Wildlife of
Nunavut

Dominant terrestrial biome across the mainland and most islands, ranging from dwarf-shrub and sedge tundra in the south (near the treeline) to sparse cushion-plant and moss/lichen communities in the High Arctic.

Most land area (~60-75%), especially Kivalliq/Kitikmeot mainland and lowlands of Baffin, Victoria, and many smaller islands

High Arctic polar desert with very low precipitation, thin soils, patterned ground, and extremely sparse vegetation (lichens, mosses, scattered forbs); common where exposure, dryness, and cold limit plant cover.

Substantial in the High Arctic islands (e.g., Ellesmere, Axel Heiberg) and exposed uplands (~10-25% of land, regionally dominant in the far north)

Mountain and high-elevation environments in the Arctic Cordillera with glaciers, nunataks, scree, and alpine tundra communities where ice-free; strong elevation-driven microclimates.

Patchy but prominent along the eastern Arctic Archipelago (Baffin and Ellesmere ranges; local dominance in mountainous areas)

A narrow southern fringe near the continental treeline includes open, stunted spruce-tamarack stands and forest-tundra transitions, often interspersed with wetlands and shrub tundra.

Small, localized band in the far south of mainland Nunavut (generally <5% of territory land area)

Vast networks of glacially carved lakes, ponds, and rivers (often ice-covered much of the year), supporting Arctic char, lake trout, and key breeding habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds.

Widespread throughout; locally dense in lowland shields and coastal plains (numerous lakes/ponds across much of the mainland and larger islands)

Permafrost-influenced wetlands (fens, marshy lake margins, peatlands) concentrated in lowlands and along river corridors; important for nesting birds and carbon storage where peat accumulates.

Patchy but extensive in mainland lowlands and some coastal plains (notably along the western Hudson Bay coast and interior lowlands); generally limited in the High Arctic

Arctic marine ecosystems dominated by seasonal and multi-year sea ice, polynyas, and productive ice-edge waters; critical for seals, walrus, whales (e.g., narwhal, beluga), seabirds, and polar bears.

Very extensive (Nunavut's coastline and surrounding waters span much of the Arctic Archipelago and Hudson Bay/Foxe Basin; sea-ice influence across most marine areas)

Low-shrub, graminoid, and lichen tundra across mainland and islands; strong microtopography from frost heave and polygonal ground; major caribou ranges and nesting areas for shorebirds.

Willow/birch shrub tundra concentrated in relatively warmer southern and riparian zones, including sheltered valleys and south-facing slopes near the treeline.

Arctic Cordillera mountains on Baffin and Ellesmere with steep relief, glaciated valleys, and cold-adapted alpine biota; key denning and nesting sites on cliffs and ledges.

Sea cliffs and inland escarpments used by nesting seabirds (e.g., thick-billed murres, kittiwakes) and raptors; especially around Lancaster Sound/Baffin Bay and rugged fjord coasts.

Large lakes (e.g., Nettilling Lake on Baffin Island-among Canada's largest) and countless smaller lakes that support Arctic char/lake trout and provide staging habitat for migratory birds.

Major river systems and braided channels (e.g., Thelon, Back, Coppermine, Kazan) with riparian willows, deltaic wetlands, and important fish runs and wildlife travel corridors.

Abundant tundra ponds and thaw-lake systems in lowlands; highly productive in summer for invertebrates and waterfowl despite long ice seasons.

Fens and wet sedge meadows in low-lying permafrost landscapes; crucial breeding habitat for geese and other waterfowl and important for nutrient cycling.

Shallow, seasonally flooded lake margins and river deltas with sedges and grasses; locally common in southern mainland lowlands and along broad river valleys.

Peat-accumulating wetlands where conditions allow (more common toward the southern mainland fringe); typically cold, waterlogged, and underlain by permafrost.

Sparse, open black spruce-tamarack stands at the extreme southern margin (forest-tundra ecotone), often interspersed with wetlands and shrub tundra.

Extensive Arctic coastline with barrier beaches, lagoons, tidal flats in places, and ice-scoured shores; critical haul-out and denning areas for marine mammals in some regions.

Gravel and sand beaches along Hudson Bay/Foxe Basin and parts of the archipelago; shaped by sea ice push, storm surges, and permafrost shoreline dynamics.

Ice-scoured bedrock and boulder shores common across the archipelago, with sparse intertidal life adapted to extreme seasonality and freezing conditions.

River mouths and deltas where freshwater meets marine waters (notably along Hudson Bay and some mainland Arctic coasts), providing nutrient-rich feeding areas for birds and fish.

Seasonally ice-covered offshore waters of Baffin Bay, Davis Strait approaches, Foxe Basin, and the central archipelago; productivity peaks at ice edges and polynyas.

Deep marine basins and troughs in adjacent Arctic waters (e.g., parts of Baffin Bay) supporting cold-water benthic communities and deepwater circulation regimes.

Continental shelf and fjord seabeds across the archipelago, including soft-sediment basins and rocky substrates; important benthic feeding grounds for walrus and other fauna.

Small, widely separated communities (e.g., Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay) with concentrated local footprint amid otherwise largely intact landscapes.

Minimal to near-absent; limited to small-scale gardens/greenhouses and localized forage production in a few communities due to climate and soils.