{"id":2790,"date":"2016-10-08T02:08:10","date_gmt":"2016-10-08T09:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/?p=2790"},"modified":"2016-10-04T22:34:53","modified_gmt":"2016-10-05T05:34:53","slug":"ecoregions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/featured\/ecoregions\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecoregions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Knowing about the area you are exploring helps you focus on the things (plants, animals and even rocks) you are most likely to find there. \u00a0One way scientists have been organizing areas uses the concept of the ecoregion. \u00a0An ecoregion is an ecologically and geographically defined area that\u00a0covers a relatively large area of land or water, and contains characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural communities and species. \u00a0 Or, more simply,\u00a0ecoregions are large areas of similar climate where ecosystems recur in predictable patterns.<\/p>\n

Defining Ecoregions<\/h1>\n

To define the boundaries of ecoregions,\u00a0\u00a0scientists take a large land mass, say the United States, and divide it into contiguous areas that are internally similar, while being different from the areas that surround them. \u00a0The results depend upon the factors that are considered in their development and those factors are, in turn, based upon the specific purpose of creating the ecoregion boundary.<\/p>\n

The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Forest Service got together and defined ecoregions in three layers:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Domains<\/h3>\n

Primarily based upon weather, \u00a0there are three domains in the continental U.S.\u00a0– dry, humid temperate and humid tropical as illustrated below.<\/p>\n

\"U.S.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Divisions<\/h3>\n

Divisions take into account more specific climactic conditions. \u00a0Categories include warm continental, hot continental, subtropical, prairie, temperate steppe and so on. \u00a0As you can surmise, these smaller divisions begin to get more closely associate with particular plant communities that can survive under these climate conditions.\u00a0\u00a0 Division boundaries are shown on the following map. \u00a0Note that the domain boundaries remain and the divisions separate them into smaller components.<\/p>\n

\"Divisions\"<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Provinces<\/h3>\n

Provinces further separate\u00a0the divisions based upon broad vegetative types found across the U.S. “Broad” includes vegetation defined as, for example, \u00a0eastern hardwoods, prairie parkland, Colorado plateau, California dry steppe, and so on. \u00a0The following map shows the ecosystem provinces overlain on the divisions:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"provinces\"<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Ecoregions<\/h1>\n

Once the provinces are applied to the divisions we have the ecoregion map. \u00a0The above map is the result. \u00a0The map below shows the ecoregions and how they relate to the states:<\/p>\n

\"Ecoregion<\/a><\/p>\n

Using the Ecoregions<\/h1>\n

Ecoregions are obviously a concept developed for a purpose. \u00a0The primary purpose is to help us understand how \u00a0ecosystems differ and function in different ways. \u00a0They also offer a great way to organize material in an appropriate context. \u00a0For example, \u00a0here in Oregon the state uses ecoregions as a basis for the Oregon Conservation Strategy. \u00a0Oregon modifies the ecoregions slightly (see below) then organizes key habitats (Strategy Habitats) and key species (Strategy Species) with ecoregions. \u00a0Since all of the Oregon information is on the web (oregonconservationstrategy.org\/overview\/<\/a>), you can use it too. \u00a0It just becomes a matter of learning about the ecoregion you are exploring including its habitats and key species. \u00a0With that knowledge you start your explorations well ahead those that have not done this research.<\/p>\n

\"Oregon<\/a><\/p>\n

Other states may have similar websites that can help you get information from other places. \u00a0Ecoregions have also been developed worldwide, so other nations may be using them. \u00a0A Google search<\/a> should help you find and learn about your favorite ecoregion.<\/p>\n

More Information<\/h1>\n