This 4th edition Plant Hardiness Zones map shows updated zones related to perennial plant survival in Canada. The map is based on a formula using seven climate variables that influence plant survival: 1. Monthly mean of the daily minimum temperatures of the coldest month. 2. Mean frost-free period above 0°C in days.3. Amount of rainfall from June to November.4. Monthly mean of the daily maximum temperatures of the warmest month. 5. A winter harshness index related to rainfall in January.6. Mean maximum snow depth.7. Maximum wind gust in 30 year period.The original map was developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in the early 1960s based on average climate values from 1930 to 1960. This new map uses 1991 to 2020 averages. The map shown to the left of this map shows an alternative plant hardiness zone approach using just one climate variable: average extreme minimum temperature for the period 1991 to 2020. This was originally developed by scientists at the United States Department of Agriculture (see https://www.usna.usda.gov/science/plant-hardiness-zone-map/). The development of these maps was made possible through a collaborative effort by scientists at Natural Resources Canada’s Canadian Forest Service, Environment Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. A paper describing the research, “Updated plant hardiness zones for Canada and assessment of change over time”, can be found in Scientific Reports, Vol. 15(1), 22774 ( https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00931-5).These maps were produced by the Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation, Natural Resources Canada.To view an interactive version of this map and for more information on plant hardiness zones in Canada, please go to: https://www.planthardiness.gc.ca.

Site locations of aquatic invasive species occurrences throughout the province. The aquatic invasive species include species of amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, plants, alga and turtles. This spatial dataset was compiled from a number of data sources including The Invasive Plant Council of BC; the Beaty Biodiversity Museum; the Royal BC Museum; the Fisheries Information Summary System; E-Flora BC; Electronic Atlas of Plants of BC; and from private data compilations(spreadsheets) and personal consultation with BC Ministry of Environment staff and other local experts, peer-reviewed articles and other unpublished technical reports. Full Citations are included

Total soil moisture is the modelled amount of plant available water (mm) in the root zone of the soil. The value given is the amount calculated to be present on the modeled day of the product.Values are computed using the Versatile Soil Moisture Budget (VSMB)

A compendium of reports that provide information about aquatic and terrestrial animals and plants, soils, surface water, groundwater and their accompanying data files and maps

Percent of normal soil moisture is the modelled amount of plant available water (mm) in the root zone of the soil, divided by the average amount that has historically been available on that day. This value is intended to provide users with a representation of conditions above or below normal as a percentage.Values are computed using the Versatile Soil Moisture Budget (VSMB)

Growing degree days (GDDs) are used to estimate the growth and development of plants and insects during the growing season. Growing Degree Day are computed by subtracting a base value temperature from the mean daily temperature and are assigned a value of zero if negative. Base temperatures are a point below which development does not occur for the organism in question. Growing Degree Day products are created for base 0, 5, 10 and 15 degrees Celsius.GDD values are only accumulated during the Growing Season, April 1 through October 31.

Nearshore marine construction activities often involve projects conducted directly in or adjacent to eelgrass beds and can have detrimental effects on eelgrass health, through physical destruction of beds, smothering of plants by sediment, and light reduction from turbidity. A liquefied natural gas (LNG) marine terminal is proposed to be constructed near Goldboro in Isaacs Harbour on the Eastern shore of Nova Scotia in an area where sediments are contaminated with heavy metals from historical goldmining tailings. We conducted a pre-impact assessment of the eelgrass beds in Isaacs Harbour and in adjacent contaminated and non-contaminated harbours. We used underwater video to precisely map the eelgrass bed in the direct construction footprint in Isaacs Harbour. We surveyed 169 stations along ~40 km of coastline from Wine Harbour to New Harbour to identify eelgrass presence or absence in the nearby region and provide data on the distribution and abundance of other sensitive fish habitat such as kelp and other macrophytes. Sediment samples were collected and analyzed for grain size, organic matter content and heavy metal contamination. We also collected eelgrass plants to assess plant condition using morphological and physiological metrics, and heavy metal contamination in plant tissues. The overall condition of eelgrass plants in the surveyed area fell within the range of healthy plant characteristics (morphometrics and carbohydrates reserves) seen elsewhere along the Atlantic coast. However, a few stations displayed high arsenic and mercury contamination in sediments, which translated in some cases to high contamination in eelgrass rhizomes and leaves. There would be significant risk of impact on benthic habitat and contamination of marine biota from resuspension of sediments during a construction and operation of a ship terminal in Isaacs Harbour. This pre-impact assessment will allow DFO to assess the LNG terminal construction proposal and develop appropriate mitigation and monitoring procedures. Collected data will also be used for habitat-forming species distribution modeling to inform marine spatial and conservation planning.Vercaemer, B., O’Brien, J. M., Guijarro-Sabaniel, J. and Wong, M. C. 2022. Distribution and condition of eelgrass (Zostera marina) in the historical goldmining region of Goldboro, Nova Scotia. Can. Tech. Rep. Aquat. Sci. 3513: v + 67 p.Cite this data as: Vercaemer, B., O’Brien, J. M., Guijarro-Sabaniel, J., Wong, M. Data of: Eelgrass (Zostera marina) study in the historical goldmining region of Goldboro, Nova Scotia (2020). Published: February 2023. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/ee88aa17-fd30-4d4a-8924-897fd47cf560

Difference from normal soil moisture is the modelled amount of plant available water (mm) in the root zone of the soil, minus the average amount that has historically been available on that day. This value is intended to provide users with a representation of conditions above or below normal and by the amount of water (mm).Values are computed using the Versatile Soil Moisture Budget (VSMB)

The data represents the occurrence of saline soils in the agricultural area of Alberta. A Saline Soils is a non-alkali (pH less than 8.5 and exchangeable-sodium less than 15%) soil containing soluble salts in great enough quantities that they interfere with the growth of most crop plants. This resource was created in 2002 using ArcGIS.

Digitized DAO accessions from natural occurrences, cultivated, and hybrid specimens. Records are in various stages of review and completion. This dataset will be updated as digitization continues. Countries of collection follow guidance from the Government of Canada resource “Data Reference Standard on Countries, Territories, and Geographic areas” available online: https://ouvert.canada.ca/data/dataset/cac6fd9f-594a-4bcd-bf17-10295812d4c5/resource/bdb33e8c-53ef-4bae-9493-35f343191c02.Dataset Type: OccurrenceSpecimen Type: Preserved specimen