THE IMPACT OF GLACIATIONS ON CANADIAN FLORA AND FAUNA

The territory of modern Canada was almost completely covered by glaciers several times during the glacial epochs. Glaciations had a great impact on all the landscape zones of the country from the Arctic deserts to the prairies. The most significant glaciation for Canada was the Wisconsin Glaciation. Glaciers had a significant effect on flora and fauna of Canada. They impacted the distribution of species and caused the emergence of a variety of combined communities. Comparison of biodiversity of Canadian provinces that were covered by glaciers during the Last Glacial Period with the biodiversity of the Russian Federation regions that were free of ice sheets shows us that Canada's species diversity might have been reduced due to extensive glaciation.