Editing Bas-Saint-Laurent (section)

== Natural environment ==

=== Flora ===
[[File:ChicChoc.jpg|thumb|right|[[Chic-Choc Mountains]] in [[Sayabec]]]]
Bas-Saint-Laurent is part of the natural province of the Appalachian Mountains in the ecological reference area of Quebec.<ref name="NBR">{{cite book |last1=Tingxian |first1=Li |last2=Jean-Pierre |first2=Ducruc |title=Les provinces naturelles : Niveau I du cadre écologique de référence du Québec |date=1999 |publisher=Ministère de l’Environnement du Québec |location=Quebec |isbn=2-551-19303-6 |url=http://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/biodiversite/aires_protegees/provinces/ |access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref> The forests of Bas-Saint-Laurent are 8,000 years old. Beyond inhabited areas, they cover the majority of the territory. They are boreal with a coniferous influence. The forests most important in order of superficy are those of [[Betula alleghaniensis|golden birch]], [[Betula papyrifera|paper birch]] and [[Picea glauca|white spruce]].{{sfn|Fortin|Lechasseur|1993|p=49}}

The dominant forest of the territory is composed of [[Betula alleghaniensis|golden birch]] trees, an [[Ecotone]] marking the transition between the temperate nordique area and the boreal area.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Quebec |title=Zones de végétation et domaines bioclimatiques du Québec |website=Ministère des Ressources naturelles du Québec |url=http://www.mrn.gouv.qc.ca/forets/connaissances/connaissances-inventaire-zones-carte.jsp |access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref> It is located mainly in the highest part of the Appalachian plateau. The main species of trees within it are the paper birch, the [[Abies balsamea|balsam fir]], and the white spruce, as well as rarer [[Populus tremuloides|quaking aspens]] and [[Jack Pine|jack pines]]. The second forest in superficy is composed of primarily golden birch, and covers 35% of the forested area of the region. It is mainly located in the centre of Bas-Saint-Laurent between [[Rivière-du-Loup]] and [[Rimouski]]. The main species of trees within it are the golden birch, [[Abies balsamea|balsam fir]], white spruce, [[Picea rubens|red spruce]] and the [[Cedrus|cedar]], as well as rarer quaking aspens, paper birches, [[Populus balsamifera|balsam poplars]] and [[Acer spicatum|mountain maple]].{{sfn|Fortin|Lechasseur|1993|p=49}}

However, a more profound analysis of the composition of the forests of Bas-Saint-Laurent allows to shed light on which trees grow at which elevations, type of soils and latitudes. Miroslav Grandtner categorized the south west end of the region, the littoral stripe before Rivère-du-Loup and the medium plateau in the golden birch forest, the high plateau as part of the paper birch forest, and finally, the [[Chic-Choc Mountains]] as part of the white spruce forest.{{sfn|Fortin|Lechasseur|1993|p=50}}

=== Fauna ===
[[File:Bambi, Parc du Bic.jpg|thumb|right|[[White-tailed deer]] fawn in [[Bic National Park]]]]
The fauna of Bas-Saint-Laurent is similar to the one found in other parts of Quebec and has a relatively poor diversity in species. The glacial episodes of the [[Pleistocene]] drove away the animals of the ice-covered area and these came back gradually as the [[ice sheet]] melted over the last 18,000 years.{{sfn|Fortin|Lechasseur|1993|pp=52–53}}

The melting of the ice sheet and the flood of the [[sea of Goldthwait]] around the current estuary brought molluscs like [[Mytilida|true mussels]], [[soft-shell clam]]s and [[scallop]]s. [[Beluga whale|belugas]] and other [[whales]] visit it. According to the remains of marine [[mammal]]s found in altitude further inland, [[Narwhal|narvals]], [[walrus]]es and [[earless seal]]s were also present in the region.{{sfn|Fortin|Lechasseur|1993|pp=52–53}}

