Ecological Land Classification - Types

Types

Many different lists and ecological land classification schemes have been developed.

• Biogeography - Biogeographical provinces take into account both flora and fauna.
• Phytogeography - from Greek words phyto = plant and geography meaning also distribution, concerned with the geographic distribution of plant species.
• Botany - botanists have identified floristic provinces based on flora-plant communities
• Zoology - zoologists have identified zoogeographic provinces based on faunal communities.
• Conservation - approximating ecosystem capacity and potentials.
• Geology and Pedology (soil study) - the physical matter and energy that constitute the Earth.

In Canada ecological land classification schemes are commonly used. Provincial authorities have adopted methods to classify ecosystems within various ecoregions of the province. Ontario is one such province that uses an extensive method to define ecological units. Improvements in hand held technology have allowed for more efficient collection of vegetation and physiological data in the field, such as with the ELC eTool.