Ministry of Environment
Sensitive
Ecosystems Inventories
Sparsely Vegetated Ecosystems of Eastern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands
Sparsely Vegetated ecosystems encompass three unique landforms that provide specialized wildlife habitats and support newly-developing plant communities: inland cliffs and bluffs (SV:cl); coastal sand dunes (SV:sd); and coastal gravel and sand spits (SV:sp).
Coverage consists mainly of sand, gravel or bedrock and little vegetation. Several distinct plant communities have adapted to this harsh coastal environment characterized by crashing waves, salt spray, shifting sands, exposure to winds and sun, and (with regard to the cliffs and bluffs) low moisture and nutrient conditions.
How are Sparsely Vegetated ecosystems distinguished from other SEI ecosystems?
- Shallow Soils – SV ecosystems
have shallow soils, usually without any organic layer to protect them
from erosion or disturbance.
- Sparse Vegetation – Vegetation comprises as little as 5% of total cover, while exposed bedrock and sand make up the remaining area. Sand dune and spit ecosystems contain unique plant communities due to their dynamic and high disturbance environment.
Why are Sparsely Vegetated ecosystems considered ecologically important?
- SV ecosystems provide specialized habitats for a number of rare and specialized species – Sparsely Vegetated ecosystems are rare and contain highly specialized habitats for many species unique to these areas. Some of these species, such as yellow sand-verbena and beach bindweed are rare and only known to occur in these ecosystems.
There are many red and blue listed species within each category of this ecosystem type: Sand dunes and spits - Hudsonian godwit, less golden-plover, snowy plover, American avocet, sandhill crane, American white pelican, Brandt’s cormorant, double-crested cormorant, short-billed dowitcher, long-billed curlew. Cliffs and bluffs – turkey vulture, Swainson’s hawk, ferruginous hawk, peregrine falcon, prairie falcon, barn owl, western small-footed myotis, spotted bat and Townsend’s big-eared bat.
What are some conservation concerns of Sparsely Vegetated ecosystems?
SV ecosystems are rare, and undisturbed ecosystems are exceptionally rare.
Spit and sand dune soils are very different from those found in other SEI ecosystems. Because they are made up of unconsolidated sand particles that rarely have protective organic layer, they are particularly sensitive to any type of use and development. The largest direct impact on these ecosystems comes from human activity and development pressure.
Examples of Sparsely Vegetated ecosystems within the SEI study area:
Sidney Spit, Shingle Spit on Hornby Island, Cordova Spit and the James Island spits; sand and gravel bars that form barrier spits parallel to the shoreline at Whiffen Spit (Sooke), Albert Head Lagoon Spit, Witty’s Lagoon (Metchosin), Pipers Lagoon (Nanaimo) and the spit at the mouth of the Little Qualicum River; dunes at Island View Beach and Cordova Spit on the Saanich Peninsula; the extensive cliff systems along the Cowichan River; and in the vicinity of Mount Benson.
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