Life zone
An ecological classification system based on climate and vegetation
This article is about the ecological classification system. For other uses, see Life zone (disambiguation).
Life zones are a system of biogeographic classification that categorizes regions of the Earth's surface based on their climate and vegetation. This concept was first developed by C. Hart Merriam in 1898 and later expanded by Leslie Holdridge in 1947. Life zones are used to understand the distribution of ecosystems and biodiversity across different altitudes and latitudes.
Concept[edit | edit source]
The concept of life zones is based on the observation that similar climatic conditions produce similar types of vegetation and ecosystems, regardless of their geographic location. This allows for the classification of regions into distinct zones that share common ecological characteristics.
Merriam's Life Zones[edit | edit source]
C. Hart Merriam originally proposed the concept of life zones to describe the distribution of flora and fauna in the United States. He identified several zones based on temperature and precipitation patterns, such as the Arctic zone, Boreal zone, and Tropical zone.
Holdridge's Life Zones[edit | edit source]
Leslie Holdridge expanded on Merriam's work by developing a more detailed system that incorporates biotemperature, annual precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration. Holdridge's life zone system is represented in a triangular diagram, which categorizes regions into various zones such as tropical rainforest, desert, and tundra.
Classification[edit | edit source]
Life zones are classified based on a combination of climatic factors, including:
These factors influence the types of vegetation and animal life that can thrive in a particular zone.
Applications[edit | edit source]
Life zones are used in various fields, including ecology, conservation biology, and climate science. They help scientists and policymakers understand the potential impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Related pages[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
