The Maine-New Brunswick Lowlands Biophysical Region is part of the Northeastern Mixed Forest Province and the Maine-New Brunswick Foothills and Lowlands Ecoregion Section. There are 3 Forest Provinces, 6 Ecoregion Sections, and 19 Biophysical Regions in Maine.
Province: Northeastern Mixed Forest
The Northeastern Mixed Forest Province is characterized by a modified continental climatic regime with a maritime influence along the Atlantic Ocean. Winters are moderately long with continual ground snow cover. Annual precipitation is generally equally distributed with a peak during summer. Vegetation of this area consists of forests that provide a transition between boreal conifers and broadleaf deciduous.
Ecoregion Section: Maine-New Brunswick Foothills and Lowlands
The Maine-New Brunswick Foothills and Lowlands Ecoregion Section is a glacially scoured and dissected peneplain with gently rolling topography. It is dominated by a broad, central marine plain with other areas of gently sloping hills and low, rounded mountains. Formations are largely sedimentary rocks with areas of intruded igneous granites. Forest vegetation consists of spruce-fir and maple-beech-birch cover types.
Biophysical Region: Maine-New Brunswick Lowlands
The Maine-New Brunswick Lowlands is 96% forested. The spruce-fir cover type being the most prevalent with a 44% share.
The top three tree species in this region (based on the stocking of live trees per average forested acre) are:
- Northern White Cedar (37 trees per acre)
- Balsam Fir (29 trees per acre)
- Eastern Hemlock (20 trees per acre)
This graph shows major tree species/species groups, live tree stocking (trees/acre), and how much they contribute to the overall stocking for the Maine-New Brunswick Lowlands Biophysical Region:
* All data are based on the Maine Forest Inventory & Analysis, 2015 (United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service)
Check out the other bioregion in the Northeastern Mixed Forest Province and the Maine-New Brunswick Foothills and Lowlands Ecoregion Section: