Bioregion
A bioregion is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a biogeographical realm, but larger than an ecoregion or an ecosystem, in the World Wildlife Fund classification scheme. There is also an attempt to use the term in a rank-less generalist sense, similar to the terms "biogeographic area" or "biogeographic unit".[1]
It may be conceptually similar to an ecoprovince.[2]
It is also differently used in the environmentalist context, being coined by Berg and Dasmann (1977).[3][4]
A bioregion is also a land and water territory defined by the geographical limits of communities and ecological systems, but it is also defined by its people. It must include a unique cultural identity and be a place wherein local residents have the main right to establish their own development, although the main right does not, nonetheless, suggest an absolute right. Instead, it means that the livelihoods, claims, and interest of the local communities must both be the starting point and Gibson the standards for regional development and conversation. Within the framework, various state, investor, and other economic interests should be coped with.
WWF bioregions
The WWF scheme divides some of the biogeographic realms into bioregions, defined as "geographic clusters of ecoregions that may span several habitat types, but have strong biogeographic affinities, particularly at taxonomic levels higher than the species level (genus, family)." The WWF bioregions are as follows:
- Afrotropical realm[5]
- Antarctic realm
- Australasian realm[6]
- Indomalayan realm[6]
- Indian subcontinent
- Indochina
- Sunda Shelf and Philippine Archipelago
- Nearctic realm[7]
- Canadian Shield
- Eastern North America
- Northern Mexico and Southwestern North America
- Western North America
- Neotropical realm[8]
- Oceanian realm
- Palearctic realm
- Asia
- East Asia north of the Himalayan system's foothills to the arctic
- Central Asia - Iranian Plateau and north to the arctic.
- Temperate Asia biocountry
- Mongolian Plateau
- Eurasian Steppe
- Asian Russia (central)
- Asian-Siberian region
- Western Asia
- Arabian desert
- Mediterranean Near East (Roughly corresponds to the Levant)
- Anatolian Plateau
- Transcaucasia
- Northern Africa
- Atlantic coastal desert
- Sahara desert
- Mediterranean Maghreb
- Atlas montane
- Europe (Northern, Middle, Eastern, Southwestern, and Southeastern Europe biocountries) - Mediterranean to the arctic.
- European Mediterranean Basin
- Iberian Peninsula
- Balkan Peninsula
- North Caucasus
- Alps montane
- Carpathians
- Scandinavia
- European Russia
- Euro-Siberian region
- Macaronesia
- Asia
See also
- Ecology terminology
- Ecological land classification
- All pages with titles containing Bioregion
References
- Vilhena, D., Antonelli, A. (2015). proach for identifying and delimiting biogeographical regions. Nature Communications 6, 6848, .
- http://www.ecozones.ca/english/levels.html
- Berg, P. and Dasmann, R. (1977). Reinhabiting California. The Ecologist 7 (10): 399-401.
- Miller, K. 1999. What is bioregional planning?. In: R. Crofts, E. Maltby, R. Smith and L. Maclean (eds). Integrated Planning: International Perspectives. Battleby, Scotland 7–9 April 1999: IUCN & Scottish Natural Heritage.
- Burgess, N.D.; D'Amico Hales, J.; Dinerstein, E.; et al. (2004). Terrestrial eco-regions of Africa and Madagascar: A conservation assessment. Washington DC.: Island Press
- Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Washington, DC: Island Press
- Ricketts, Taylor H., Eric Dinerstein, David M. Olson, Colby J. Loucks, et al. (1999). Terrestrial Ecoregions of North America: a Conservation Assessment. Island Press, Washington DC.,
- Dinerstein, E., Olson, D. Graham, D.J. et al. (1995). A Conservation Assessment of the Terrestrial Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean. World Bank, Washington DC., .