Ecology of the Oak Ridges Moraine

The hooded warbler is a threatened species in Canada. Happy Valley Forests is one of the few remaining Canadian habitats for this species.

The Oak Ridges Moraine lies in Southern Ontario, Canada. It contains the headwaters of sixty-five rivers and streams. It has a wide diversity of woodlands, wetlands, watercourses, kettle lakes, kettle bogs, and significant flora and fauna. It is one of the few remaining continuous green corridors in southern Ontario: it remains thirty percent forested and is one of the last refuges for forest birds in all of southern Ontario.

The moraine provides habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species, over seventy of which are threatened or endangered in Canada, including the West Virginia white butterfly, Jefferson salamander, red-shouldered hawk, and American ginseng. The moraine's rare wetlands support plants and insects more typical of northern Ontario. The remnants of tallgrass prairie and oak-pine savanna in the eastern portion are globally threatened ecosystems.

Happy Valley Forests

See also: Happy Valley, King, Ontario

Happy Valley Forests is a 648-hectare upland forest with wooded swamps and minor wetland areas. It supports a diverse wildlife population, including over 100 species of birds, some of which are endangered or threatened in Canada. The forests are characterized by the dominant sugar maple in most areas, and red maple on its eastern edges. It is a provincial ANSI Life Science ecological zone.

Provincially significant ecological areas

A number of provincially significant ecological areas are located in the Oak Ridges Moraine, among them forty-eight wetlands, and twenty-eight earth and life science Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI-ES and ANSI-LS).

