Wildlife of
Quebec

Occurs mainly in the St. Lawrence Lowlands and southern Appalachians (for example, the Monteregie and the Eastern Townships), with mixed deciduous-conifer stands and relatively high plant diversity compared to the north.

Small portion in the far south; concentrated along the St. Lawrence Valley and southern uplands.

The dominant biome across the Canadian Shield, characterized by extensive coniferous forests (spruce-fir-pine), mixedwood zones, frequent fire dynamics, and large lake-and-river systems.

Largest share of the province; covers most of central and northern Quebec south of the treeline.

True Arctic tundra and low shrub/herb communities north of the treeline (Nunavik), with permafrost features, patterned ground, and strong coastal influences near Hudson/James Bay and Ungava Bay.

Far north; broad band across Nunavik and coastal lowlands.

High-elevation treeless environments occur locally on major massifs (notably the Chic-Choc Mountains in the Gaspe Peninsula and a few other high peaks), with cold, windy conditions and short growing seasons.

Very limited; restricted to highest summits and exposed ridgelines.

Exceptionally extensive freshwater ecosystems: major rivers (St. Lawrence, Saguenay, Outaouais/Ottawa, Manicouagan, La Grande), countless lakes, and large hydroelectric reservoirs that create littoral and pelagic habitats.

Widespread throughout; especially prominent across the Shield and along major river corridors.

Marine ecosystems in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Lower St. Lawrence estuary (cold-temperate), plus seasonally ice-covered coasts of Hudson Bay, James Bay, and Ungava Bay, support seals, whales, seabirds, and rich benthic communities.

Along eastern and northern coasts; most significant in the Gulf/Estuary of the St. Lawrence and Hudson/James/Ungava Bay shorelines.

Large peatland complexes (bogs, fens) and coastal marshes occur across the boreal and subarctic zones; major wetland concentrations include the James Bay Lowlands and broad river deltas/floodplains (e.g., around Lake Saint-Pierre and northern river mouths).

Extensive and widespread; particularly high in northern lowlands and major river floodplains/deltas.

Continuous forest cover across much of Quebec, ranging from mixed temperate forest in the south to vast boreal forest on the Shield; forestry disturbance patterns are a major landscape driver.

Southern lowlands and foothills with sugar maple-beech and other hardwood associations; remnants and managed stands persist amid agriculture and urbanization.

Black spruce, balsam fir, jack pine and larch-dominated stands across the boreal and taiga zones; includes fire-shaped mosaics and large tracts of intact forest in the north.

Open, patchy tree cover near the boreal-tundra transition (taiga), with lichen/sedge understories and increasing shrub cover toward the north.

Dwarf birch, willow, and ericaceous shrubs in subarctic landscapes and coastal zones; also occurs on disturbed sites, dunes, and some rocky outcrops.

Nunavik treeless landscapes with mosses, lichens, sedges, and low shrubs; includes polygonal/permafrost-influenced terrain and coastal tundra near Arctic waters.

Summit meadows and heath in the Chic-Choc Mountains (Gaspe Peninsula) and a few other high peaks; supports cold-adapted flora and isolated populations of alpine/subarctic species.

Appalachian ranges in the southeast (Gaspésie, Estrie) and Laurentians north of Montreal create elevational gradients, steep valleys, and localized microclimates.

Notable along the Saguenay Fjord, the Gaspe Peninsula coast, and parts of the St. Lawrence corridor; provides nesting sites for raptors and seabirds and supports cliff-specialist plants.

Major river corridors (St. Lawrence, Saguenay, Ottawa/Outaouais, La Grande) with rapids, floodplains, and migratory fish routes; hydropower development shapes flow regimes in many basins.

Beaver ponds and small kettle/peatland ponds are widespread, creating high-quality habitat for amphibians, waterfowl, and aquatic invertebrates.

Province-wide wetlands including peatlands, floodplain wetlands, and coastal marshes; crucial for carbon storage and waterfowl breeding/migration.

Forested wetlands (cedar, spruce, or mixed swamp forests) occur in southern lowlands and along slow-moving rivers/lake margins.

Emergent marshes along the St. Lawrence system (including Lake Saint-Pierre), river deltas, and sheltered coastal bays; important for fish nurseries and birds.

Extensive ombrotrophic peat bogs across the boreal and subarctic regions, especially in northern lowlands; dominated by sphagnum, ericaceous shrubs, and stunted black spruce.

The St. Lawrence Estuary is a defining habitat with strong salinity gradients, tides, and cold waters supporting beluga and rich plankton-driven food webs; smaller estuaries occur at river mouths into Hudson/James/Ungava bays.

Cold-water coasts along the Gulf of St. Lawrence (including Gaspé, Côte-Nord, Îles de la Madeleine) and along Hudson/James/Ungava bays, with sea ice seasonality shaping shore ecology.

Common along the St. Lawrence's lower reaches and the Côte-Nord and Gaspé coasts, plus exposed Shield lake shores; supports intertidal/benthic communities where marine.

Offshore waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and large bays (Hudson/Ungava) provide pelagic habitat for fish, seabirds, and migratory whales (seasonally).

Deep basins and channels in the Gulf/Estuary system (notably the Laurentian Channel) function as cold-water deep habitats compared to surrounding shelves.

Benthic habitats on shelves and channels of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and in Hudson/Ungava bay nearshore zones, including soft sediments and rocky bottoms supporting invertebrates and groundfish.

Dense urban habitats concentrated along the St. Lawrence corridor (e.g., Montréal, Québec City) with heat-island effects and fragmented natural areas.

Expanding suburban belts around major cities in the St. Lawrence valley, creating mixed green infrastructure, edge habitats, and strong pressure on wetlands and remaining forests.

Primarily in the St. Lawrence Lowlands with cropland, pasture, and orchards; landscape includes field margins, hedgerows, and remnant woodlots important for biodiversity.