eco-region
Defined ecological area
An eco-region is a large area defined by its distinctive combination of climate, landforms, soil, and plant and animal communities.
Scientists and conservationists use eco-regions to study and protect ecosystems that share similar environmental characteristics, regardless of political boundaries.
The Pacific Northwest temperate rainforest is a distinct eco-region.
The term is often written as one word: ecoregion.
Relating to land
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
- marineRelating to the sea
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
- forestTree-dense ecosystem
grassland · desert · tundra · wetland · mangrove · coral reef · savanna · chaparral
Finest taxonomic rank
- endemicNative to one area
- nativeOriginating from a place
- floraPlants of a region
- faunaAnimal life collectively
richness · diversity · biota · keystone species · specialist · generalist · gene pool · population
Major ecological community
- biogeographicOf life's global distribution
- landmassContinuous area of ground
- latitudeGeographic or personal freedom
- longitudeEast-west angular distance
altitude · topography · terrain · continental · basin · watershed · boundary · zone
Measured heat intensity
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- seasonalityDependence on annual cycles
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
- microclimateLocalized atmospheric zone
arid · semiarid · temperate · tropical · polar · subtropical · monsoon · drought
Conserved natural zone
- reserveSupply kept back
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- corridorEnclosed connecting walkway
- buffer zoneNeutral area between rivals
preservation · restoration · stewardship · management · endangered · threatened · habitat loss · fragmentation
Interconnected predator-prey relationships
- nicheRecessed wall space
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- successionFollowing in order
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
energy flow · carrying capacity · disturbance · resilience · stability · interaction · interdependence · functioning
terrestrial
Relating to land
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
- marineRelating to the sea
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
forest · grassland · desert · tundra · wetland · mangrove · coral reef · savanna · chaparral · taiga
species
Finest taxonomic rank
fauna · richness · diversity · biota · keystone species · specialist · generalist · gene pool · population · community
biome
Major ecological community
- biogeographicOf life's global distribution
- landmassContinuous area of ground
- latitudeGeographic or personal freedom
longitude · altitude · topography · terrain · continental · basin · watershed · boundary · zone · province
temperature
Measured heat intensity
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- seasonalityDependence on annual cycles
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
microclimate · arid · semiarid · temperate · tropical · polar · subtropical · monsoon · drought · rainfall
protected area
Conserved natural zone
buffer zone · preservation · restoration · stewardship · management · endangered · threatened · habitat loss · fragmentation · connectivity
food web
Interconnected predator-prey relationships
- nicheRecessed wall space
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- successionFollowing in order
decomposition · energy flow · carrying capacity · disturbance · resilience · stability · interaction · interdependence · functioning · services
eco-regionpolitical boundary
Edge of governmental jurisdiction
nation-state · administrative district · electoral district · county · country
eco-regionurban sprawl
Uncontrolled peripheral development
industrial zone · built environment · concrete jungle · zoning district · commercial district
region, economy, regional, ecology, ecological, ecosystem, eco, ecologist, regionally