Ecological Land

Classification
Ontario’s DRAFT Ecosite
Field Guide
Kimmins’ Forest Ecology
 Ecosystem Classification
• ecological foundation for sustainable
resource management
• classification innate tendency in
humans
• hard to do with ecosystems – why?
 Ecosystems are :
• diverse &
• complex
• therefore it is hard to define criteria for
classification (what are the groups?)
 Ask 2 questions :
1. What is the purpose of a specific
classification?
• some are broad & general
• some are very specific

2. How small do you go?

• purpose
• funding & other resources
 Different Approaches to Terrestrial

Ecosystem Classification
1. Climatic Classification Approach (C.A.)
(Biomes)

2. Landform or Physiographic C.A.

(Landscape)

3. Vegetation C.A.
(USA forest cover type, Canada Forest Region)

4. Ecosystem C.A.
1. Climatic Classification Approach :
Framework
“…continental-level ecosystem
characterized by :
• a major climate type
• specific vegetation type
• associated animal & microbial
communities
• major topographic/geological features”
link
 2. Landform or Physiographic
Classification Approach
The Basic Resource in an ecosystem is :
• the soil & its
• associated landforms.
Both play a major role in determining :
• ecosystem structure
• species composition
• productivity
link
 Advantages
1. CHEAP : can map large areas
quickly & easily (remote sensing)
2. PERMANENT : macroclimate,
landforms & soils don’t usually
change quickly
3. SOUND ECOLOGICAL BASIS :
groupings defined by elements that
determine species composition,
structure & productivity
 3. Vegetation Classification
Approach
Most obvious & reliable :
looking for patterns or “repeating units”
• identifiable
• consistent
• combinations of plants
that grow on a particular soil
or site type
• can adapt easily to different scales
 Different Starting Points
1. ecosystem structure & life form
 broad scale
2. dominant tree species
 traditional, especially in U.S. forestry
3. floristic (species) composition
 best developed in Europe, Russia,
Canada
4. plant productivity
 Criteria to define Groups
Need to be :
1. accessible
 easily observed & measured in the field
2. significant
 can consistently distinguish between
communities
3. effective
 expresses environmental differences at
required level of detail
 4. Ecosystem Classification
Approach
2 types :
• focus on vegetation-soil “units” with a
framework of climate and/or
climate/vegetation
• focus on physical environment 1st,
then add vegetation later (ie. Soil
Types)