Managing Ecosystems
Ecosystems are composed of varied habitats (microhabitat to ecoregion). Ecosystem classification is essential for managing and conserving living natural resources and their habitats to prevent extinction of vulnerable species and to develop effective management programs. This requires reliable data to ensure we understand the individual organisms, the variety of habitats present, the interactions happening within these, plus the energy flows and nutrient cycles. The process of classifying any ecosystem enables managers/decision makers to make decisions about its management.
When there is agreement about the classification, this allows stakeholders to make decisions to serve a wide range of values.
Classification helps to support effective management of activities.
Classification of ecosystems helps to support understanding of their unique interactions and therefore the effect of specific human impacts. This can lead to longer term resilience.
You will be given different information, or different pieces of data to analyse to classify an ecosystem.
Holdridge Lifezone Classification System
Based on average annual rainfall, biotemperature, evapotranspiration rate, latitude and humidity.
A field biologist is in the process of classifying an ecosystem that has the following characteristics: Mean annual biotemperature: 4oC; Annual precipitation: 180mm; Potential evapotranspiration ratio (PER): 1.20. Identify the ecosystem from the Holdridge life zone system.
Specht’s Classification System
Based on the identification of the lifeform of the tallest stratum, alongside the height and/or type of vegetation and the determination of the projective foliage cover.
A field researcher noted the following characteristics for a surveyed area. ‘Main vegetation: Eucalyptus trees 5-10 m in height. Average transects canopy cover 39%’. Use Specht’s classification table to classify the plant community that she is in.
European Nature Information (EUNIS) System
The EUNIS habitat classification is a comprehensive pan-European system to facilitate the harmonised description and collection of data across Europe through the use of criteria for habitat identification. The classification is hierarchical and covers all types of habitats from natural to artificial, from terrestrial to freshwater and marine.
Australian National Aquatic Ecosystem (ANAE) System
The ANAE consists of three levels which are designed to capture the broad spatial patterns and ecological diversity of aquatic ecosystems and habitat types