Biome & Ecoregional Classification

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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 .

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Central and South America Report (1.8
United States NHEERL Environmental Protection Western Ecology Division May 1998 Agency Corvallis OR 97333 ` Research and Development EPA ECOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE ECOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE Glenn E. Griffith1, James M. Omernik2, and Sandra H. Azevedo3 May 29, 1998 1 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333 phone: 541-754-4465; email: [email protected] 2 Project Officer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333 phone: 541-754-4458; email: [email protected] 3 OAO Corporation 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333 phone: 541-754-4361; email: [email protected] A Report to Thomas R. Loveland, Project Manager EROS Data Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Sioux Falls, SD WESTERN ECOLOGY DIVISION NATIONAL HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS RESEARCH LABORATORY OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CORVALLIS, OREGON 97333 1 ABSTRACT Many geographical classifications of the world’s continents can be found that depict their climate, landforms, soils, vegetation, and other ecological phenomena. Using some or many of these mapped phenomena, classifications of natural regions, biomes, biotic provinces, biogeographical regions, life zones, or ecological regions have been developed by various researchers. Some ecological frameworks do not appear to address “the whole ecosystem”, but instead are based on specific aspects of ecosystems or particular processes that affect ecosystems. Many regional ecological frameworks rely primarily on climatic and “natural” vegetative input elements, with little acknowledgement of other biotic, abiotic, or human geographic patterns that comprise and influence ecosystems.
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