ÃŽles-Avelle-Wight-et-Hiam Ecological Reserve
IUCN Category Ia - Strict Nature Reserve
BWf1
The Réserve écologique des Îles - Avelle - Wight -et- Hiam is an ecological reserve in the south of the Canadian province of Quebec, in the MRC Vaudreuil - Soulanges.
The reserve was established in 1994 on an area of 90 hectares and comprises a system of islands and islets in the Baie de Vaudreuil ( Vaudreuilbucht ) in the Lac des Deux Montagnes west of Montréal. Here are the three most important islands Avelle, Wight and Hiam. The lake is fed from Ottawa. The reserve is located on the territory of the municipality Vaudreuil - Dorion.
Be managed in Québec rare or threatened plant communities, as well as trees such as the American White Oak ( Quercus alba) or the American red oak (Quercus rubra). It represents the ecoregion on the lower Saint Lawrence River.
The substrate consists mainly of sandstone and quartz grit, which is here called the Grès de Potsdam. Above these sediments, which has deposited the river. At higher altitudes there is Tillit, which is superimposed in the lower layers of alluvial deposits. While the higher elevations drain well accordingly, this is not possible in the lower elevations. Only Avelle is to be regarded as genuine mainland; dominate there sugar maple - hickory forests and endangered species American bladdernut ( Staphylea trifolia ) is to be found there. In the places where there is frequent flooding grow accordingly moisture -loving trees. Between the islands are shallows, which are inhabited by numerous aquatic plants and animals.
Exist at the near-shore areas, plant communities, in which the silver maple (Acer saccharinum ) plays a central role, as is the Shagbark Hickory ( Carya ovata ), a tree species from the genus Hickory ( Carya ), and Carya cordiformis from the family of walnut family. On top of substances classified as endangered White Oak ( Quercus bicolor). The same applies to Onoclea bilis from the family of Wurmfarngewächse, the Western button bush ( Cephalanthus occidentalis ), but also for the red ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica ). Red oak (Quercus rubra) dominated the island Hiam completely while American White Oak ( Quercus alba) and red oak dominate the southern part of Wight.
In addition, there are 14 groups of aquatic plant groups. In the shallower waters Sparganium dominate eurycarpum from the kind of bur reed and branchy bur-reed ( Sparganium erectum ), Broad-leaved arrowhead ( Sagittaria latifolia ) and Nodding Pincushion Pickerel Weed ( Pontederia cordata). In a little deeper areas to find tuber water lily ( Nymphaea tuberosa ), Vallisneria americana from the family of frog bite plants and Wild Rice ( Zizania palustris).
Among the endangered species in the reserve include the Western Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), the white oak, the White Oak, Pimpernüsse, Claytonia virginica from the kind of dish herbs, Scipe de Torrey, the way branching bur reed and Saururus cernuus Linnaeus.
The fauna is still poorly understood. It is known that the American perch (Perca flavescens, French: Perchaude ), the largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides, French: à grande bouche Achigan ), pike (Esox lucius, French: Grand brochet ) and the ( brown ) catfish ( Ameiurus nebulosus, French: Barbotte brune ) live here. In mammals, especially the muskrat ( Ondatra zibethicus ) is mentioned, as are the vegetation and the landscape in good stead. Amphibians and reptiles, however, are poorly represented, may be turtles are in some of the bays.