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 .