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Types of biodiversity in B.C.

Last updated on November 15, 2023

We are fortunate in British Columbia to enjoy the broadest diversity of species and ecosystems in Canada. Biodiversity in this province plays a critical role globally because many species and ecosystems that have been lost elsewhere are still present, like Garry Oak meadows and their associated ecosystems.

Over time, B.C.’s biodiversity has been shaped by its: 

  • Glacial history 
  • Mountainous terrain 
  • Proximity to the Pacific Ocean 

Terrain and soil characteristics contribute to a variety of habitats that are found here, which support a diverse range of plants and animals.  

On this page:

Ecosystem diversity

B.C. covers 95 million hectares, and its ecosystems include:  

  • Coastal rainforests 
  • Dry interior grasslands 
  • Alpine tundra 
  • Northern boreal forests 
  • Coastal waters of the intertidal and subtidal zones 
  • Salt marshes ​
  • Thousands of wetlands

Plant species 

B.C.’s species diversity is unmatched in Canada. 

Plant species in B.C. include: 

  • About 1,000 mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) 
  • More than 10,000 fungi 
  • At least 2,500 native vascular plants (including species, subspecies, and varieties) 
  • More than 2,000 verified lichen species  

Invertebrate species 

B.C.’s invertebrates include:  

  • 35,000 species of insects, such as butterflies, moths, and bees  
  • Thousands of species of arachnids, such as spiders, ticks, and mites ​
  • Other terrestrial arthropods, such as beetles 

​Vertebrate species 

B.C.’s vertebrate populations are among the most diverse in North America.  

More than 1,100 native species include: 

  • 20 amphibian species  
  • 21 reptile species  
  • Over 375 species of birds, of which more than 315 breed in B.C. 
  • Over 165 mammal species, terrestrial and marine 
  • Over 500 species of fish, including about 160 freshwater fish that inhabit streams, rivers and lakes, and hundreds more marine fish species in coastal waters

Find information about:  

  • Species and ecological communities in B.C.
  • Data on the conservation status of species and ecological communities