Ecotypes & Habitats

Ontario's most extensive forest ecosystem, covering the Canadian Shield region with conifer-dominated and mixed forests on thin, acidic podzol soils. Characterized by White Pine, White Spruce, Balsam Fir, Paper Birch, and an ericaceous shrub understory including wintergreen, blueberries, and Labrador tea.

A vertical to steeply sloping ecosystem defined by exposed limestone or dolomite bedrock, supporting a specialized flora of calciphile ferns, sedges, and wildflowers that root in crevices, ledges, and thin talus soils. The Niagara Escarpment is the most extensive and biologically significant example in Ontario, harbouring rare ferns, ancient cedars, and one of the richest concentrations of calcium-dependent plant species in eastern North America.

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.

A dynamic, wind-driven coastal ecosystem of deep, shifting sand along the shorelines of the Great Lakes. Characterized by sparse, drought-adapted pioneer vegetation on the foredune giving way to shrub thickets and occasionally open woodlands in sheltered backdune areas. One of Ontario's rarest and most threatened ecosystems.

A transitional ecosystem between open prairie and closed forest, characterized by scattered mature oak trees (10-35% canopy cover) over a prairie-like ground layer of grasses and forbs. One of Ontario's most endangered ecosystems.

An Ontario ELC ecosite defined by exposed Precambrian bedrock with thin, discontinuous soils. Characterized by sparse, xeric-adapted vegetation including lichens, mosses, low shrubs, and the northernmost cactus in the world.

An open, grass-dominated ecosystem characterized by tall grasses (1-2+ m), diverse forbs, and scattered shrubs. Once widespread in southern Ontario's warmer regions, now critically reduced to less than 3% of its original extent.

Freshwater wetlands spanning a spectrum from treed swamps to open sedge meadows, cattail marshes, and peat-accumulating fens. Defined by soils that are saturated or flooded for sufficient duration to support water-adapted vegetation (hydrophytes) and develop anaerobic hydric soils. Ontario's wetlands provide critical water filtration, flood attenuation, carbon storage, and habitat for a disproportionate share of species at risk.