Biome & Ecoregional Classification
Biogeography UNLV Biogeographic Classification
• Bioclimatic – Correlation between climate regimes & broadest ecological structure • Annual basis • Seasonality
• Biotic – Structural (Physiognomic) similarities • Global (Biomes) • Ecoregions – Taxonomic (Phylogenic) affinities
Walter’s I I II Climadiagrams • Bioclimate classification • 9 Homoclimes III IV V • Graphic representation of biome climates • Seasonality is key VI VII VIIr
VII (rIII) VIII IX Köppen Climate Classification
• Bioclimate – designed to capture biome distribution • Developed 1880’s
• Seasonality component
Biomes by Annual Mean T & PPT Holdridge Life Zones
• Bioclimate classification – – Annual climate (lacks seasonal element) • Example use: Applied for international conservation efforts where vegetation maps poor before satellite mapping Holdridge Life Zones
• From 1940’s – Developed originally in tropics • Example use: Applied here to evaluate representativeness of
USFS Experimental Forest and Range system (Lugo et al. 2006) Biotic Classification
• Phylogenic Realms
• Biomes
• Ecoregions
Biogeographic Realms
• “Biogeographical Realms” – Broadest classification of faunal & floristic affinities – Phylogenic
Merriam Life Zones
• Vegetation-based • Developed 1890 – Still referenced • Originally for American SW • but applied broadly – Limitations re humid/arid
divisions Bailey’s Ecoregions
• Vegetation-based –US regions aggregated from Kuchler’s (1964) potential vegetation m • US, North America, Global versions
The Nature Conservancy Ecoregions
• Vegetation-based – derived from Kuchler’s (1964) potential vegetation map • Ecoregional conservation planning World Wildlife Fund Ecoregions
(Olson et al. 2001)
http://gis.wwfus.org/wildfinder/ http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial_na.html
Biotic Classification
• Biogeographical Realms – Broadest classification of faunal & floristic affinities – Phylogenic
• Biomes – – Within-biome physiognomic (structural) consistency – leads to insights:
• Broadest-scale ecological drivers – e.g., regional climate, continental physiography
• Similarities among continents • Structure ↔ Function
• Ecoregions – – Accounting for within-biome heterogeneity – Regional management & conservation planning