Arctic Archipelago Marine Ecozone (CEC) - Ecology

Ecology

Biological activity in this ecozone is greatest during late summer, during which sufficient portions of ice have melted to allow photosynthesis by phytoplankton, the most significant food source in the ecozone. The southern intertidal zones also support kelp forests. These provide food for shorebirds and waterfowl, whose populations can increase dramatically during the fall and spring migrations. Moreover, the polynyas that form during the winter provide access to food for various species, including polar bears. Summer thaw results in plentiful ice margins along which birds and other animals can fish.

Arctic Cod, found throughout the ecozone, is an important food source for seals, Beluga Whales and Narwhals. Polar bears and Ringed Seals are found throughout the ecozone, whereas the range of Bearded and Harp Seals consists of the eastern coast of Ellsemere Island. The largest Canadian population of Polar bears is found near Churchill, Manitoba, on the coast of Hudson Bay.

The salt marshes and tidal flats of Hudson Bay contain transient and permanent populations of waterfowl that are among the most densely concentrated in the world, and the northwest coast is home to one of the largest populations of Peregrine Falcons.