1. Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification
Assigned Reading:
Chapter 2: Concepts in Ecosystems of British Columbia
Vegetation, soil, climate

2. The Two Components of BEC
Site Level
Climate Level

3. The Third Component: Time
Climatic Climax
Shrub-herb (Pioneer)
Pole-sapling (Young Seral)
Young Forest (Mature Seral)
Mature forest (Y. Climax)
Old growth (M. Climax)
Fireweed - Red raspberry
Pl -
Thimbleberry
Pl - Western hemlock
CwHw - Oak fern
Seral Stage
Seral plant association (common name)
Site association
Subhygric site in CWH zone

4. Ecoregion and Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classifications
REGIONAL CLASSIFICATION
ZONAL CLASSIFICATION
SITE CLASSIFICATION
Ecodomain
Ecodivision
Ecoprovince
Ecoregion
Ecosection
Biogeoclimatic Zone
Biogeoclimatic Subzone
Biogeoclimatic Variant
Site Association
Site Series
Site Type
4 Koppen climate
3 Ecozones
9 Ecoprovinces
30 Ecoregions
Many Ecosections

5. Climate level
Ecodomain uses Koppen’s classification of climate (4 climatic regions based on temperature and precipitation)
Ecodivisions uses Canadian ecozones (3 divisions based on climate and physiography)
Ecoprovince (10 provinces based on physiography)
Ecoregion (approx. 43, equivalent to BEC zones, but more physiographically located)
Biogeoclimatic zones (13 zones based on climate and vegetation)

6. Ecodomain: Köppen Climate Classification (Temperature, Precipitation)
E=Polar
T=Tropical
D=Humid microthermal (rainy, snowy, cold interior)
BS=Dry semi-arid microthermal (dry interior)
C=humid mesothermal (coast)

7. Ecodivisions: Canada’s Ecozones (biomes) Based on climate and physiography

8. Ecoprovinces and Ecoregions: Regional Physiography
Ecoprovinces in BC
Coast Mountains and Islands
Fraser Delta
Southern Interior Plateau
Central Plateau
North-Central Plateau
Northern Plateau
Northern Plains
Central Plains
Columbia Mountains
Columbia Highlands Ecoregion

9. Ecoregion and Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classifications
REGIONAL CLASSIFICATION
ZONAL CLASSIFICATION
SITE CLASSIFICATION
Ecodomain
Ecodivision
Ecoprovince
Ecoregion
Ecosection
Biogeoclimatic Zone
Biogeoclimatic Subzone
Biogeoclimatic Variant
Site Association
Site Series
Site Type
4 Koppen climate
3 Ecozones
9 Ecoprovinces
43 Ecoregions
114 Ecosections

10. Biogeoclimatic Zone Definition
A large geographic area with a broadly homogenous macroclimate
Characterized by one or more climax tree species
Named after major climax tree species
7.7

11. Coastal Western Hemlock
Mountain Hemlock
Coastal Douglas-fir
Alpine Tundra
Bunchgrass
Ponderosa Pine
Interior Douglas-fir
Montane Spruce
Interior Cedar-Hemlock
Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir
Sub-boreal pine-spruce
Sub-boreal Spruce
Spruce-Willow-Birch
Boreal White &
Black Spruce

12. Climate Level Hierarchy
Climate Classification
Biogeoclimatic zone
Biogeoclimatic subzone
Biogeoclimatic variant
Biogeoclimatic phase
7.6

13. Biogeoclimatic Subzone Definition
A geographic area with a uniform regional climate
Characterized by the same distinct climax vegetation on midslope (zonal) sites
Relatively uniform mean temperature and precipitation
Working level of climatic classification
7.8

14. Biogeoclimatic Variant
Areas that are slightly drier, wetter, snowier, warmer or colder within a subzone
Variants are assigned numbers
Also named based on geographic area
7.9

15. Climate Level ‘Relief’ Diagram
ESSFx
ESSFx
ICHx
ICHx
Regional Level

16. Biogeoclimatic Phase
Accounts for variation in regional climate from local relief
Helpful for management interpretations
E.g., cold air ponding, calcareous soils, grasslands
7.9

17. Naming of Biogeoclimatic Units
ZONE yz y z
SUBZONE
Interior Zones
Coastal Zones
Precipitation regime
Temperature regime
Continentality
x = very dry (xeric)
h = hot
h = hypermaritime
d = dry
w = warm
m = maritime
m = moist
m = mild
s = submaritime
w = wet
k = cool
v = very wet
c = cold
v = very cold
7.11

18. Landscape Profile
6.1

19. Zonal Site The site that best reflects the regional climate
Characteristics
flat to moderate slopes
middle slope positions that neither shed nor receive an excess of water and nutrients (inputs balance outputs)
medium soil texture (loam)
medium nutrient regime
moderately well-drained soils
no root restricting layers
5.2

20. Relationship Between a Zonal Site and the Climate Level of BEC
Climate Classification
Biogeoclimatic zone
Biogeoclimatic subzone
Zonal
Site
Biogeoclimatic variant
Biogeoclimatic phase

21. The effect of regional climate & relief on BEC variants
Kamloops Forest Region S
N aspect

22. Identifying BEC variants using key
Kamloops Forest Region

23. Differentiated table for lower elevation coastal subzones and variants

24. Hw Hw-flat moss CWHdm/01 (medium, zonal) Coniferous forest
Coastal coniferous forest
Coastal Western Hemlock forest
Dry Maritime CWH forest Hw
Hw-flat moss
CWHdm/01 (medium, zonal)

25. Site Level Hierarchy Site Classification Site association Site series
Site phase
7.15

26. Site Series Definition
All sites capable of producing the same mature or climax plant communities within a biogeoclimatic subzone or variant
Most commonly used category for field use
7.16

27. Edatopic Grid
6.8

28. Edatopic Grid
Relative soil moisture regime classes
6.8

29. Edatopic Grid
Relationship between site properties and soil nutrient regime classes

30. Site Series CWHdm=subzone=plant association
CHHdm/01=site series=plant subassociation

31. Naming of Site Units ICHmw2 /01 Biogeoclimatic unit Site series
HwCw - Falsebox - Feathermoss

32. Site Level Hierarchy Site Classification Site association Site series
Site phase

33. Site Association Definition
All sites capable of producing similar near climax vegetation in one or more biogeoclimatic units
More variable that site series; therefore less predictable for management application
eg. HwCw - Falsebox - Feathermoss

34. Site Association, example
Pl=lodgepole pine
Fd=Douglas-fir
Hw=western hemlock
Cw=western redcedar
Ss=Sitka spruce
Yc=Alaska yellow cedar
Site Association, example
Subzone: annual precipitation
CHWdm
CWHmm
CHWwh
Xeric
Fd, Pl
Hw, Fd
Hw, Cw
Mesic
Ss, Hw, Cw
Hygric
Cw, Yc
Site: absolute soil moisture regime

35. Site Phase Definition
Subdivides site series based on criteria which might be important for management interpretations, such as coarse and fine textured soils, etc.