum fuscum is
found in nutrient-poor bogs

• Some plant species are associated

with other species
Oxycoccus microcarpus – small bog cranberry
https://www.flora.dempstercountry.org/0.Site.Folder/Species.Program/
Species.php?species_id=Oxy.micro
 INDICATOR SPECIES
• Plant indicator species: a species, or a group of species,
that may be used to delineate an ecoregion or indicate a
climatic, environmental (e.g. burn site), or soil condition
• Can be among the most sensitive species in a region or a
common species that represents an ecosite – in
conjunction with a species mix
• For example: Wetland classes have specific species mixes.
• Wetlands that are dominated by Sphagnum generally are
classified into bogs, poor to intermediate fens
• Wetlands that are dominated by floating or emergent vegetation
are generally are classified as marshes
 ECOSITES AND INDICATOR
SPECIES
• To classify an ecosite, more
than one species is used
• Ecosite classification is
based on empirical data
collected from numerous
forest plots
• Analysed using statistical
programs to generate the
decision keys used for
classification From the Field Guide to Ecosites
of West-Central Alberta:
 INDICATOR SPECIES FOR A MARSH
ECOSITE IN THE LOWER FOOTHILLS OF
WEST-CENTRAL ALBERTA

• Common cattail, rush, sedge, bulrush

Carex aquatilis
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/grass-sedge-
Carex aquatilis
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/grass-sedge-rush/water-
sedge rush/hard-stem-bulrush This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
 INDICATOR SPECIES FOR A DRY
LODGEPOLE PINE SITE IN THE LOWER
FOOTHILLS IN THE ECOSITES OF WEST-
CENTRAL ALBERTA

• Lodgepole pine, reindeer lichen, bearberry,

blueberry, bog cranberry

This Photo by Unknown

Author is licensed under CC
BY-SA

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

 INDICATOR SPECIES AND LAND
CLASSIFICATIONS
• Indicator species allow us to define a site (an
ecosite) and understand the possible
management and/or animal habitat
• Land classification is used across Canada, with
each province having their own.
• Land classifications include:
• ecosite classifications (usually related to forestry /
used in reclamation, wildlife management, etc.)
• wetland classifications (used in land management,
reclamation, wildlife management, etc.)
• Alberta Vegetation Inventory (anthropogenic and
vegetated features)
 4. GREEN VS
WHITE ZONES
Lecture 23: Alberta Natural Regions, Ecosites and
Indicator Species

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

ALBERTA’S GREEN
AND WHITE ZONES

White Zone:
- Largely privately
owned land
- Primarily farmland

Green Zone:
- Crown land /public
land
- Mainly forested lands
 ALBERTA GREEN & WHITE ZONES

• Administration (laws and regulations) is not

the same for Green and White Zones
• Various Acts/Legislation apply
• Land use is different – driven by the
availability of resources (e.g., gas, oil, coal,
peat, timber, canola, wheat, pulses)

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

 GREEN AREA
Ecological classification system: developed for thorough
analysis of vegetation, soil, site, and forest productivity
information.
Hierarchical classification system has three levels:
- Ecosite
- Ecosite phase
- A plant community type
 GREEN AREA

• A soil type classification system that

describes 17 soil types was also developed
• Used for management interpretations such
as: drought, excess moisture, soil rutting,
compaction, puddling, erosion, frost heave
hazards, soil temperature limitations,
vegetation competition, and windthrow hazard
 THANK YOU!

UPCOMING CLASSES!
LECTURE 24: SAMPLING AND
COLLECTION PROTOCOLS 1
LAB 12: MISCELLANEOUS KEYING 2

https://www.ducks.ca/stories/boreal/canadians-want-conservation/
 REFERENCES
• 5 reasons to care about Alberta's protection of Boreal Forest. techlifetoday.ca. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2023, from
https://www.techlifetoday.ca/articles/2018/alberta-boreal-forest-protection

• Alberta’s natural regions map - albertaparks.ca | Alberta parks. (n.d.). Retrieved April 5, 2023, from
https://www.albertaparks.ca/media/3706579/albertas- natural-regions-map-2005-.pdf

• AWESEditor. (n.d.). Jack Pine. AWES. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://www.awes-ab.ca/species/ jack-pine/

• Beckingham, J. D., & Archibald, J. H. (1996). Field guide to ecosites of Northern Alberta. Canadian Forest Service, Northwest Region, Northern
Forestry Centre.

• Beckingham, J. D., W., C. I. G., & Archibald, J. H. (2000). Field guide to ecosites of west-central Alberta. Canadian Forest Service.

• Canadians want more conservation. Ducks Unlimited Canada. (2022, February 8). Retrieved April 4, 2023, from
https://www.ducks.ca/stories/boreal/canadians-want-conservation/

• Carex aquatilis (water sedge). Minnesota Wildflowers. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/grass-sedge-
rush/water-sedge

• European soil portal. ESDAC. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Awareness/Hungary.html

• Foothills. Alberta Wilderness Association. (2022, April 5). Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlands/foothills/

• Gallery - astragalus alpinus (alpine milkvetch). Flora of Newfoundland and Labrador. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://newfoundland-
labradorflora.ca/gallery/index.cfm?ParentID=26&alpha=A

• Homepage. fRI Research. (2023, April 3). Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://friresearch.ca/

• U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.). Native desert grasses. National Parks Service. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from
https://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/nature/native-desert-grasses.htm

• Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, August 26). Sphagnum fuscum. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphagnum_fuscum

• Wynn, G. (2019, May 10). Behind the Canadian shield. Canadian Geographic. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from
https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/ behind-the-canadian-shield/