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This ecoregion represents a narrow coastal
zone 20-25km in width extending from Bonavista Bay to the Baie Verte Peninsula.
Black Spruce and Balsam Fir form a continuous forest except where barrens
dominate on the coastal headlands. White Spruce is more common than in Central
Newfoundland, but Trembling Aspen is sporadic and rarely forms pure stands.
Alnus crispa replaces Alnus rugosa as the dominant alder on both
upland and lowland sites. The vegetation season is shorter and cooler than in
Central Newfoundland but the frost-free period is several weeks longer. The
summers are relatively dry and warm and soil moisture deficiencies may occur. As with
the Central Newfoundland Ecoregion, encroachment of ericaceous shrubs on dry
nutrient-poor sites after cutting and fire is a serious silvicultural problem.
Also, the quality of growth diminishes with proximity to the coastline. There
are no subregions in this ecoregion. The landtypes are similar to those for the
Central Newfoundland Ecoregion.
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