Editing Canadian Prairies (section)

=== Prairies ===
Three main grassland types occur in the Canadian prairies: [[tallgrass prairie]], [[mixed grass prairie]], and [[Festuca|fescue]] prairie (or using the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]] terminology, [[Northern Tallgrass Prairie|northern tall grasslands]], [[Canadian Aspen Forests and Parklands|northern mixed grasslands]], and [[Northern Shortgrass Prairie|northern short grasslands]]).<ref name=regress>{{cite journal|last1=Williams |first1=G. D. V. |last2=Joynt |first2=M. I. |last3=McCormick |first3=P. A. |title=Regression analyses of Canadian prairie crop-district cereal yields, 1961–1972, in relation to weather, soil, and trend. |journal=Canadian Journal of Soil Science |date=1975 |volume=55 |number=1 |pages=43–53|doi=10.4141/cjss75-007 }}</ref> Each has a unique geographic distribution and characteristic mix of plant species. All but a fraction of 1% of the tallgrass prairie has been converted to [[Agricultural land|cropland]].<ref name=gauthier>{{cite journal |last1=Gauthier |first1=David A. |last2=Wiken |first2=Ed B. |journal=Environmental Monitoring and Assessment |date=2003 |volume=88 |issue=1/3 |pages=343–364 |title=Monitoring the Conservation of Grassland Habitats, Prairie Ecozone, Canada |doi=10.1023/A:1025585527169|pmid=14570422 |s2cid=23604851 }}</ref> What remains occurs on the {{cvt|6000|km2}} plain centred in the [[Red River Valley]] in Manitoba. Mixed prairie is more common and is part of the dry interior plains that extend from Canada south to the U.S. state of [[Texas]].

[[File:Northern short grasslands map.svg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|The [[northern short grasslands]] (WWF terminology) shown here on a map of North America in green, is a type of true prairie (grassland) that occurs in the southern parts of the Prairie Provinces.]]
{{main|Prairies Ecozone}}

More than half of the remaining native grassland in the Canadian prairies is mixed. Though widespread in southern Saskatchewan and southeastern Alberta, because of extensive cattle grazing, it is estimated that only 24% of the original mixed prairie grassland remains.<ref name=gauthier /> Fescue prairie occurs in the moister regions, occupying the northern extent of the prairies in central and southwestern Alberta and west-central Saskatchewan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mb.ec.gc.ca/nature/whp/prgrass/df03s56.en.html |title=Prairie Grasslands and Parkland|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527125033/http://www.mb.ec.gc.ca/nature/whp/prgrass/df03s56.en.html |archive-date=2010-05-27}}</ref>
[[File:Palliser's Triangle map.png|thumb|upright=1.15|[[Palliser's Triangle]], delineating prairie soil types in the Prairie provinces]]

The southwestern Canadian prairies, supporting brown and [[Chernozem|black soil]] types, are [[Semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] and highly prone to frequent and severe droughts.<ref name=gregorich>{{cite journal |last1=Gregorich |first1=E.G. |last2=Anderson |first2=D.W. |title=Effects of cultivation and erosion on soils of four toposequences in the Canadian prairies |journal=Geoderma |date=December 1985 |volume=36 |issue=3–4 |pages=343–354 |doi=10.1016/0016-7061(85)90012-6|bibcode=1985Geode..36..343G }}</ref>

The zones around the cities of [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]] and immediately east of [[Calgary]] are also very dry. Most heavy precipitation quickly dissipates by the time it passes [[Cheadle, Alberta|Cheadle]] on its way heading east.<ref name=gregorich /> In an average year, southern Saskatchewan receives between {{cvt|30|-|51|cm}} of precipitation, with the majority falling between April and June. Frost from October to April (and sometimes even early May) limits the growing season for certain crops.<ref name=regress />

The eastern section of the Canadian prairies in Manitoba is well watered with several large lakes such as [[Lake Winnipeg]] and several large rivers. The area also gets reasonable amounts of precipitation. The middle sections of Alberta and Saskatchewan are also wetter than the south and have better farmland, despite having a shorter frost-free season.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Turner |first1=M G |s2cid=44048546 |title=Landscape Ecology: The Effect of Pattern on Process |journal=Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics |date=November 1989 |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=171–197 |doi=10.1146/annurev.es.20.110189.001131}}</ref> The areas around [[Edmonton]] and [[Saskatoon]] are especially notable as good farmland. Both lie in the northern area of the Palliser's Triangle, and are within [[aspen parkland]] a transitional prairie ecozone.<ref name="EFoC">{{cite web|title=Prairies Ecozone|url=http://www.ecozones.ca/english/zone/Prairies/index.html|website=Ecological Framework of Canada|publisher=Government of Canada|access-date=23 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602234643/http://www.ecozones.ca/english/zone/Prairies/index.html|archive-date=2 June 2016}}</ref><ref name=wide />

Further north, the area becomes too cold for most agriculture besides [[wild rice]] operations and sheep raising, and it is dominated by [[Taiga|boreal forest]]. The [[Peace River Country|Peace Region]] in northwestern Alberta is an exception, however.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Price |first1=David T. |last2=Alfaro |first2=R.I. |last3=Brown |first3=K.J. |last4=Flannigan |first4=M.D. |last5=Fleming |first5=R.A. |last6=Hogg |first6=E.H. |last7=Girardin |first7=M.P. |last8=Lakusta |first8=T. |last9=Johnston |first9=M. |last10=McKenney |first10=D.W. |last11=Pedlar |first11=J.H. |last12=Stratton |first12=T. |last13=Sturrock |first13=R.N. |last14=Thompson |first14=I.D. |last15=Trofymow |first15=J.A. |last16=Venier |first16=L.A. |title=Anticipating the consequences of climate change for Canada's boreal forest ecosystems |journal=Environmental Reviews |date=1 December 2013 |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=322–365 |doi=10.1139/er-2013-0042 |issn=1181-8700|doi-access= }}</ref> It lies north of the [[55th parallel north|55th parallel]] and is warm and dry enough to support extensive farming. [[Aspen parkland]] covers the area; The long daylight hours in this region during the summer are an asset despite having an even shorter growing season than central Alberta. In fact, agriculture plays a major economic role in the Peace Region. {{cvt|16|km2}}