Ecological Mapping

Ecological maps are playing an increasing role in land management and planning. Their purpose is to display units of land of various sizes that reflect differences in response to management and resource production capability. An ecological map shows an area divided into ecosystems—that is, areas within which there are associations of interacting biotic and abiotic features. How these features are associated or integrated can be shown at two general levels. One level shows the integration within the local level, and another shows how the local area is integrated and linked with other areas across the landscape to form larger systems. All these areas are ecosystems, albeit at different scales or relative sizes.

Subdivision of land into systems of different sizes is needed for several reasons. ...