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Description: |
DISTRIBUTION: The CWHms2
occurs at lower elevations in submaritime and subcontinental
areas north of the head of Knight Inlet. Its major
occurrences include the lower Kimsquit River, southern
Dean Channel, Labouchere Channel, South Bentinck
Arm, and the main rivers draining into the east
end of Owikeno Lake. Elevational limits range from
sea level to approximately 700 m. CLIMATE: The
CWHms2 has a climate transitional between the coast
and interior, characterized by moist, cool winters
and cool but relatively dry summers. Historically,
dry summers have resulted in stand-replacing wildfires,
which have contributed to the abundance of Fd in
this variant. Snowfall is relatively heavy, particularly
in the upper elevational ranges of the variant.
Climate data are unavailable for this variant.
VEGETATION (Table 16): Forests on zonal sites
are dominated by Hw, Fd, Cw, and Ba. Common understorey
species include Alaskan blueberry, and a well-developed
moss layer featuring Hylocomium splendens, Rhytidopsis
robusta, and Rhytidiadelphus loreus. Less commonly
occurring species include black huckleberry, oval-leaved
blueberry, false azalea, bunchberry, queen's cup,
five-leaved bramble, one-sided wintergreen, and
Pleurozium schreberi. Higher elevations featuring
greater snowfall and cooler temperatures are dominated
by Hw, Ba, and Cw, with Fd restricted mainly to
drier sites.
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