NORTH AMERICA

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY Geomorphology Alaska Range – mountain of south- central

Alaska that extend from the Alaska peninsula to the border of the Yukon territory, Canada.

Mt. McKinley – the highest point of North America. 20,320 ft. (6,194m).

Appalachian mountains – 1,500 miles in length from Alabama, USA to New England State and Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, New Found land and Quebec.

Brook Range – mountains of Northern Alaska, Mt. Isto, 9,060 ft. (2760m).

Canadian Shield – plateau of region of eastern and northern Canada and the great lakes area of North America mainly includes rough and rocky surfaces, large areas is forest.

Cascades – a mountain range stretching from north eastern California across Oregon and Washington.

Coast Range – mountains running along

the pacific ocean coast line of California, Oregon and Washington.

Costal Plain – area of southern and eastern US extends to the continental shelf and is generally characterized by level land with assorted mixed forest include bayous, deltas, marshes, mud flats and swamps.

Continental Divide – imaginary lines that sits a top a continues ridge of mountain summits that divide the continent into two main drainage area.

Great Plains – the land is generally smooth with large treeless areas and sloping shallow river valleys.

Rocky Mountains – about 3,00 miles in length, extend from the US state of new Mexico up trough the western United States and on into the northernmost reaches of Canada’s British Columbia.

PHYTOGEOGRAPHY

Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) Alien: Native of Europe. Identification: Flower heads ovate, topped with a spray of

lavender to purple florets. Flower head bracts elongate, tipped with yellow spines, lower bracts curving downward. Stem covered with isolated spines and isolated plates with spines. Leaves heavily incised, each lobe tipped with a long spine. Leaves pale green or white and woolly below. Plant 2 to 6 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout North America. Habitat: Bull Thistle is a species of disturbed sites including

fields, pastures, and roadsides. Flowering period: June to September.

SHINING SUMAC

Shining Sumac or Winged Sumac, is a species of flowering plant in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, that is native to eastern North America. It is a deciduous tree growing to 3.5–5.5 metres (11–18 ft) tall and an equal spread with a rounded crown

LOEBNER'S MAGNOLIA

Loebner's Magnolia can grow to 50 feet, but cultivar 'Leonard Messel' generally tops out at 25 feet. A cross of M. kobus and M. stellata 'Rosea', this lovely ornamental has star-shaped flowers with 12 narrow petals, white on the inside and purplish-pink on the outside; the transition of color from bud to bloom is a beautiful study in color.  This tree is flowering on April 5th, near Chicago.

OSAGE ORANGE

Osage orange (Maclura pomifera), a native North American tree with multiple fruits that are similar in structure to the breadfruit and jackfruit. The bumpy surface of the fruit is due to many tightly-packed ovaries, each with separate styles that appear like black hairs.

 

ZOO GEOGRAPHY

MUSKOX BULLS Muskox bulls reach weights of about 380 kg (835

lb.) and stand up to 1.5 m (5 ft.) at the shoulder. Cows are about 60% of the weight of bulls and stand about 1.2 m (4 ft.) at the shoulder.

Adult males have massive horn bases, which are used in head-on clashes during fights over herd leadership. The sharp horn tips of the adults are used primarily in defence against wolves and polar bears, their only predatory enemies besides humans.

Muskoxen are renowned for their underfur of extremely fine and long hair. This thick undercoat is covered by long guard hairs and protects the muskox during long, cold winters. Humans prize it because it can be spun into very warm and lightweight fabrics.

ROCK PTARMIGAN

The Rock Ptarmigan is Nunavut's official bird. It is truly a bird of the Arctic because, unlike most other Arctic birds, it remains there year-round.

The Rock Ptarmigan is about 27 to 40 cm (11 to 16 in.) long. The end of its tail is square, and it has a small black bill. Unusually, this species has three seasonal plumages—most birds have only two: the Rock Ptarmigan's feathers moult and change colour for summer, autumn and winter. The colours help the birds blend into their surroundings, thereby helping them keep safe from predators.

During the breeding season in spring, females change to the summer plumage that has a barred pattern of brown, black and gold. Males stay white longer, but by late summer they look similar to the females.

In winter, both the males and the females are white, except for black feathers in the tail that are visible when the tail feathers are spread. Males, and some females, also have a black stripe that extends from behind each eye to the bill. The stripe apparently reduces glare in the eyes.

Both males and females have a red comb above their eyes, but it is barely visible in females. The comb is always quite visible in males, and it becomes especially evident when they are courting or defending their territory because it engorges with blood, and so grows (temporarily) larger and more prominent.

Rock Ptarmigans have feathers covering their legs and feet that help them survive the Arctic climate. Not only do these feathers help keep them warm in winter, but they help the birds walk on top of the snow because the feather-widened feet act like snowshoes, distributing the bird's weight over a larger area.

GILA MONSTER

The Gila monster is one of only two species of venomous lizards (its cousin, the Mexican beaded lizard, is the other). It can bite quickly and hold on tenaciously. Rather than injecting venom through hollow fangs like venomous snakes do, Gilas have enlarged, grooved teeth in their lower jaw. When they bite, their powerful jaws chew the venom in through capillary action along the grooves is introduced in a Gila bite.

The dorsal coloration of the Gila monster is black with pink or orange. In the southern subspecies, the reticulated Gila monster, the light markings, or bands, are broken up to form a reticulated pattern. In the northern subspecies, the banded Gila monster, the light markings generally form an unbroken band across thin these teeth. Gila monster venom is about as toxic as that of a western diamondback rattlesnake. However, a relatively small amount of venom e back. Gila monsters most often prey on small birds and mammals, eggs, lizards, frogs, insects, and carrion. They may live 20 or more years

ReproductionIn late April to early June, courtship and male-to-male combat take place. Females lay two to 12 leathery eggs that overwinter below ground and hatch ten months later in the next spring. Hatchlings are about six inches (15 cm) long and are miniature replicas of their parents.