Canada’s Soil and Natural Vegetation Connections Making Connections, Chapter 14

1. What are the four components of soil? How is each produced? Sketch Figure 14-2, 14–3 and 14-4 into
your notes.

2. How is topsoil formed?

3. How long does it take to form top soil?

4. Why does the topsoil differ in thickness in different parts of Canada?

5. Complelte the following table:

Name of Soil Profile

Important features:

6. What are the four main soil regions of Canada? Which is the largest? Which is the smallest?

7. Look at the maps on pg 163. What do you notice?

8.Look at the above diagram. What changes in vegetation take place as you move from drier to wetter
climates?
9. Look at the above diagram. What changes take place as you move from cooler to warmer climates?

10.What is the difference between coniferous trees and deciduous trees?

11. Explain, in your own words, the term transition zone. Give an example of a transition zone so large that it is
also considered a vegetation region. Explain why this vegetation region is a transition zone.

12. “Natural vegetation is usually quite different from plants that people cultivate for food or for use in industry.”
Explain the differences.

13. “If you climb up a mountain, you will find a similar sequence of vegetation to that you would find if you
travelled from southern Canada to the High Arctic.” Explain why this is a valid statement.

Complete the following chart:

Vegetation Region Types of Natural Temperature Precipitation Soil

Vegetation Characteristics Characteristics Characteristics
Tundra shrubs, mosses, cold, short very little thin soils,
growing season precipitation, most permafrost
lichens, small areas less than
flowers 400 mm
Boreal and Taiga
Forest

Mixed Forest

Deciduous Forest

Grassland — short
grass long grass
parkland

Cordilleran
Vegetation

West Coast Forest