New Zealand ecoregions
The ecoregions of New Zealand are divided into different numbers of ecoregions depending on the type of classification.
Nine ecoregions
In a simplified classification that in 2013 the scientist Matt McGlone from the Institute Landcare Research was made can Zealand are roughly classified into nine different ecoregions divided, two of which are on the North Island , two on the South Island , two on two islands and a further three are outside the two main islands.
- North island
- The northern part of the North Island, from the North Cape on the northern tip of the island down to Kawhia Harbor and along the coast to the East Cape to the east .
- The Volcanic Plateau , in the middle of the North Island, comprising the entire volcanically active area with the Ruapehu , Ngauruhoe , Tongariro and Taranaki volcanoes and the Taupo Volcanic Zone .
- South island
- Central Otago , the highlands in the Otago region
- North and South Island
- The New Zealand Alps and the axially running mountain ranges of the North Island
- Regions facing the wind, the west coasts of both islands exposed to the westerly winds
- Regions turned away from the wind, the central regions and the east coasts protected from the westerly winds
- Outside the North and South Island
- The northern archipelagos, such as the Kermadec Islands , Solander Islands and Three Kings Islands .
- The Chatham Islands
- The southern archipelagos, such as the Antipodes Islands , Auckland Islands , Bounty Islands , Snares Islands and Campbell Island .
Matt McGlone also stated at the time, without citing the source, that the number and geographical delimitation of the ecoregions can vary depending on the type of classifications. There should be a classification in which New Zealand is divided into 20 different ecoregions and in another up to 85 different ecoregions are defined.
25 ecoregions
In a dissertation by Jon S. Harding from 1994, the author distinguishes between thirteen ecoregions on the North Island and twelve on the South Island. He defined the regions on the basis of the following criteria: climatic region, precipitation, relief, vegetation and soil properties.
- North island
- Northern Hill Country
- Coromandel Peninsula
- Hauraki Plains
- Bay of Plenty Lowlands
- Waikato Hill Country
- Taupo plateau
- East Cape Highlands
- Eastern Arable Lowlands
- Volcanic plateau
- Mount Taranaki Forest
- Central Mountains
- Manawatu Plains
- Wairarapa Highlands
- South island
- North West Nelson Forest
- Nelson Plains
- North East Nelson Forest
- Marlborough Plains
- Westland Forest
- Southern Alps
- High country
- East Coast Plains
- Banks Peninsula
- Central Otago Basin
- Southern Plains
- South Eastern Forests
Harding did not list the ecoregions outside the two main islands .
literature
- Jon S. Harding, Michael J. Winterbourn : New Zealand ecoregions . a classification for use in stream conservation and management . Ed .: Department of Conservation . Wellington 1997, ISBN 0-478-01944-0 (English).
- Jon S. Harding : Lotic Ecoregions of New Zealand . Ed .: University of Canterbury . Christchurch 1994 (English, dissertation).
Web links
- Matt McGlone : Ecoregions - Nine ecoregions . In: Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Ministry for Culture & Heritage , July 13, 2012, accessed on August 2, 2016 (English, and the following ten websites).
Individual evidence
- ^ Matt McGlone : Ecoregions - Nine ecoregions . In: Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Ministry for Culture & Heritage , July 13, 2012, accessed August 2, 2016 .
- ↑ Harding : Lotic Ecoregions of New Zealand . 1994, p. 10-13 .