On land, the [[eider]] appears around 18,000 BP and a mastodon closely related to the [[mammoth]] inhabited the area before disappearing 8000 years ago. Today, the region is dominated by the big game [[Alces alces|moose]], [[white-tailed deer]] and [[American black bear|black bear]]. The small game is composed of the [[ruffed grouse]], the [[spruce grouse]] and [[snowshoe hare]]. The [[muskrat]], [[North American beaver]] and [[red fox]] are also usual sights in the forests of Bas-Saint-Laurent.{{sfn|Fortin|Lechasseur|1993|p=56}}

Many species of birds live along the [[estuary of Saint Lawrence]]. The [[Canada goose]], [[snow goose]] and [[brant (goose)|brant]] do a halt in the [[tidal marsh]]es located along the litoral between [[La Pocatière]] and [[Pointe-au-Père]]. Diverse types of duck are present, like the [[American black duck]], [[Northern pintail]], two types of surface duck. [[Diving duck]]s are represented by the [[common goldeneye]] and [[ring-necked duck]], while [[Mergini|sea ducks]] are represented by the [[common eider]] and [[long-tailed duck]].{{sfn|Fortin|Lechasseur|1993|p=55}}

=== Environmental protection ===
[[File:Oies-Isle-Verte.jpg|thumb|right|White geese in [[Baie de l'Isle-Verte]]]]
Bas-Saint-Laurent has only one [[wetland]] area according to the [[Ramsar Convention]], the [[Baie de l'Isle-Verte]], part of it is protected by the [[national wildlife reserve of baie de L'Isle-Verte]].{{sfn|Portrait régional|2010|p=28}} This swamp is primarily occupied by [[Spartina|cordgrasses]] and is an important nesting area for the [[American black duck]], as well as a stop for migratory birds in spring.

The region has four [[List of protected areas of Quebec|national parks]]. The [[Lac-Témiscouata National Park]] is located east of the [[Lake Témiscouata]] and protects a representative part of the [[Notre Dame Mountains]] and several ancient forests. The [[Bic National Park]], near [[Rimouski]], protects the litoral of the south of the [[estuary of Saint Lawrence]]. The [[Gaspésie National Park]], of which only a small part is within the limits of the region, is characterized by several summits taller than {{convert|1000|m|abbr=on}}. Its diverse climate and its landscape host a flora unique in [[Quebec]]. Finally, about 30% of the [[Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park]], the first marine park of Quebec, is located in the region. It holds the longest [[fjord]] in the east of Canada as well as a part of the largest estuary in the world, which makes it a location of considerable marine biodiversity. It is the only park administered in Canada by both the [[Government of Quebec]] and [[Government of Canada]].{{sfn|Portrait régional|2010|pp=32–33}}

Three other parks, ecological reserves, more restricted protected areas, are located in the centre of the region, the reserves of [[Fernald Ecological Reserve|Fernald]], [[Charles-B.-Banville Ecological Reserve|Charles-B.-Banville]] and [[Irène-Fournier Ecological Reserve|Irène-Fournier]]. At the same level of protection, there are six floristic parks, most of them within the Gaspésie National Park.{{sfn|Portrait régional|2010|p=33}}

The largest protected areas of the region are those protected by the confinement areas of the [[white-tailed deer]]. Just these protected areas cover nearly 80% of the protected area of the region. Bas-Saint-Laurent contains about 27% of the protected areas of this designation.{{sfn|Portrait régional|2010|p=32}} The second largest designation by superficy are the protected areas devoted to the protection of aquatic birds, of which a large part ({{convert|507|km2|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}}) are in a marine environment.{{sfn|Portrait régional|2010|p=32}}

Although they are not strictly considered protected areas, the territories structured for the gestion of wildlife cover 45,5% of the surface area of the region. They are divided in four wildlife reserves and five [[Zone d'exploitation contrôlée]].{{sfn|Portrait régional|2010|p=57}}