Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification Vegetation, soil, climate Assigned Reading: Chapter 2: Concepts in Ecosystems of British Columbia
Dec 21, 2015
BiogeoclimaticEcosystem Classification
Vegetation, soil, climate
Assigned Reading:Chapter 2: Concepts in Ecosystems of British Columbia
The Third Component: Time
Shrub-herb(Pioneer)
Pole-sapling(Young Seral)
Young Forest (Mature Seral)
Mature forest (Y. Climax)
Old growth(M. Climax)
Fireweed -Red raspberry
Pl -Thimbleberry
Pl -Westernhemlock
CwHw -Oak fern
CwHw - Oak fern
SeralStage
Seral plantassociation(common name)
Siteassociation
Climatic Climax
Subhygric site in CWH zone
Ecoregion and Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classifications
REGIONALCLASSIFICATION
ZONALCLASSIFICATION
SITECLASSIFICATION
Ecodomain
Ecodivision
Ecoprovince
Ecoregion
Ecosection
Biogeoclimatic Zone
Biogeoclimatic Subzone
Biogeoclimatic Variant
Site Association
Site Series
Site Type
4 Koppen climate
3 Ecozones
9 Ecoprovinces
30 Ecoregions
Many Ecosections
Climate level Ecodomain uses Koppen’s classification of climate (4
climatic regions based on temperature and precipitation) Ecodivisions uses Canadian ecozones (3 divisions based
on climate and physiography) Ecoprovince (10 provinces based on physiography) Ecoregion (approx. 43, equivalent to BEC zones, but
more physiographically located) Biogeoclimatic zones (13 zones based on climate and
vegetation)
Ecodomain: Köppen Climate Classification(Temperature, Precipitation)
E=PolarT=TropicalD=Humid microthermal (rainy, snowy, cold interior)BS=Dry semi-arid microthermal (dry interior)C=humid mesothermal (coast)
Ecoprovinces and Ecoregions: Regional Physiography
Coast Mountains and IslandsFraser DeltaSouthern Interior PlateauCentral PlateauNorth-Central PlateauNorthern PlateauNorthern PlainsCentral PlainsColumbia Mountains
Columbia Highlands Ecoregion
Ecoprovinces in BC
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/ecology/ecoregions/
Ecoregion and Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classifications
REGIONALCLASSIFICATION
ZONALCLASSIFICATION
SITECLASSIFICATION
Ecodomain
Ecodivision
Ecoprovince
Ecoregion
Ecosection
Biogeoclimatic Zone
Biogeoclimatic Subzone
Biogeoclimatic Variant
Site Association
Site Series
Site Type
4 Koppen climate
3 Ecozones
9 Ecoprovinces
43 Ecoregions
114 Ecosections
Biogeoclimatic Zone Definition
A large geographic area with a broadly homogenous macroclimate
Characterized by one or more climax tree species
Named after major climax tree species
7.7
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/becweb/
Coastal Western Hemlock
Mountain Hemlock
Coastal Douglas-fir
Alpine Tundra
Bunchgrass
Ponderosa Pine
Montane Spruce
Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir
Interior Douglas-fir
Interior Cedar-Hemlock
Sub-boreal pine-spruce
Sub-boreal Spruce
Spruce-Willow-Birch
Boreal White &Black Spruce
Climate Level Hierarchy
Climate Classification
Biogeoclimatic zone
Biogeoclimatic subzone
Biogeoclimatic variant
Biogeoclimatic phase
7.6
Biogeoclimatic Subzone Definition
A geographic area with a uniform regional climate
Characterized by the same distinct climax vegetation on midslope (zonal) sites
Relatively uniform mean temperature and precipitation
Working level of climatic classification
7.8
Biogeoclimatic Variant
Areas that are slightly drier, wetter, snowier, warmer or colder within a subzone
Variants are assigned numbers Also named based on geographic area
7.9
Biogeoclimatic Phase
Accounts for variation in regional climate from local relief
Helpful for management interpretations
E.g., cold air ponding, calcareous soils, grasslands
7.9
Naming of Biogeoclimatic Units
7.11
ZONE yz SUBZONE
Precipitation regime
x = very dry (xeric)
d = dry
m = moist
w = wet
v = very wet
Interior Zones
Temperature regime
h = hot
w = warm
m = mild
k = cool
c = cold
v = very cold
Coastal Zones
Continentality
h = hypermaritime
m = maritime
s = submaritime
y z
Zonal Site The site that best reflects the regional climate Characteristics
– flat to moderate slopes
– middle slope positions that neither shed nor receive an excess of water and nutrients (inputs balance outputs)
– medium soil texture (loam)
– medium nutrient regime
– moderately well-drained soils
– no root restricting layers
5.2
Relationship Between a Zonal Site and the Climate Level of BEC
Climate Classification
Biogeoclimatic zone
Biogeoclimatic subzone
Biogeoclimatic variant
Biogeoclimatic phase
ZonalSite
Coniferous forestCoastal coniferous forest
Coastal Western Hemlock forestDry Maritime CWH forest
HwHw-flat mossCWHdm/01 (medium, zonal)
Site Series Definition All sites capable of producing the same mature or
climax plant communities within a biogeoclimatic subzone or variant
Most commonly used category for field use
7.16
Site Association Definition
All sites capable of producing similar near climax vegetation in one or more biogeoclimatic units
More variable that site series; therefore less predictable for management application
eg. HwCw - Falsebox - Feathermoss
Site Association, example
CHWdm CWHmm CHWwh
Xeric Fd, Pl Hw, Fd Hw, Cw
Mesic Hw, Fd Hw, Cw Ss, Hw, Cw
Hygric Hw, Cw Ss, Hw, Cw Cw, Yc
Subzone: annual precipitation
Sit
e: a
bsol
ute
soil
moi
stur
e re
gim
ePl=lodgepole pineFd=Douglas-firHw=western hemlockCw=western redcedarSs=Sitka spruceYc=Alaska yellow cedar