MID-TERM ASSIGNMENT - Article Example

Colliery Dam Park (Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada) Flora Dominant tree species within Colliery Dam Park include red cedar (Thuja plicata), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Oregon grape (Mahonia nervosa), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), and step moss (Hylocomium splendens) (Taylor, 2000).FaunaAnimal species documented within the park include chum salmon (O. keta), Chinook salmon (Onchorhyncus tshawytscha), pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus), coho salmon (O. kisutch) and rainbow trout/steelhead (O.mykiss).The type of ecosystem and dominant treesThe ecosystem mainly is made up of forest and wetland.

The Park is located within the biogeoclimatic zone or simply Coastal Western Hemlock typified by moist mild winters and warm dry summers. Generally, Chase River is situated within a narrow valley that is steep-sided, restricting the development of meandering or braided river features. What is more, the vegetation found within the Park or the Park is dominated by a coniferous forest characterized by trees such as western hemlock, western red cedar and Douglas fir (McBeath, 2011). Primary native species comprise red huckleberry, Oregon grape, salal, a wide range of mosses and sword fern.

Influenced by Human activitiesThe ecosystem has been influenced by human activities in the past. For instance, the demand for water led to establishment of protected areas such as middle lake and other water reservoirs. The existence of paper mills which prompted the plantation of softwood trees.Current impactsThe Park has been affected negatively by some form of human activities. For instance, there are human settlements especially alone the Upper Chase River. Not enough, the ecosystem was sometime back cleared to pave way for the creation of a dual carriage way which negatively affects the Parks biodiversity.

ReferencesMcBeath, C. (2011). Frommers Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands. Mississayga: Wiley.Taylor, K. (2000). The birders guide, Vancouver Island : a walking guide to bird watching sites. Victoria, B.C: Steller Press.