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Disturbance-driven ecosystems are forested zones comprising
the following BEC zones: moist Coastal Douglas-fir (CDF-m),
moist Interior Douglas-fir (IDF-m), Montane Spruce (MS), Sub-boreal
Pine Spruce (SBPS), Sub-boreal Spruce (SBS), Boreal white and
black spruce (BWBS), and drier subzones of Engelmann spruce-Subalpine
Fir (d-ESSF), Montane Spruce (d-MS) and Interior Cedar Hemlock
(d-ICH). They are found primarily in the “rainshadows”
of the major mountain ranges, i.e. the lower elevation spruce
forests of the central and northeast interior, the mid-elevation
and lower sub-alpine spruce forests in the central and southern
interior, the moister Douglas fir forests in the Georgia Depression
and southern interior valleys, and drier interior “wet-belt”
forests.
Two maps are shown below:
Map
1 — Physiographic Regions
The first map shows the major physiographic regions of British
Columbia — mountains, depressions, plateaus and valleys.
The interaction of these topographic features and the prevailing
moist Pacific weather systems produces a sequence of wet windward
mountain slopes and drier, “rain-shadow” climates
in depressions, plateaus and major valleys. This physiographic
map will help you understand the distribution of natural disturbance
regimes in the Province, which are shown in the second map.
Map
2 — Disturbance Regimes
The second map shows the relationship between the three
disturbance regimes and the major physiographic zones. Note
especially the location of disturbance-driven ecosystems.
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