Land–sea ecological connectivity is the relationship between terrestrial and marine ecosystems, through biological migration, hydrologic cycling, nutrient transport, and climatic processes. The interconnectivity between land and sea found in coastal temperate rainforests, like the Great Bear Rainforest, gives life to vibrant and diverse ecosystems found nowhere else in the world. Here, ancient trees over 1,000 years old tower towards the sky, providing sanctuary to some of the province’s most rare and iconic species. In coastal British Columbia, the forest evolved alongside a rich marine ecosystem and so the land and sea are intimately connected. Energy flows between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, carried inside the bodies of Pacific salmon and herring, allowing for a diverse host of life to evolve.
Explore the food web of the Great Bear Rainforest with this ArcGIS-powered Story Map and learn how species interconnect to feed coastal temperate rainforest ecosystems and coastal communities. On this interactive site, immerse your senses in the beauty of the Great Bear Rainforest, take a tour through the food web, explore the science and learn how you can take action to help conserve British Columbia’s precious marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Tip: if you would like to view it full size in a separate browser directly from the ArcGIS platform, click here.
