| Alberta-British Columbia foothill forests | |
|---|---|
| Ecology | |
| Biome | Temperate coniferous forests |
| Bird species | 182[1] |
| Mammal species | 61[1] |
| Geography | |
| Area | 120,500 km2 (46,500 sq mi) |
| Country | Canada |
| Conservation | |
| Habitat loss | 5.0598% |
| Protected | 47%[1] |
The Alberta-British Columbia foothills forests are a temperate coniferous forests ecoregion of Canada.
Contents |
This ecoregion covers two separate areas: the rolling foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, and further west a smaller area of the hills and valleys of central British Columbia. The Clear Hills in the north of the region are steeper.[2]
Average annual temperature vary from -0.5°C to 2°C, with the summer temperatures around 14°C dropping in winter to -17.5°C in the north and -10°C in the south.
The forests are a mixture dominated by Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) and white spruce (Picea glauca). Other trees include balsam poplar (populus balsamifera), paper birch (Betula papyrifera) and balsam fir (Abies balsamifera).
These foothills are home to the largest herds of moose (Alces alces) in North America. Other mammals include Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus), reindeer (ranigfer tarandus), North American Beaver (Castor canadensis), muskrat (Ondatra zibethica), American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) and Grey Wolf (Canis lupus). Birds of the area include Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis), Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus), Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis) and large numbers of waterbirds and New World warblers (parulidae).
These forests have been extensively altered by human activity, especially clearance for planting.