ecoregions

An ecoregion is a geographically defined area that contains a distinct assemblage of natural communities and species whose distribution is shaped by climate, geology, and ecological processes. Boundaries are typically drawn to reflect ecological patterns rather than political borders, and they may cross several jurisdictions. Ecoregions are used as a framework in biodiversity assessment, conservation planning, and ecological research.

Global schemes classify ecoregions at different scales. Terrestrial ecoregions are summarized in frameworks such as Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World (TEOW) and Bailey’s ecoregions, while the World Wildlife Fund maintains a global ecoregion framework that informs protected areas and the Global 200. Freshwater ecoregions (FEOW) and marine ecoregions (MEOW) extend the concept to rivers, lakes, and seas, recognizing distinct communities in different water bodies.

Ecoregions are employed to map biodiversity patterns, prioritize conservation investments, and model responses to climate change and other stressors. They provide planning units that integrate species distributions, habitat types, and ecological processes. Boundaries are approximate and may be refined with new data; high heterogeneity within an ecoregion can limit its usefulness for fine-grained management.

See also: biogeography, ecosystem classification, bioregion, conservation planning.