Ecosystem Geography

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Robert G. Bailey

   Pages 1-23

3. Scale of Ecosystem Units

   • Robert G. Bailey

   Pages 25-28

4. The Question of Boundary Criteria

   • Robert G. Bailey

   Pages 29-40

5. Role of Climate in Ecosystem Differentiation

   • Robert G. Bailey

   Pages 41-52

6. Macroscale: Macroclimatic Differentiation (Ecoregions)

   • Robert G. Bailey

   Pages 53-81

7. Ecoclimatic Zones of the Earth

   • Robert G. Bailey

   Pages 83-92

8. Ecoregions of the United States

   • Robert G. Bailey

   Pages 93-114

9. Ecoregion Redistribution Under Climate Change

   • Robert G. Bailey

   Pages 115-125

10. Mesoscale: Landform Differentiation (Landscape Mosaics)

    • Robert G. Bailey

    Pages 127-144

11. Microscale: Edaphic-Topoclimatic Differentiation (Sites)

    • Robert G. Bailey

    Pages 145-168

12. Applications of Ecosystem Geography

    • Robert G. Bailey

    Pages 169-193

13. Summary and Conclusions

    • Robert G. Bailey

    Pages 195-201

14. Back Matter

    Pages 203-251

    PDF

and management is presently undergoing enormous change: away L from managing single resources to managing ecosystems. From f- est to tundra, to desert, to steppe, the world’s ecosystems vary vastly. To manage them effectively we need to understand their geographic d- tribution better. We need to do this at various levels of detail because ecosystems exist at multiple scales in a hierarchy, from regional to local. Maps are needed to display ecosystem distribution and hierarchy. Until now, information on de?ning ecosystem boundaries has been scarce. This book is the ?rst to clarify and systematize the underlying principles for their mapping. It presents a synthesis of the knowledge in this ?eld and provides a guide to its use. I recommend this book to all who are involved in the study and m- agement of ecosystems. Chief, USDA Forest Service Jack Ward Thomas v Preface to the Second Edition his book outlines a system that organizes the Earth into a hierarchy T of increasingly ?ner-scale ecosystems that can serve as a consistent framework for ecological analysis and management. The system consists of a three-level hierarchy of nested ecosystem units and their associated mapping criteria. Delineation of units involves identifying the envir- mental factors controlling the spatial geography of ecosystems at va- ous levels and establishing boundaries where these factors change s- ni?cantly. Macroscale units (ecoregions) are climatically controlled and delineated as Köppen–Trewartha climate zones.

• Controlling
• climate change
• ecoregion
• ecosystem
• ecosystem processes
• ecosystems
• environment
• geography
• mapping
• landscape/regional and urban planning

““Ecosystem Geography” is the most clearly written and content-packed book I’ve ever read. Let me state that again: it is the most clearly written technical book I’ve ever read. I really admire Bob a lot. The latest edition of his book, “Ecoregions,” has the simplest, best summary of climate change I’ve seen.” (David D. Diamond, Director, Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership (MoRAP), University of Missouri)

• USDA Forest Service, Fort Collins, USA

  Robert G. Bailey

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