Carolinian Forest
A species-rich temperate deciduous forest ecosystem found only in the southernmost part of Ontario (south of the Canadian Shield). Characterized by a diverse canopy of broadleaf trees, many at the northern limit of their range. The most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystem in Canada.
Physical Characteristics
Soils: Deep, fertile, well-drained loam and clay-loam soils over glacial till. Neutral to slightly alkaline in limestone areas; more acidic on sandy deposits. Rich in organic matter.
Characteristic Vegetation
- Amelanchier canadensisspecies
- Amelanchier laevisspecies
- Magnolia acuminataspecies
- Sassafras albidumspecies
- Cornus floridaspecies
- Carex gracillimaspecies
- Stylophorum diphyllumspecies
- Hamamelis virginianaspecies
- Corylus americanaspecies
- Juglans nigraspecies
- Lindera benzoinspecies
- Polystichum acrostichoidesspecies
- Viburnum lentagospecies
- Carex pensylvanicaspecies
- Senna hebecarpaspecies
- Carex blandaspecies
- Carex deweyanaspecies
- Tiarella cordifoliaspecies
- Dryopteris marginalisspecies
- Allium tricoccumspecies
- Aquilegia canadensisspecies
- Solidago flexicaulisspecies
Characteristic Fauna
- Setophaga petechiafauna
- Bombus impatiensfauna
- Satyrium favoniusfauna
- Anisota finlaysonifauna
- Papilio troilusfauna
- Callosamia prometheafauna
- Papilio glaucusfauna
- Hyalophora cecropiafauna
- Antheraea polyphemusfauna
- Actias lunafauna
- Citheronia regalisfauna
- Celastrina ladonfauna
- Erynnis luciliusfauna
- Phoebis sennaefauna
Details
Description
The Carolinian Forest (or Deciduous Forest Region) occupies less than 1% of Canada's land area but harbours more species of plants and animals than any other Canadian ecosystem. It extends across the southernmost tip of Ontario, bounded roughly by Lake Huron to the north, Lake Erie to the south, and Lake Ontario to the east, with the eastern boundary near Toronto.
This forest type is the northern extension of the great Eastern Deciduous Forest of the United States. Many plant and animal species found here are at the extreme northern limit of their range and exist nowhere else in Canada.
Physical Characteristics
- Soils: Deep, well-drained loam and clay-loam soils developed on glacial till. Calcium-rich in areas underlain by limestone bedrock (e.g., Niagara Escarpment). Rich in leaf litter and organic matter.
- Moisture: Mesic. Reliable precipitation year-round (75-100 cm annually), moderated by proximity to the Great Lakes.
- Climate: Ontario's warmest climatic region. Growing season of 180-210 days. Mean annual temperature 7-9 °C.
Characteristic Vegetation
The Carolinian Forest is structurally and floristically diverse:
- Canopy dominants: Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), Red Oak (Quercus rubra), White Oak (Quercus alba), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
- Understory trees/shrubs: Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
- Spring ephemerals: Trilliums (Trillium spp.), Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum), Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
- Ferns: Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum)
Characteristic Fauna
- Birds: Acadian Flycatcher (Endangered), Hooded Warbler (Threatened), Prothonotary Warbler (Endangered), Yellow Warbler, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse
- Mammals: Southern Flying Squirrel, Virginia Opossum, Eastern Fox Squirrel
- Reptiles: Eastern Spiny Softshell (Endangered), Butler's Gartersnake, Eastern Foxsnake
- Insects: Unusually high diversity of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera with many species at northern range limits
Ontario Distribution
Concentrated in a narrow band south of the Canadian Shield:
- Norfolk, Haldimand, Brant, Hamilton, and Niagara counties
- Elgin, Middlesex, Lambton, Kent, and Essex counties
- Toronto and Durham regions (eastern limit)
- Islands in western Lake Erie (Pelee Island, Middle Island)