The Hudson Bay Lowland is the Earth's largest more or less continuous temperate wetland landscape. Occupying 3.5 per cent of the surface area of Canada, or 3,25,000 km2, it is five times larger than the floodplain forests along the Amazon River. The Hudson Bay Lowland is one of the least populated regions in the western hemisphere, and among the last regions of North America to have its flora and vegetation documented. This book documents 816 native and 95 non-native vascular plants in the context of the distinct geological history and ecology of the area. The text and annotated checklist are complemented by distribution maps and colour illustrations.
Author(s): John Riley, J. L. Riley
Edition: illustrated edition annotated edition
Year: 2003
Language: English
Pages: 236
Contents......Page 6
Abstract......Page 7
Résumé......Page 8
Geology and glacial history......Page 10
Vegetation, soils, permafrost, and the tree line......Page 13
Climate, climate change, and other recent stresses......Page 16
Objectives......Page 18
Data assembly and field surveys......Page 19
Data collection areas......Page 23
Floristic analysis......Page 29
Results......Page 38
Data collection areas......Page 39
Coincident distribution patterns......Page 40
Floristic zonation......Page 41
Early vegetation development......Page 43
Species migration......Page 49
Widespread species of the Hudson Bay Lowland......Page 52
Eastern species of the Hudson Bay Lowland......Page 54
Western species of the Hudson Bay Lowland......Page 61
Coastal species of the Hudson Bay Lowland......Page 64
Widespread coastal species......Page 65
Southwest James Bay coastal species......Page 67
Maritime arctic species......Page 69
Non-maritime arctic species......Page 73
Other themes in the flora of the Hudson Bay Lowland......Page 76
Species introduced into the flora of the Hudson Bay Lowland......Page 77
Rare species of the Hudson Bay Lowland......Page 80
Conclusion......Page 82
Acknowledgements......Page 85
References......Page 86
Plates......Page 100
Appendix A Distribution Maps......Page 110
Appendix B Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of the Hudson Bay Lowland......Page 186
Appendix C Excluded Records......Page 238