The table below lists the ecological zones by municipal jurisdiction; for zones that overlap multiple jurisdictions, the zone is listed in the jurisdiction which contains the greatest portion of that zone. Moreover, some of the zones listed may only have some portion of their complex on the Oak Ridges Moraine; for example, a small southern component of the Ansnorveldt Wetland Complex lies on the northern edge of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Provincially significant ecological areas on the Oak Ridges Moraine; size is in hectares (100 hectares = 1 km2)
Caledon
Little Credit River Wetland Complex 43°49′N 79°54′W / 43.817°N 79.900°W / 43.817; -79.900 270.6 Wetland
Credit Forks Wetland 43°49′N 79°58′W / 43.817°N 79.967°W / 43.817; -79.967 29.4 Wetland
Gibson Lake Wetland 43°57′N 79°49′W / 43.950°N 79.817°W / 43.950; -79.817 27.9 Wetland
Centreville Creek Wetland Complex 43°54′N 79°50′W / 43.900°N 79.833°W / 43.900; -79.833 12.5 Wetland
Bolton Wetland Complex 44°14′N 80°15′W / 44.233°N 80.250°W / 44.233; -80.250 5.7 Wetland
King Township
Pottageville Swamp 44°0′N 79°37′W / 44.000°N 79.617°W / 44.000; -79.617 658.0 ANSI Life Science
Happy Valley Forests 43°57′N 79°36′W / 43.950°N 79.600°W / 43.950; -79.600 648.0 ANSI Life Science
Pottageville Southeast Upland 43°58′N 79°36′W / 43.967°N 79.600°W / 43.967; -79.600 90.0 ANSI Life Science
Cold Creek Conservation Area 43°54′N 79°42′W / 43.900°N 79.700°W / 43.900; -79.700 81.7 ANSI Life Science
Glenville Hills Kames 44°2′N 79°31′W / 44.033°N 79.517°W / 44.033; -79.517 345.0 ANSI Earth Science
Linton—Kelly Lake Channels 43°56′N 79°37′W / 43.933°N 79.617°W / 43.933; -79.617 588.0 ANSI Earth Science
Kettleby and Newmarket Tills 44°1′N 79°33′W / 44.017°N 79.550°W / 44.017; -79.550 0.2 ANSI Earth Science
Pottageville Wetland Complex 44°0′N 79°37′W / 44.000°N 79.617°W / 44.000; -79.617 779.3 Wetland
Eaton Hall—Mary—Hackett Lakes Wetland Complex 43°57′N 79°33′W / 43.950°N 79.550°W / 43.950; -79.550 259.0 Wetland
Ansnorveldt Wetland Complex 44°3′N 79°33′W / 44.050°N 79.550°W / 44.050; -79.550 200.6 Wetland
Kennifick Wetland Complex 43°57′N 79°42′W / 43.950°N 79.700°W / 43.950; -79.700 79.1 Wetland
Eaton Hall Lake Wetland 43°57′N 79°31′W / 43.950°N 79.517°W / 43.950; -79.517 51.5 Wetland
King—Vaughan Wetland Complex 43°55′N 79°30′W / 43.917°N 79.500°W / 43.917; -79.500 39.1 Wetland
Nobleton Wetland Complex 43°55′N 79°40′W / 43.917°N 79.667°W / 43.917; -79.667 43.3 Wetland
New Scotland Wetland Complex 43°56′N 79°38′W / 43.933°N 79.633°W / 43.933; -79.633 23.7 Wetland
King Creek Marsh 43°53′N 79°37′W / 43.883°N 79.617°W / 43.883; -79.617 4.2 Wetland
East Gwillimbury
Mount Albert Wetlands 44°10′N 79°19′W / 44.167°N 79.317°W / 44.167; -79.317 539.3 Wetland
Aurora
Wilcox—St. George Wetland Complex 43°53′N 79°29′W / 43.883°N 79.483°W / 43.883; -79.483 102.0 Wetland
East Aurora Wetland Complex 44°1′N 79°28′W / 44.017°N 79.467°W / 44.017; -79.467 28.0 Wetland
Aurora Marsh (McKenzie Marsh) 44°1′N 79°28′W / 44.017°N 79.467°W / 44.017; -79.467 10.0 Wetland
Richmond Hill
Rouge River Headwater Wetland Complex 43°55′N 79°24′W / 43.917°N 79.400°W / 43.917; -79.400 175.0 Wetland
Philips—Bond —Thompson Lakes Wetland Complex 43°55′N 79°27′W / 43.917°N 79.450°W / 43.917; -79.450 61.0 Wetland
Snively Street Wetland Complex 43°57′N 79°26′W / 43.950°N 79.433°W / 43.950; -79.433 21.5 Wetland
Philips Lake Wetland Complex 43°55′N 79°27′W / 43.917°N 79.450°W / 43.917; -79.450 24.8 Wetland
Whitchurch-Stouffville
Vivian Infiltration Area (also in Uxbridge) 44°4′N 79°18′W / 44.067°N 79.300°W / 44.067; -79.300 6346.0 Hydrological ESA
Musselman Lake Kettle Complex 44°2′N 79°15′W / 44.033°N 79.250°W / 44.033; -79.250 258.0 ANSI Earth Science
White Rose Spillway 43°58′N 79°25′W / 43.967°N 79.417°W / 43.967; -79.417 25.0 ANSI Earth Science
Musselman Lake Complex 44°0′N 79°17′W / 44.000°N 79.283°W / 44.000; -79.283 100.0 ANSI Life Science
Vandorf Bog Complex 44°0′N 79°20′W / 44.000°N 79.333°W / 44.000; -79.333 57.0 ANSI Life Science
Black River Wetland Complex #1 44°11′N 79°21′W / 44.183°N 79.350°W / 44.183; -79.350 1378.8 Wetland
White Rose—Preston Lake Wetland Complex 43°58′N 79°23′W / 43.967°N 79.383°W / 43.967; -79.383 137.6 Wetland
Musselman Lake Wetland 44°1′N 79°17′W / 44.017°N 79.283°W / 44.017; -79.283 49.4 Wetland
East Musselman Wetland Complex 44°2′N 79°15′W / 44.033°N 79.250°W / 44.033; -79.250 8.8 Wetland
Uxbridge Township
Little Rouge Creek Section 43°48′N 79°9′W / 43.800°N 79.150°W / 43.800; -79.150 0.8 ANSI Earth Science
Tyrone River Valley 44°2′N 78°43′W / 44.033°N 78.717°W / 44.033; -78.717 140.0 ANSI Life Science
Uxbridge Pine—Maple Uplands 44°3′N 79°6′W / 44.050°N 79.100°W / 44.050; -79.100 93.0 ANSI Life Science
Uxbridge Forest Kames 44°0′N 79°5′W / 44.000°N 79.083°W / 44.000; -79.083 644.0 ANSI Earth Science
Goodwood Formation 44°3′N 79°12′W / 44.050°N 79.200°W / 44.050; -79.200 0.2 ANSI Earth Science
Uxbridge Brook Headwater Wetland Complex 44°5′N 79°8′W / 44.083°N 79.133°W / 44.083; -79.133 159.6 Wetland
Goodwood/Glasgow Wetland Complex 44°0′N 79°11′W / 44.000°N 79.183°W / 44.000; -79.183 70.6 Wetland
North Goodwood Wetland Complex 44°2′N 79°12′W / 44.033°N 79.200°W / 44.033; -79.200 22.4 Wetland
Scugog Township
Lake Scugog #37 Wetland 44°7′N 78°48′W / 44.117°N 78.800°W / 44.117; -78.800 192.6 Wetland
City of Pickering
Clarke Summit Swamp 43°56′N 78°31′W / 43.933°N 78.517°W / 43.933; -78.517 118.0 ANSI Life Science
Northumberland County
Garden Hill Pitted Outwash 44°3′N 78°24′W / 44.050°N 78.400°W / 44.050; -78.400 1003.0 ANSI Earth Science
Millvalley Hills Forests 44°4′N 78°6′W / 44.067°N 78.100°W / 44.067; -78.100 320.0 ANSI Life Science
Shelter Valley 44°3′N 78°1′W / 44.050°N 78.017°W / 44.050; -78.017 312.0 ANSI Life Science
Peter's Woods Provincial Nature Reserve (Settler's Woods) 44°7′N 78°2′W / 44.117°N 78.033°W / 44.117; -78.033 33.43 ANSI Life Science
East Cross Creek #15 - Wetland 44°15′N 78°43′W / 44.250°N 78.717°W / 44.250; -78.717 2340.4 Wetland
Kawartha Lakes
Fleetwood Kames 44°7′N 78°36′W / 44.117°N 78.600°W / 44.117; -78.600 939.0 ANSI Earth Science
Peterborough
Omemee Esker South 44°14′N 78°35′W / 44.233°N 78.583°W / 44.233; -78.583 366.0 ANSI Earth Science

