Abstract
Scale implies a certain level of perceived detail. Suppose, for example, that we carefully examine an area of intermixed grassland and pine forest. At one scale, the grassland and the stand of pine each appear spatially homogeneous and look uniform. Yet linkages of energy and material exist between these ecosystems. Having determined these linkages, we intellectually combine the locationally separate systems into a new entity of higher order and greater size. These larger systems represent patterns or associations of linked smaller ecosystems.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsBibliography
Bailey, R.G. 1976. Ecoregions of the United States. Ogden, UT: USDA Forest Service. Intermountain Region. 1:7,500,000; colored.
Bailey, R.G. 1981. Integrated approaches to classifying land as ecosystems. In: P. Laban (ed.). Proceedings of the workshop on land evaluation for forestry. November 10–14, 1980. Wageningen, The Netherlands. Wageningen: International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement. pp. 95–109.
Bailey, R.G. 1983. Delineation of ecosystem regions. Environmental Management. 7: 365–373.
Bailey, R.G. 1985. The factor of scale in ecosystem mapping. Environmental Management. 9: 271–276.
Bailey, R.G. 1987. Suggested hierarchy of criteria for multi-scale ecosystem mapping. Landscape and Urban Planning. 14: 313–319.
Bailey, R.G. 1988a. Ecogeographic analysis: a guide to the ecological division of land for resource management. Misc. Publ. No. 1465. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service. 16p.
Bailey, R.G. 1989. Explanatory supplement to ecoregions map of the continents. Environmental Conservation. 16: 307–309, with separate map at 1:30,000,000.
Bailey, R.G.; Cushwa, C.T. 1981. Ecoregions of North America. FWS/OBS-81/29. Washington, DC: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1:12,000,000; colored.
Bailey, R.G.; Avers, P.E.; King, T.; McNab, W.H. (eds.). 1994. Ecoregions and subregions of the United States. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service. 1:7,500,000; colored with supplementary table of map unit descriptions, compiled and edited by W.H. McNab and R.G. Bailey.
Cleland, D.T.; Freeouf, J.A.; Keys, Jr., J.E.; Nowacki, G.J.; et al. 2005. Map. Ecological subregions: sections and subsections of the conterminous United States. CD-ROM. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service. Scale 1:3,500,000. Available: http://svinetfc4.fs.fed.us/research/section/index.html
ECOMAP. 1993. National hierarchical framework of ecological units. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service. 20p.
Klijn, F.; Udo de Haes, H.A. 1994. A hierarchical approach to ecosystems and its applications for ecological land classification. Landscape Ecology. 9: 89–104.
Miller, D.H. 1978. The factor of scale: ecosystem, landscape mosaic, and region. In: K.A. Hammond, G. Macinko, and W.B. Fairchild (eds.). Sourcebook on the environment. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 63–88.
Nesser, J.A.; Ford, G.L.; Maynard, C.L.; Page-Dumroese, D.S. 1997. Ecological units of the Northern Region: subsections. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-369. Ogden, UT: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 88p.
Rowe, J.S.; Sheard, J.W. 1981. Ecological land classification: a survey approach. Environmental Management. 5: 451–464.
Salwasser, H. 1990. Conserving biological diversity: a perspective on scope and approach. Forest Ecology and Management. 35: 79–90.
Zonneveld, I.S. 1972. Land evaluation and land(scape) science. Use of aerial photographs in geography and geomorphology. ITC textbook of photointerpretation. vol. VII. Enschede, The Netherlands: International Training Centre for Aerial Survey. 106p.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bailey, R.G. (2009). Scale of Ecosystem Units. In: Ecosystem Geography. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-89516-1_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-89516-1_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-89515-4
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-89516-1
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)