Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification Of Non Forested Ecosystems In British Columbia

Non-forested ecosystems are an important part of British Columbias landscape and biological diversity. Plant community composition and vegetation structure of these ecosystems stand in contrast to the forests that are typical of much of British Columbia. These non-forested habitats supply critical life history requirements for many plant and animal species.

Descriptions, maps, illustrations and tables of British Columbia's biogeoclimatic zones, as well as an overview of how the biogeoclimatic zone system was developed.

"This guide briefly outlines the principles and methods of the classification system, stressing the two primary areas of emphasis within the classification, the biogeoclimatic (zones, subzones) and the ecosystematic (ecosystem association and their phases and variations). It summarizes the environmental characteristics of the Sub-Boreal Spruce Biogeoclimatic Zone (SBS) and three of its subzones, the SBSa or "pine - spruce" subzone, the SBSd or "spruce" subzone, and the SBSe or "subalpine fir" subzone. The classification of the SBSd and e at the ecosystematic level is then presented in detail."

"This field guide presents site classification and identification information for ecosystems of the south-central Columbia Mountains in southeast British Columbia. This field guide replaces Land Management Handbook 20 (Braumandl and Curran 1992) and its supplement (Braumandl and Dykstra 2005) and Land Management Handbook 23 (Lloyd et al. 1990) for all geographic areas covered by the new field guide."--Publisher's website.

With sixty descriptive maps and accompanying text, The Biodiversity Atlas of British Columbia provides a broad overview of the province?s range of terrestrial and freshwater biological diversity. Bringing together data from numerous sources summarized in map form, the Atlas provides a window to B.C.?s diverse ecosystems, the species that live in them, and the elements of British Columbia?s biodiversity that make it globally significant. The Atlas also presents a visual perspective of a number of human-induced threats, including climate change, affecting biodiversity in B.C. today. The Atlas is designed to serve as a companion document to Taking Nature?s Pulse: The Status of Biodiversity in British Columbia ? a comprehensive scientific assessment of biodiversity in the province. Both the Atlas and Taking Nature?s Pulse are projects of Biodiversity BC, a partnership of conservation groups and government agencies.

The Prince Rupert Forest Region occupies somewhat more than one-quarter of the land area of British Columbia and encompasses a broad spectrum of physiographic and climatic units. This project identified the major known components of terrestrial biological diversity and the major information gaps, emphasizing the ecosystem and species diversity in forested areas. To produce an ecosystem synopsis, the wildlife habitat classification was correlated with the biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification to facilitate future cross-referencing. Vascular plant diversity was not specifically examined other than for rare and endangered species. Vertebrates were documented within forested subzones and variants to identify species diversity, determine habitat affinities of species of interest, and develop possible management guilds and management indicator species for forestry management. The taxonomy, abundance, and distribution of both fungi and invertebrates in the region were also investigated. Marine and freshwater species were excluded.