Ecosystem Geography

by Bailey, Robert G.; Thomas, Jack Ward; Ropes, Lev; Maysmith, Nancy

• ISBN13: 9781441903914
• ISBN10: 1441903917
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-11-03
• Publisher: Springer Nature

Summary

This book outlines a system that subdivides the Earth into a hierarchy of increasingly finer-scale ecosystems that can sever as a consistent framework for ecological analysis and management. The system consists of a three-part, nested hierarchy of ecosystem units and associated mapping criteria. Delineating units involves identifying the environmental factors controlling the spatial geography of ecosystems at various levels and drawing boundaries where they change significantly. Macroscale units (ecoregions) are climatically controlled and delineated as Köppen-Trewartha climate zones. Nested within these are landscape mosaics, the mesoscale units, controlled by landform and delineated by Hammond’s landform regions. At the microscale are individual sites controlled by topographically determined topoclimate and soil moisture regimes.Features of the Second Edition: There are new sections on how ecoregion boundaries were determined, ecoregion redistribution under climate change, ecosystem processes (such as fire regimes), empirical versus genetic approaches, and human modification (such as invasive species). The book has been updated throughout with new text and figures and with new literature reviewed. More examples drawn from outside the North American environment, particularly at the meso and micro scale. Discussion of recent, alternative mapping systems and how they relate to the system presented in this book. Richly illustrated with many new diagrams, photographs, and tables. The new edition also includes two color maps showing the ecoregions of the oceans and continents, and a completely updated guide to further reading.

Author Biography

Robert G. Bailey is a geographer with the United States Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, in Fort Collins, Colorado, and the former leader of the agency's Ecosystem Management Analysis Center. His work involves the application of ecosystem geography to ecological planning and design.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. v
Preface to the Second Edition	p. vii
Preface to the First Edition	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
The problems
Where are we headed?
The ecosystem approach
Classification of land as ecosystems
Ecosystem-based planning
Predicting effects
Levels of integration
Structure: the basis of classification
Need for recognizing ecosystems at various scales
Ecosystem geography
Do we know enough?
Need to delineate ecosystem boundaries
The genetic approach
Scale of Ecosystem Units	p. 25
Site
Landscape mosaic
Ecoregion
National hierarchy of ecological Units
Chapter 3	p. 29
Gestalt Method
Map-overlay Method
Multivariate clustering Method
Digital-image processing Method
Controlling factors Method
Analysis of controlling Factors
Role of Climate in Ecosystem Differentiation	p. 41
Hydrologic Cycle
Landforms and erosion Cycles
Life Cycles
Fire Regimes
Plant Productivity
Litter and Decomposition
Controls over the climatic effect and Scale
Macroscale: Macroclimatic Differentiation (Ecoregions)	p. 53
Causes of ecoregion pattern
Latitude
Continental position
Elevation
Macroclimatic differentiation in review
Ecoclimatic Zones of the Earth	p. 83
Criteria used in delineating ecoregion levels
The domains
The provinces
Ecoregion maps
Ecoregion boundaries
Local contrasts within zones
Relationship to other ecoregional zoning systems
Ecoregions of the United States	p. 93
100 Polar domain
200 Humid temperate domain
300 Dry domain
400 Humid tropical domain
Mountains with altitudinal zonation
American ecoregions in Review
Ecoregion Redistribution Under Climate Change	p. 115
Long-term climate change
Use of the Köppen climate classification to detect climate change
Summary
Mesoscale: Landform Differentiation (Landscape Mosaics)	p. 27
Causes of landscape mosaic pattern
Principal landform classes
Geologic substratum
Levels of landform differentiation
Landforms in review
Microscale: Edaphic-Topoclimatic Differentiation (Sites)	p. 145
Causes of site pattern
Slope-aspect and ground conditions
Geologic differentiation
Topoclimate-soil moisture ecoclimatic grid
Human influences on ecosystems and present-day systems
Applications of Ecosystem Geography	p. 169
Determining the mapping units
Relationships
Examples of useful correlations and applications
Significance to ecosystem management
Significance to research
Conclusion
Summary and Conclusions	p. 195
Mapping criteria
Boundaries
Management hierarchies and ecosystem hierarchies
Human dimensions
Ecosystem services
Appendix Ecoregions of the Oceans	p. 203
Polar domain
Temperate domain
Tropical domain
Shelf
Glossary	p. 207
Further Reading	p. 219
Bibliography	p. 221
About the Author	p. 241
Subject Index	p. 243
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