The
biosphere is subdivided into geographical regions called
biomes. Newfoundland and Labrador are divided into two biomes:
tundra and
taiga. Northern Labrador is part of the tundra, while southern Labrador is part of the taiga. Newfoundland is not typical of either biome, as it lacks much of the plant and animal life that are characteristic to these biomes. During the last
ice age the island of Newfoundland was completely covered by glaciers and swept clean of life. Large herds of
woodland caribou can be found in the barren interior regions of the island. Two animals formerly resident in Newfoundland have been declared
extinct: the
great auk, a flightless seabird, and the
Newfoundland wolf, a subspecies of the
gray wolf. The
Labrador duck, believed to have nested in Labrador, was one of the first North American bird species to be recorded as becoming extinct. Many herbaceous plants and insects occur on the island.
Brayas are small perennial herbs of the family
Brassicaceae. They are only found on a narrow strip of land extending approximately on the extreme western portion of the
Great Northern Peninsula, a limestones barrens habitat. The braya population is low due to habitat loss from gravel quarrying. Researchers have only found three populations of Long's braya, and 14 or 15 populations of Fernald's brayas. Researchers have focused on how various types of disturbances affect the long-term viability of these populations. The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, with many partners, is studying the rare plant flora of the island of Newfoundland and in 2002 announced a recovery plan for the braya species. Many plants and animals have been introduced to Newfoundland, either by chance or deliberately. Rats and mice were unintentionally introduced while
mink escaped from fur farms. Newfoundland has no native
amphibians, but
frogs were introduced onto the island in the 1860s and
toads almost a century later. The marine waters around the province are considered boreal, or sub-Arctic, in nature.
Precipitation is low. Soil a meter below ground and deeper is permanently frozen (
permafrost), which does not allow water to drain easily through the soil, so it collects in shallow pools. Trees and shrubs are stunted since their roots cannot grow into the permafrost. Low
shrubs,
lichens,
mosses, and small herbaceous plants are found instead. The most common mammals on the tundra are the
barren-ground caribou,
Arctic wolf,
Arctic fox,
Arctic hare,
lemmings, and
voles. Occasional sightings of
muskoxen have been made near
Cape Chidley, Labrador's most northerly point. The
polar bear is the dominant carnivore of the tundra, but is an occasional visitor to coastal Newfoundland, especially in the spring. Many birds migrate to Labrador in spring to lay their eggs and raise their young before returning south for the winter, including the
common eider,
harlequin duck,
common redpoll and
American pipit. The Labrador tundra is also permanent home to
ptarmigan. Southern Labrador is mostly taiga. It is characterized by low winter temperatures, a longer growing season, and more precipitation than the tundra. Soils are typically lacking important nutrients such as
nitrogen and
phosphorus. The taiga is dominated by
coniferous trees, notably
balsam fir and
black spruce, though the deciduous
white birch,
trembling aspen and
mountain ash are also present. The most common animals are the
moose,
American black bear,
Canada lynx,
red fox,
pine marten,
short-tailed weasel, and
American mink.
Beavers,
muskrats, and
river otters thrive in the many rivers, streams, and wetlands.
Willow ptarmigan,
common raven, and
blackpoll warbler inhabit the forests of southern Labrador while
golden eagles,
rough-legged hawks and
peregrine falcons nest on steep cliffs. == Climate ==