- Carolinian forest
The Carolinian forest is a life zone in eastern
North America characterized primarily by a predominance ofdeciduous , or broad-leaf trees. The term "Carolinian forest" is used primarily in Canada. Various terms, including "eastern deciduous forest" are used in the United States.It extends from the
Carolinas in theUnited States and finds its northern limit insouthwestern Ontario ,Canada , in the fertile ecozone of theMixedwood Plains . The region is of particular importance in Canada because it provides the country with its most distinctive and richest abundance ofplant andanimal life.Trees such as various species of ash,
birch ,chestnut ,hickory ,oak , andwalnut are found here. Tallest of all is the tulip tree.Raccoon s andpossum s to the relatively raresouthern flying squirrel , as well asnuthatch es and chickadees also favour Carolinian forests.While less than one percent of Canada's land mass is occupied by this ecozone, the same area is also home to one-quarter of the country's population.
It is estimated that 80 per cent of Canada's Carolinian forest has already been destroyed.The remaining portions, mostly scattered and disconnected, continue to be threatened by human development.
ee also
*
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests External links
* [http://www.carolinian.org/ Carolinian Canada]
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