Natural Regions & Biodiversity
According to the Natural Regions Committee (2006), “Natural regions are large ecological units defined geographically based on landscape patterns, notably vegetation, soils, and physiographic features. The combined influence of climate, topography and geology is reflected by the distribution of these features. Wildlife distribution and land use patterns helped in delineations.” There are six natural regions in Alberta: Rocky Mountain, Foothills, Boreal, Parkland, Grassland, and Canadian Shield. Natural regions are further divided into subregions. There could me more than one natural region or subregion within a watershed (a hydrologic unit) as shown in the map (HUC = hydrologic unit code). The SEAWA watershed, or southeastern Alberta belongs to the Dry Mixed Grass natural subregion. Some key characteristics of this subregion include (NRC 2006): level to gently undulating glacial till, and lacustrine plains as the dominant terrain type. Hummocky uplands and sand dunes also occur. Brown Chernozems are the dominant soils, but Brown Solonetzic soils have developed where saline and sodic conditions prevail. The warm, dry climate promotes the development of mixed-height grasslands, extensive low shrublands occupy low-lying areas and northerly or easterly aspects, and tall shrub and tree stands are found in coulee or valley bottoms or on sandy soils with perched water tables, where the moisture supply is sufficient to support growth during the summer drought period.
According to Parks Canada, an ecosystem has ecological integrity when it has the living and non-living pieces expected in its natural region and its processes (that make an ecosystem work, e.g., - fire, flooding, predation) occur with the frequency and intensity expected in its natural region. The management of natural or green spaces should aim to conserve ecological integrity which translates to the conservation of biodiversity. Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth – plants, animals, micro-organisms, diversity of genes within species, and ecosystems. An ecosystem is a community of living organisms brought together by their inter-relationships with one another within a common physical environment (climate, soil, water, minerals/rocks, and sunlight). Examples of ecosystems are: forests, streams, lakes, deserts, grasslands, wetlands, and riparian areas.
Management of ecosystems based on ecological integrity, and conservation of overall biodiversity of a natural region or several natural regions within a huge watershed, are essential for maintaining healthy watersheds and healthy aquatic ecosystems. Alberta Parks uses Natural Regions and Subregions as their management units.
Natural elements of the SEAWA watershed
Diverse wildlife habitats are provided by coulees and draws, cliffs and hoodoos, rivers and creeks, lakes and reservoirs, irrigation canals, riparian areas, wetlands, and the semi-arid native prairie or grassland.
Historically, the vast majority of land in the watershed was once native prairie. Unfortunately, only a very small portion of this land remains as native grassland, due to agricultural development, urbanization, and oil and gas production. In Alberta, it is estimated that only 43% of native grassland remains intact, with much of this being located in the southeastern corner of the province. This area is also home to the majority of Alberta's species at risk, making it a crucial region for conservation and restoration.
Biodiversity monitoring and ecological surveys are vitally important to keep track of the status of native plant and animal populations.
Below are some links to more information about conservation, species at risk, and biodiversity monitoring:
SEAWA
Species at Risk in South East Alberta (449.77 KB)Government of Alberta
- Species at Risk Resources
- Prairie Plants at Risk in Southern Alberta (2016)
- Wild Species Status Search
- Alberta Conservation Information Management System (ACIMS)
- Fisheries and Wildlife Management Information System (FWMIS)
- Species at Risk Guide (2015)
Government of Canada
Municipal Governments
Non-Profits
- MULTISAR (Grassland conservation info for landowners)
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI)
- Alberta Conservation Association (ACA)
- Alberta Native Plant Council
- Alberta Prairie Conservation Forum
- Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA)
- AWA - Wild Spaces Interactive Mapping Tool
- Ducks Unlimited Canada