athabasca watershed
The Lower Athabasca region is composed of the Athabasca plains near lake Athabasca north of the oil sand mines and downstream from production. The boreal forest region is composed of mixed wood, wetlands and lower boreal highlands. Terrestrial and Aquatic ecosystems dominate the landscape surrounding Albertas oil sand mining areas (Figures 2-1, 2-2, & 2-3).
The Canadian boreal forest covers two million square miles, of
which around 75 percent remains undeveloped. The oil sands mines have so far
converted over 150 square miles—a hundredth of a percent of the total area—into
dust, dirt, and tailings ponds"
terrestrial ecosystems:
Dry Mixedwood:
The warmest subregion, is characterized by undulating plains and aspen-dominated forests and fens.
Central Mixedwood:
The largest subregion in Alberta, and is characterized by upland forests and wetlands on level to gently undulating plains.
Lower Boreal Highlands:
Characterized by diverse mixedwood forests on the lower slopes of northern hill systems, and extensive wetlands at the base of the slopes.
Upper Boreal Highlands:
Characterized by coniferous forests on the upper slopes and plateaus of the northern hills.
Athabasca Plain:
Located south of Lake Athabasca along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, is characterized by dry, sandy plains, dune fields, and open shrub or jack pine communities.
Peace-Athabasca Delta:
Expanse of lakes, rivers, creeks, marshes, sedge meadows, shrublands, and forests, with warm summers and long, very cold winters.
Northern Mixedwood:
Dominated by black spruce bogs and fens, with significant areas of permafrost.
Boreal Subarctic (including elevated plateaus):
Open black spruce bogs in far northern Alberta, with short, cool summers and long, very cold winters.
http://www.ramp-alberta.org/river/boreal/canada/boreal+forest+zones.aspx
The warmest subregion, is characterized by undulating plains and aspen-dominated forests and fens.
Central Mixedwood:
The largest subregion in Alberta, and is characterized by upland forests and wetlands on level to gently undulating plains.
Lower Boreal Highlands:
Characterized by diverse mixedwood forests on the lower slopes of northern hill systems, and extensive wetlands at the base of the slopes.
Upper Boreal Highlands:
Characterized by coniferous forests on the upper slopes and plateaus of the northern hills.
Athabasca Plain:
Located south of Lake Athabasca along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, is characterized by dry, sandy plains, dune fields, and open shrub or jack pine communities.
Peace-Athabasca Delta:
Expanse of lakes, rivers, creeks, marshes, sedge meadows, shrublands, and forests, with warm summers and long, very cold winters.
Northern Mixedwood:
Dominated by black spruce bogs and fens, with significant areas of permafrost.
Boreal Subarctic (including elevated plateaus):
Open black spruce bogs in far northern Alberta, with short, cool summers and long, very cold winters.
http://www.ramp-alberta.org/river/boreal/canada/boreal+forest+zones.aspx
aquatic ecosystems:
Shallow Open Waters:
Wetlands that are covered by water less than 2 m deep at midsummer. Shallow open water wetlands are transitional between saturated or seasonally wet ecosystems and truly aquatic ecosystems such as lakes.
Marshes:
Open wetlands that periodically retain shallow surface water, with levels fluctuating due to the influence of surface water, groundwater, precipitation, and seepage. Marsh vegetation can include rushes, reeds, grasses, sedges, shrubs, and emergent, submerged, and floating macrophytes.
Swamps:
Are forested, wooded, or shrubby wetlands. While not as wet as marshes, fens, and open bogs, swamps exhibit strong seasonal water level fluctuations.
Bogs:
Are peatlands that receive surface water only from precipitation and have low water flow, with water tables generally 40 to 60 cm below the peat surface. Bogs are acidic, and may be open, wooded, or forested.
Fens:
Are peatlands with a fluctuating water table at or near the peat surface. Fens are similar to bogs,but support marshy vegetation and a greater diversity of plant species.
http://www.ramp-alberta.org/river/ecology/habitats/wetlands.aspx
Wetlands that are covered by water less than 2 m deep at midsummer. Shallow open water wetlands are transitional between saturated or seasonally wet ecosystems and truly aquatic ecosystems such as lakes.
Marshes:
Open wetlands that periodically retain shallow surface water, with levels fluctuating due to the influence of surface water, groundwater, precipitation, and seepage. Marsh vegetation can include rushes, reeds, grasses, sedges, shrubs, and emergent, submerged, and floating macrophytes.
Swamps:
Are forested, wooded, or shrubby wetlands. While not as wet as marshes, fens, and open bogs, swamps exhibit strong seasonal water level fluctuations.
Bogs:
Are peatlands that receive surface water only from precipitation and have low water flow, with water tables generally 40 to 60 cm below the peat surface. Bogs are acidic, and may be open, wooded, or forested.
Fens:
Are peatlands with a fluctuating water table at or near the peat surface. Fens are similar to bogs,but support marshy vegetation and a greater diversity of plant species.
http://www.ramp-alberta.org/river/ecology/habitats/wetlands.aspx
For more informatio on Rivers, Streams and Lakes of the Athabasca Watershed visit the link below:
http://www.ramp-alberta.org/river/ecology/habitats.aspx
http://www.ramp-alberta.org/river/ecology/habitats.aspx