Geography of Newfoundland and Labrador - Biosphere

The biosphere is subdivided into distinct geographical regions called biomes. Newfoundland and Labrador are divided into two biomes: tundra and taiga. Northern Labrador is part of the tundra, while southern Labrador is part of the taiga. Newfoundland is not typical of either biome, as it lacks much of the plant and animal life that are characteristic to these biomes. During the last ice age the island of Newfoundland was completely covered by glaciers and swept clean of life. Only those species which were able to recolonize the island after the glaciers retreated about 18,000 years ago are considered "native". Similarly, only freshwater-fish capable of surviving seawater swam to the island. Labrador has 42 native mammals, Newfoundland is home only to 14, with no snakes, raccoons, skunks or porcupines. Large herds of Woodland Caribou can be found in the barren interior regions of the island. Two animals formerly resident in Newfoundland have been declared extinct: the Great Auk, a flightless seabird, and the Newfoundland Wolf, a subspecies of the Gray Wolf. The Labrador Duck, believed to have nested in Labrador, was one of the first North American bird species to be recorded as becoming extinct.

Many rare herbaceous plants and insects occur on the island. The west coast of the island supports over 200 plant species. Rare species such as Long’s Braya (Braya longii) and Fernald’s Braya (B. fernaldii), are endemic to Newfoundland. Brayas are small perennial herbs of the brassicaceae family. They are only found on a narrow strip of land extending approximately 150 kilometers (93 mi) on the extreme western portion of the Great Northern Peninsula, a limestones barrens habitat. The braya population is low due to habitat loss from gravel quarrying. Researchers have only found three populations of Long's Braya, and 14 or 15 populations of Fernald's brayas. Researchers have focused on how various types of disturbances affect the long-term viability of these populations. The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, with many partners, is studying the rare plant flora of the island of Newfoundland and in 2002 announced a recovery plan for the braya species.

Many plants and animals have been introduced to Newfoundland, either by chance or deliberately. Moose, Snowshoe Hare, American Red Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, and Masked Shrew, and others, were brought to the island through specific wildlife mandates. Moose were introduced in 1904 and are now the dominant ungulate on the island. An unusual experiment conducted in 1964 involved relocating a small herd of bison onto Brunette Island in Fortune Bay. The last of these animals is thought to have died by 1994. Rats and mice were unintentionally introduced while mink escaped from fur farms. Coyotes are a very recent addition to the fauna of Newfoundland. How coyotes got onto the island is still debated by wildlife officials, but it is probable that they crossed the ice from Cape Breton Island in the 1980s. Newfoundland has no native amphibians, but frogs were introduced onto the island in the 1860s and toads almost a century later.

The marine waters around the province are considered boreal, or sub-Arctic, in nature. A great deal of the coastline is rock-strewn, allowing an extensive variety of plant and animal life to thrive. The leading plants of the shoreline are the large brown seaweeds, such as Bladder, Forked and Knotted Wracks, and Winged and Sugar Kelps, though there are also a number of red and green seaweeds present. Common animals of the seashore region include barnacles, Tortoiseshell Limpet, Common Periwinkle, Blue Mussels, sea anemones, sea slugs, sea urchins, starfish, and rock crabs. The deeper waters are home to a variety of fish, such as Atlantic Cod, sculpins and Cunners, Halibut, Haddock, sharks, and marine mammals, such as dolphins, porpoises, and whales. Whales seen off Newfoundland include Pilot Whales, Minkes, Sei Whales, Fin Whales and Humpbacks. Harp and Hooded Seals are usually found in the spring, giving birth to their young on coastal ice floes.

The tundra is a sub-Arctic zone with long, cold winters and short, warm summers. Precipitation is low. Soil a meter below ground and deeper is permanently frozen (permafrost), which does not allow water to drain easily through the soil, so it collects in shallow pools. Trees and shrubs are stunted since their roots cannot grow into the permafrost. Low shrubs, lichens, mosses, and small herbaceous plants are found instead. The most common mammals on the tundra are the Barren-ground Caribou, Arctic Wolf, Arctic Fox, Arctic Hare, lemmings, and voles. Occasional sightings of Muskoxen have been made near Cape Chidley, Labrador's most northerly point. The Polar Bear is the dominant carnivore of the tundra, but is an occasional visitor to coastal Newfoundland, especially in the spring. Many birds migrate to Labrador in spring to lay their eggs and raise their young before returning south for the winter, including the Common Eider, Harlequin Duck, Common Redpoll and American Pipit. The Labrador tundra is also permanent home to Ptarmigan.

Southern Labrador is mostly taiga. It is characterized by low winter temperatures, a longer growing season, and more precipitation than the tundra. Soils are typically lacking important nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The taiga is dominated by coniferous trees, notably Balsam Fir and Black Spruce, though the deciduous White Birch, Trembling Aspen and Mountain Ash are also present. The most common animals are the Moose, American Black Bear, Canada Lynx, Red Fox, Pine Marten, Short-tailed Weasel, and American Mink. Beavers, Muskrats, and River Otters thrive in the many rivers, streams, and wetlands. Willow Ptarmigan, Common Raven, and Blackpoll Warbler inhabit the forests of southern Labrador while Golden Eagles, Rough-legged Hawks and Peregrine Falcons nest on steep cliffs.