Ecoregion
An
ecoregion, sometimes called a
bioregion, is "a relatively large area of land or water that contains a geographically distinct assemblage of natural communities."
This description is part of a definition, by the
World Wildlife Fund, that is widely accepted and used. However, the use of the term "relatively large" is interpreted differently in different locales. Another way of looking at an ecoregion is a "recurring pattern of ecosystems associated with characteristic combinations of
soil and
landform that characterise that region" (Brunckhorst, 2000). Others have defined ecoregions as areas of ecological potential based on combinations of biophysical parameters such as
climate and
topography.
Biodiversity is also an important aspect of the study of ecoregions. The biodiversity of
flora,
fauna and
ecosystems that characterise an ecoregion tend to be distinct from that of other ecoregions.
World Wilfdlife Fund's full definition of an ecoregion is the following::''A large area of land or water that contains a geographically distinct assemblage of natural communities that:
(a) share a large majority of their species and ecological dynamics; :
(b) share similar environmental conditions, and;:
(c) interact ecologically in ways that are critical for their long-term persistence.:::--
World Wildlife Fund - EcoregionsWorld Wildlife Fund
ecologists currently divide the land surface of the
Earth into 8 major
ecozones containing 867 smaller
terrestrial ecoregions (see
list). Many consider this classification to be quite decisive, and some propose these as stable borders for
bioregional democracy initiatives.
The ecozones are very well-defined, following major
continental boundaries, while the ecoregions are subject to more change and controversy.
The use of the term
ecoregion is an outgrowth of a surge of interest in ecosystems and their functioning. In particular, there is awareness of issues relating to spatial scale in the study and management of
landscapes. It is widely recognized that interlinked ecosystems combine to form a whole that is "greater than the sum of its parts." There are many attempts to respond to ecosystems in an integrated way to achieve "multi-functional" landscapes, and various interest groups from
agricultural researchers to
conservationists are using the
ecoregion as a unit of analysis.
*
Biome *
Ecozone*
Ecotope*
Fresh water ecoregion*
Global 200*
Habitat*
Marine ecoregion*
Terrestrial ecoregion*Brunckhorst, D. 2000.
Bioregional planning: resource management beyond the new millennium. Harwood Academic Publishers: Sydney, Australia.
*
World Wildlife Fund: ecoregions *
Sierra club: ecoregions*
Activist network cultivating Ecoregions/Bioregions*
A National Ecological Framework for Canada *
Ecoregions of North America*
Interactive map and images of North American ecoregions at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu
