- Arctic Archipelago Marine
The Arctic Archipelago is a marine ecozone in the Canadian arctic, encompassing
Hudson Bay ,James Bay , the internal waters and some shores of the islands in theCanadian Arctic Archipelago , and the shores of the territories, northernOntario and westernQuebec . Early exploration of these waters byEurope ans were conducted to find a passage to theOrient , now referred to as theNorthwest Passage .It is inextricably tied to the terrestrial ecozones of the
Arctic Cordillera ,Northern Arctic ,Southern Arctic ,Hudson Plains ,Taiga Shield ,Taiga Plains , andTaiga Cordillera , as well as the marine ecozones of theArctic Basin Marine andNorthwest Atlantic Marine .Climate
It is characterised by frigid,
wind ywinter s with average temperatures below -30 degrees Celsius, and summer temperatures typically near 10 degrees.Cite web
url=http://canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/ecozones/arcticarchipelagomarine/arcticarchipelagomarine.htm
title=Arctic Archipelago Marine
work=Canada's Ecozones, Canadian Biodiversity project
last=Bernhardt
first=Torsten
publisher=McGill University , Redpath Museum
accessdate=2008-02-01] The thick ice which cover the ecozone in the winter connect the islands and continental land with a continuous sheet that prevents navigation, but allows the migration of variousanimal s. The ice partially melts during thesummer , though ice floes are numerous in some parts.Polynya s may occur throughout the ecozone, but are most common near theNares Strait in northernBaffin Bay .Cite web
url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/Vignettes/Marine/aam/plants.cfm
title=Plants the Arctic Archipelago Marine Ecozone
work=Arctic Archipelago Marine Ecozone
publisher=Environment Canada
accessdate=2008-02-01]Geography
Primarily in the arctic with the exception of a portion of its southern extent in Hudson Bay and James Bay, the Arctic Archipelago is a vast marine ecozone with average water depths of 150 to 500 metres.Cite web
url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/Vignettes/Marine/aam/land.cfm
title=Landforms and Climate of the Arctic Archipelago Marine Ecozone
work=Arctic Archipelago Marine Ecozone
publisher=Environment Canada
accessdate=2008-02-01] It contains all of James Bay, Hudson Bay, theFoxe Basin ,Queen Maud Gulf ,Baffin Island Shelf ,Lancaster Sound , the waters within the Arctic Archipelago, and most of theBeaufort Sea .Cite web
url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/progs/amnc-nmca/systemplan/itm1-/arc_e.asp
title=Canada's Arctic Marine Environment
work=National Marine Conservation Areas of Canada
publisher=Parks Canada
accessdate=2008-02-13]Hudson Bay and James Bay
James Bay and parts of Hudson Bay are the only constituents of this ecozone south of the arctic region, and exhibit greater
biodiversity . The most southerly reach, to the shores of northeastern Ontario and northwestern Quebec, includes areas used for staging,nest ing and breeding by numerous species ofbird s. This area coversSouthern James Bay , which includes migratory bird sanctuaries atHannah Bay and the mouth of the Moose River, andAkimiski Island .This portion of the ecozone abuts the Hudson Plains, which contains the world's "largest continuous wetlands"Cite web
url=http://canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/ecozones/hudsonplains/hudsonplains.htm
title=Hudson Plains
work=Canada's Ecozones, Canadian Biodiversity project
last=Bernhardt
first=Torsten
publisher=McGill University , Redpath Museum
accessdate=2008-02-01] due to poor drainage of the ecozone. The resultant wetlands and bogs form the interface between the Hudson Plains and Arctic Archipelago ecozones, as typified by Southern James Bay.Territorial shoreline
Covering the entire Canadian northern continental shoreline, this marine ecozone is adjacent to a number of territorial ecozones. The Taiga Shield connects the Hudson Plains from the Manitoba shoreline to the Southern Arctic ecozone in
Nunavut , which also extends along most of the continental shoreline of theNorthwest Territories . The Taiga Plains ecozone forms the remaining Northwest Territories shoreline connection to the Arctic Archipelago ecozone, covering much of the western portion of the Northwest Territories and small portions of northernAlberta andBritish Columbia . TheYukon shoreline connects the Arctic Archipelago marine ecozone with the Taiga Cordillera, a mountainous region covering most of northern and eastern Yukon, and parts of the western Northwest Territories.The northeastern Nunavut continental landmass is within the
Northern Arctic ecozone, as is most of the land of all the islands in the Arctic Archipelago.Ecology
Biological activity in this ecozone is greatest during late summer, during which sufficient portions of ice have melted to allow
photosynthesis byphytoplankton , the most significant food source in the ecozone. The southernintertidal zone s also support kelp forests. These provide food for shorebirds andwaterfowl , whose populations can increase dramatically during the fall and spring migrations. Moreover, the polynyas that form during the winter provide access to food for various species, includingpolar bear s. Summer thaw results in plentiful ice margins along which birds and other animals can fish.Arctic Cod , found throughout the ecozone, is an important food source forseal s,Beluga Whale s andNarwhal s.Cite web
url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/Vignettes/Marine/aam/wildlife.cfm
title=Wildlife of the Arctic Archipelago Marine Ecozone
work=Arctic Archipelago Marine Ecozone
publisher=Environment Canada
accessdate=2008-02-01] Polar bears andRinged Seal s are found throughout the ecozone, whereas the range of Bearded andHarp Seal s consists of the eastern coast ofEllsemere Island . The largest Canadian population of Polar bears is found near Churchill,Manitoba , on the coast of Hudson Bay.The
salt marsh es andtidal flat s of Hudson Bay contain transient and permanent populations of waterfowl that are among the most densely concentrated in the world, and the northwest coast is home to one of the largest populations ofPeregrine Falcon s.References
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