Gulf of Boothia and Foxe Basin Plains is an ecoregion in Nunavut, extending across Prince Charles Island and the Great Plains of Koukdjuak, characterized by lush tundra vegetation, continuous permafrost, and a variety of arctic animals including caribou, polar bears, and seals.
Zone
Arctic
Common Name
Gulf of Boothia and Foxe Basin Plains
CEC Level III Code
2.1.7
CEC Level II Code
2.1 Northern Arctic
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Gulf of Boothia and Foxe Basin Plains, CEC 2.1.7, Gulf of Boothia & Foxe Basin Plains, Gulf of Boothia–Foxe Basin Plains |
| Geographic Range | The ecoregion extends mainly across the areas contained within Prince Charles Island and the Great Plains of Koukdjuak in Nunavut. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Gulf of Boothia and Foxe Basin Plains ecoregion has a mean annual temperature of approximately -11°C, with summer means of 2°C and winter means of -23°C, and mean annual precipitation ranging from 100 mm to 300 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The region is composed of coastal and lower elevation lowlands reaching from sea level to about 180 masl, dominated by marine deposits at lower elevations and moraine at higher locations, with continuous permafrost and numerous round lakes and ponds. |
| Vegetation Cover | The region features fairly continuous covers of tundra vegetation such as purple saxifrage, Dryas, and arctic willow in drier areas, with continuous sedge, cottongrass, saxifrage, and moss in wet areas. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Gulf of Boothia and Foxe Basin Plains support animals like polar bear, arctic hare, arctic fox, lemming, and caribou, with marine mammals such as walrus, seal, and whale found in coastal areas. |
Eco snapshot
The region features fairly continuous covers of tundra vegetation such as purple saxifrage, Dryas, and arctic willow in drier areas, with continuous sedge, cottongrass, saxifrage, and moss in wet areas.
The Gulf of Boothia and Foxe Basin Plains support animals like polar bear, arctic hare, arctic fox, lemming, and caribou, with marine mammals such as walrus, seal, and whale found in coastal areas.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.
| Season | What pollinators need most | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter/early spring | Safe shelter and a clean start (no pesticide residues) | Plan your patch for your home region; avoid buying pesticide-treated plants; learn which natives bloom early where you live |
| Spring | Early blooms + water + nesting sites | Plant early-blooming natives in your home region; leave some bare soil; add a shallow water dish with stones |
| Summer | Steady nectar/pollen + shade/windbreaks + nesting materials | Keep blooms coming (at least 3 plant types flowering); mow less; leave some stems/brush in a corner |
| Late summer/fall | Late blooms + places to overwinter | Plant late-blooming natives; stop “over-tidying”; leave seed heads and stems until spring |
| Winter or Dry Season | Undisturbed shelter | Leave leaf litter and stems; store seeds; share your project and invite others to join |
What You Can Do
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Native plants
Alders are fast-growing trees in the genus Alnus that are especially useful in damp spots and along edges where you want quick cover and early-season pollen for insects.
Asters are late-season wildflowers that bring a burst of daisy-like blooms when many gardens are winding down, making them a reliable choice for pollinator-friendly planting.
Birches are graceful trees in the genus Betula, known for their often light-colored bark and early-season pollen and catkins that support springtime insects.
Blueberries and huckleberries (genus Vaccinium) are berry-producing shrubs with spring flowers that can support pollinators and later feed people and wildlife—great for gardens, schoolyards, and even large containers.
Clovers are small, easygoing plants in the genus Trifolium that can add nectar and pollen to gardens, lawns, and pots while helping cover bare soil.
Fireweed is a tough, fast-growing wildflower in the genus Chamerion that brings bright pink blooms and lots of pollinator activity to sunny, open spaces.
Fleabanes (genus Erigeron) are easygoing wildflowers with daisy-like blooms that can brighten gardens, schoolyards, and balcony pots while offering steady nectar and pollen for many small pollinators.
Goldenrods are tough, sunny wildflowers in the genus Solidago that light up late-season gardens with golden blooms and provide reliable nectar and pollen when many other flowers are fading.
Kinnikinnick is a tough, low-growing evergreen groundcover in the genus Arctostaphylos (often called bearberry) that forms a tidy mat and offers small spring flowers followed by red berries.
Manzanitas are tough, beautiful western shrubs with urn-shaped flowers that can feed early-season pollinators and evergreen leaves that keep gardens looking good year-round.
Poplars, aspens, and cottonwoods (genus Populus) are fast-growing trees best known for their fluttering leaves and soft “cottony” seeds. They can support early-season pollinators with spring catkins, but they’re also big, thirsty, and often short-lived in small yards—so they’re best chosen with space and roots in mind.
Rushes are tough, grass-like wetland plants (genus Juncus) that thrive in damp soil and help create calm, sheltered habitat at the edges of ponds, rain gardens, and low spots.
Sedges (genus Carex) are grass-like plants that form tidy clumps and thrive in many garden conditions, especially where soil stays a bit damp. They add texture, cover bare ground, and can support small wildlife by providing shelter and nesting material.
Willowherbs (genus Epilobium) are easygoing wildflowers that pop up in sunny, open spots and offer simple, nectar-rich blooms that many small pollinators can use.
Willows are fast-growing trees and shrubs in the genus Salix that offer some of the earliest pollen and nectar of the year, making them a strong choice for pollinator-friendly yards, parks, and school grounds.
Yarrow is a tough, easygoing wildflower that brings long-lasting blooms and steady pollinator visits to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Many visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while also playing important roles in local food webs.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
Adults can help move pollen as they nectar at flowers, and their caterpillars are an important part of local food webs.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
Many adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while feeding.
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