References

  1. "Natural Areas Report: LITTLE CREDIT RIVER WETLAND COMPLEX". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  2. "Natural Areas Report: CREDIT FORKS WETLAND". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2005-06-20. 
  3. "Natural Areas Report: GIBSON LAKE WETLAND". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2005-06-20. 
  4. "Natural Areas Report: CENTREVILLE CREEK WETLAND COMPLEX". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2005-06-20. 
  5. "Natural Areas Report: BOLTON WETLAND COMPLEX". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2005-06-20. 
  6. "Natural Areas Report: POTTAGEVILLE SWAMP". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Archived from the original on March 22, 2006. Retrieved 2005-06-18. 
  7. "Natural Areas Report: HAPPY VALLEY FORESTS". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Archived from the original on July 17, 2007. Retrieved 2005-06-18. 
  8. "Natural Areas Report: POTTAGEVILLE SOUTHEAST UPLAND". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  9. "Natural Areas Report: COLD CREEK CONSERVATION AREA". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2005-06-18. 
  10. "Natural Areas Report: GLENVILLE HILLS KAMES". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2005-06-18. 
  11. "Natural Areas Report: LINTON—KELLY LAKE CHANNELS". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2005-06-18. 
  12. "Natural Areas Report: KETTLEBY AND NEWMARKET TILLS". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2005-06-18. 
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  41. "Natural Areas Report: UXBRIDGE PINE—MAPLE UPLANDS". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Archived from the original on March 12, 2006. Retrieved 2005-06-20. 
  42. "Natural Areas Report: UXBRIDGE FOREST KAMES". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2005-06-20. 
  43. "Natural Areas Report: GOODWOOD FORMATION". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2005-06-20. 
  44. "Natural Areas Report: UXBRIDGE BROOK HEADWATER WETLAND COMPLEX". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2005-06-20. 
  45. "Natural Areas Report: GOODWOOD/GLASGOW WETLAND COMPLEX". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
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  47. "Natural Areas Report: LAKE SCUGOG #37 WETLAND". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  48. "Natural Areas Report: CLARKE SUMMIT SWAMP". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Archived from the original on March 16, 2006. Retrieved 2005-08-18. 
  49. "Natural Areas Report: GARDEN HILL PITTED OUTWASH". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  50. "Natural Areas Report: MILLVALLEY HILLS FOREST". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  51. "Natural Areas Report: SHELTER VALLEY". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  52. "Natural Areas Report: PETER'S WOODS PROVINCIAL NATURE RESERVE". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  53. "Natural Areas Report: EAST CROSS CREEK #15-WETLAND". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  54. "Natural Areas Report: FLEETWOOD KAMES". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  55. "Natural Areas Report: OMEMEE ESKER SOUTH". Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
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