Browsing by Autor "Javier Loidi"

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A vector map of the world’s terrestrial biotic units: subbiomes, biomes, ecozones and domains
(Pensoft Publishers, 2023) Javier Loidi; Gonzalo Navarro; Denys Vynokurov
A vector map of biotic units encompassing the entire terrestrial area of the earth is provided. It contains a hierarchical system of domains, ecozones, biomes and subbiomes, as a large-scale description of the terrestrial ecosystems. The map can be used for different analysis, including monitoring of climate change.
Advancing the <scp>EcoVeg</scp> approach as a terrestrial ecosystem typology: From global biomes to local plant communities
(Wiley, 2025) Don Faber‐Langendoen; David A. Keith; Javier Loidi; Eileen H. Helmer; Wolfgang Willner; Gonzalo Navarro; John T. Hunter; Changcheng Liu; Reginald Tang Guuroh; Patricio Pliscoff
Abstract The goal of the EcoVeg approach is to fully describe and classify the diversity of the Earth's terrestrial ecosystems based on vegetation and ecological processes. The EcoVeg approach was used to develop the International Vegetation Classification (IVC) and various national classifications, which integrate patterns of vegetation growth form, structure, and floristics with ecological and biogeographic drivers at multiple spatial scales, from global formations to local plant communities. The approach remains unique among terrestrial ecological classifications in providing types at these scales. However, as a terrestrial typology, lack of context with respect to freshwater, marine and subterranean realms limited its clarity. Further, growth forms and structure were limited to readily observable features, which excluded important functional traits. The release by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) of the Global Ecosystem Typology (GET) presented an opportunity to revisit the EcoVeg approach because GET has a conceptually robust, scalable, and spatially explicit functional approach for all of earth's ecosystems (terrestrial, freshwater, marine, subterranean). Here, we briefly introduce the EcoVeg approach and the GET, and then outline a biome‐based revision to EcoVeg and the IVC that builds on the strengths of GET for global terrestrial types and the IVC for continental to local terrestrial types. The outcome is a revised IVC that we rename the ecosystem‐based International Vegetation Classification (eIVC). As with GET, the eIVC has a conceptual foundation based on realms and transitional realms, but it focuses on the terrestrial and transitional terrestrial (wetland) realms. It then fully implements terrestrial biome concepts across all the upper levels based on the integration of vegetation with global ecosystem processes and properties. Interoperable compatibility with GET is reflected in the fact that 84% of the global ecosystem types are largely equivalent, which facilitates the linkage of GET with the continental to local ecosystem types of the eIVC. The revisions that now form the eIVC will enhance collaborative development of ecosystem types across the globe and provide more robust opportunities for co‐application of the eIVC and GET in the terrestrial realm for management, conservation, and restoration.
Climatic definitions of the world’s terrestrial biomes
(Pensoft Publishers, 2022) Javier Loidi; Gonzalo Navarro; Denys Vynokurov
Question : Is it feasible to establish a classification of large biotic units of the world related to climatic types? Study area : The world. Methods : A total of 616 localities have been selected, their climatic parameters calculated and subjected to a PCA. The climatic characterization of biomes and subbiomes has been completed after data analysis. Results : A hierarchical classification is proposed for the biotic units within four main domains: Cryocratic, Mesocratic, Xerocratic and Thermocratic, divided into 7 ecozones, 9 biomes and 20 subbiomes linked to climatically defined territories. Most of the units are intercontinental. The mountains represent an abbreviated version of the latitudinal zonation and the altitudinal belts are related to the corresponding units of the lowlands. For the bioclimatic units, a parallel classification is proposed to fit with that of the biotic units: 4 Macrobioclimates and 10 bioclimates. Furthermore, 7 ombrotypes and 7 thermotypes are recognized to frame the climatic variation within each climatic territory due to terrain ruggedness, particularly in relation to large or medium sized mountains. Conclusions : The southern hemisphere is substantially more oceanic than the northern hemisphere. This is due to the distribution of the land masses and the modifying effect they have on the flow of air and marine currents. As a result, there is one biome and one subbiome exclusively found in the northern hemisphere (6. Biome of the steppe, and 5.b Continental scrub and woodlands subbiome) and two others which are almost confined to it (2. Biome of the boreal forest, and 3. Biome of the temperate deciduous forests). The 7. Biome of the deserts and 5. Biome of the temperate aridiestival evergreen forests and shrublands occur on the western side of the continents and expand in their interior favoured by rain shadow and continentality effects. Taxonomic reference : The Plant List (2013). Abbreviations : ITCZ = Inter Tropical Convergence Zone; NH = Northern Hemisphere; PCA = Principal Component Analysis; SH = Southern Hemisphere.