Ecological Land Classification - Hierarchy of Classification Levels in Ecology Compared To Other Fields

Hierarchy of Classification Levels in Ecology Compared To Other Fields

This classification table shows the parallel classification terms in similar spatial scales used in the study of the biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems and the Earth.

From largest at top to the smallest at bottom the classification levels are:
CLASSIFICATION LEVELS IN ECOLOGY COMPARED TO OTHER FIELDS
Biotic Abiotic
ECOLOGY BIOGEOGRAPHY ZOOGEOGRAPHY PHYTOGEOGRAPHY PHYSIOGRAPHY GEOLOGY PEDOLOGY
ecosphere biosphere zoosphere phytosphere physiosphere geosphere pedosphere
ecozone biome zoozone (zoogeographic region) floral kingdom
ecoprovince bioprovince zooprovince floral province - phytochorion geoprovince
ecoregion bioregion zooregion floral region - floristic province physioregion georegion pedoregion
ecodistrict biodistrict
ecosection biosection
ecosite biosite
ecotope (ecosystem sensu stricto?) biotope‡ zootope‡ phytotope‡ physiotope geotope‡ pedotope
ecoelement bioelement geoelement
Sources: ‡ These words are all loanwords from German science.

Read more about this topic:  Ecological Land Classification

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