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System Title

4.3 Bio-climatic Zones (e.g. Meurk)

Keywords Bioclimatic zones; biogeography; temperature, moisture; vegetation
Description

This system defines a broad set of biogeographic zones defined primarily on temperature, and secondly on moisture balance. The zones correspond with potential vegetation boundaries. Existing vegetation boundaries are not used because, while they loosely reflect contemporary climate, other factors can significantly modify the current distribution of vegetation. These factors include: climate history; chance establishment; genetic potential of local species; terrain instability; intrazonal soils and biotic disturbance.

This system adapts the continental focus of the international literature on bioclimatic zones to the oceanic islands of New Zealand. Changes are needed to reflect the greater humidity, cloudiness and windiness of oceanic climates.

Some New Zealand applications of bioclimatic zones have used species indicative of particular climatic conditions (usually temperature) or altitude to define the zones at a local or regional level.
Original Purpose To facilitate valid global comparisons for ecological data.
Status

The New Zealand application of bioclimatic zones has developed through an iterative process. Meurk's paper was produced in 1984.

Organisation Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Jurisdiction New Zealand
Address Box 69
Lincoln
Phone +64 3 325 6700
Fax +64 3 325 2418
Email: MeurkC@landcare.cri.nz
Available format Published paper
Access Freely available
Geographical coverage New Zealand

 

Operational Specifications

  
Scale of Operation Broad scale greater than 1:250,000
GIS Compatibility Yes
Relationship between levels in the classification system No hierarchy
Contributing databases/ classification systems

The original version by Meurk uses:

1. Mean temperature of the warmest month.
2. Hydrological balance. This involves extrapolating reported or inferred New Zealand actual evapotranspiration rates for different environments.

Contributing database GIS compatibility N/A
Relationship with other classification systems and spatial frameworks. Often used in association with other frameworks (e.g. ecological regions and districts) and various ecological unit classification systems (e.g. Atkinson's vegetation classification system). A modified form is part of the ecological classification system for the PNA Programme.
Relationship with other databases N/A

 

Current and emerging use for:

  
Assisting with determining historic state/ baseline At a broad scale for terrestrial biodiversity.
Assisting with determining current state/ baseline At a broad scale for terrestrial biodiversity.
Asssisting with scenario building and modelling of possible futures At a broad scale for terrestrial biodiversity.
Risk Assesment Limited
Monitoring site selection and sample design Useful for terrestrial biodiversity; could be useful for land.
Aggregating and reporting data locally, regionally and/or nationally Could be possible at a broad scale for terrestrial biodiversity provided that the basis for determining bioclimatic zones in each region/district is the same/directly comparable.

Current use (who,level,why)

Bioclimatic zones are used in a variety of ecological surveys throughout New Zealand. They are often used in association with other frameworks and/or ecological unit classification systems. Mapping is usually at a broad scale.

User friendliness/public and decision maker understanding

The concept of bioclimatic zones is easy to understand and the names of the zones are self explanatory.

Framework Strengths

Current limitations of framework

References

Meurk,C.D. 1984. Bioclimatic zones for the Antipodes and beyond? New Zealand Journal of Ecology 7: 175-181.