Biome & Ecoregional Classification

Biogeography UNLV Biogeographic Classification

• Bioclimatic – Correlation between climate regimes & broadest ecological structure • Annual basis • Seasonality

• Biotic – Structural (Physiognomic) similarities • Global () • – Taxonomic (Phylogenic) affinities

Walter’s I I II Climadiagrams • Bioclimate classification • 9 Homoclimes III IV V • Graphic representation of climates • Seasonality is key VI VII VIIr

VII (rIII) VIII IX Köppen

• 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 • Example use: Applied here to evaluate representativeness of

USFS Experimental 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