Physiography:
- The study of the natural features of the earth's surface, especially in its current aspects, including land formation, climate, currents, and distribution of vegetation and wildlife.
- The study of the landscapes and nature of the earth's solid surface and oceans, atmosphere and climate, distribution of plant and animal life
General:
The Arctic Cordillera is a vast, deeply dissected chain of mountain ranges extending along the northeastern flank of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago from Ellesmere Island to the north easternmost part of the Labrador Peninsula in northern Labrador and northern Quebec, Canada. It spans most of the eastern coast of Nunavutwith high glaciated peaks rising through ice fields and some of Canada's largest ice caps, including the Penny Ice Cap on Baffin Island.It is bounded to the east by Baffin Bay, Davis Strait and the Labrador Sea while its northern portion is bounded by the Arctic Ocean.
Vegetation and Wildlife
Not much can grow in the severe environment, where killing frost can come at any time during the year and even soil is rare. Three-quarters of the land is bare rock; and even lichen have a hard time of it. Trees are hardly noticeable. Plants that do grow in the region are mostly tiny species that often grow in thick isolating mats to protect themselves from the cold or are covered in thick hairs that help to insulate and to protect them from the harsh wind.
Some of the plant species found are arctic black spruce, arctic willow, cotton grass, crustose lichens, kobresia, moss species, wood rush, wire rush, purple saxifrage, Dryas species, sedges, Diapensia, arctic poppy, mountain avens, mountain sorrel, river beauty, moss campion, bilberry, and arctic white heather.
The conditions here are far too severe for reptiles and amphibians to survive, and insects are also rare in the region. Muskoxen and barren-ground caribou are the only large herbivores in this environment, while polar bears and the arctic wolf are the only large carnivores to be found in the region. Smaller herbivores include the arctic hare and the collared lemming. Arctic foxes and stoats are some of the smaller carnivores found in the region. Marine mammals include narwhals, beluga whales, walrus, and ringed and bearded seals.
The furry-legged Rock Ptarmigan is a widespread bird in this region. Typical birds of prey include the Gyrfalcon and Snowy Owl. Some of the more widespread shore and seabirds are the Thick-billed Murre, Black-legged kittiwake, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Black Guillemot, widespread Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover and Northern Fulmar. Songbirds found in the Arctic Cordillera include the Hoary Redpoll, Common Redpoll, Snow Bunting, and Lapland Longspur. The Snow Goose, Common and King Eider, and Red-throated Loon are some species of waterfowl that live in the region.
Climate:
The Arctic Cordillera has one of Canada's most inhospitable climates. During winter, the temperature averages at −35 °C (−31 °F), and is very dark and long, while it is somewhat milder and more humid in the southernmost portions of the cordillera. Only about 2,600 people live in the region, found primarily in the communities of Clyde River, Qikiqtarjuaq (formerly known as Broughton Island), and Pond Inlet. Most of the people who live in the region survive by hunting, fishing, and trapping.
Tree stumps were discovered in 1985 on Axel Heiberg Island dating back 40 million years, indicating this northerly part of the cordillera was warmer and wetter than its present-day climate. With climate change, the biodiversity of this Eco zone would likely increase. As the average temperature rises, more species would be able to inhabit this formerly cold and barren location. Since the currently limited biodiversity of the Arctic Cordillera is largely due to its cold climate and conditions, the effect of climate change will likely cause the biodiversity to increase dramatically as well. Also, the melting of ice and glaciers will make room for more species of Plantae to thrive, as well as cause the appearance of fungi species
