Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English]; akin to Old High German lant land, Middle Irish lann

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English]; akin to Old High German lant land, Middle Irish lann

*Date: before [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_Century 12th century]

*Date: before [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_Century 12th century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 a : the solid part of the [[surface]] of the [[earth]]; also : a [[corresponding]] part of a [[celestial]] body (as the [[moon]])  

*1 a : the solid part of the [[surface]] of the [[earth]]; also : a [[corresponding]] part of a [[celestial]] body (as the [[moon]])  

[[Terrestrial]] ecoregions are '''land''' ecoregions, as distinct from [[Water|freshwater]] and [[marine]] ecoregions. In this [[context]], [[terrestrial]]  is used to mean "of land" ([[soil]] and rock), rather than the more general sense "of [[Earth]]" (which includes land and oceans).

[[Terrestrial]] ecoregions are '''land''' ecoregions, as distinct from [[Water|freshwater]] and [[marine]] ecoregions. In this [[context]], [[terrestrial]]  is used to mean "of land" ([[soil]] and rock), rather than the more general sense "of [[Earth]]" (which includes land and oceans).

[http://www.worldwildlife.org/ World Wildlife Fund] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecologist ecologists] currently divide the land [[surface]] of the [[Earth]] into 8 major ecozones containing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrestrial_ecoregions_(WWF) 867 smaller] [[terrestrial]] ecoregions. The WWF effort is a [[synthesis]] of many previous efforts to define and [[classify]] ecoregions. Many consider this [[classification]] to be quite [[decisive]], and some propose these as stable borders for bioregional [[democracy]] [[initiative]]s.

[https://www.worldwildlife.org/ World Wildlife Fund] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecologist ecologists] currently divide the land [[surface]] of the [[Earth]] into 8 major ecozones containing [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrestrial_ecoregions_(WWF) 867 smaller] [[terrestrial]] ecoregions. The WWF effort is a [[synthesis]] of many previous efforts to define and [[classify]] ecoregions. Many consider this [[classification]] to be quite [[decisive]], and some propose these as stable borders for bioregional [[democracy]] [[initiative]]s.

The eight [[terrestrial]] ecozones follow the major floral and faunal boundaries, identified by [[botanists]] and [[zoologists]], that separate the world's major [[plant]] and [[animal]] [[communities]]. Ecozone boundaries generally follow [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent continental] boundaries, or major barriers to [[plant]] and [[animal]] [[distribution]], like the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayas Himalayas] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahara Sahara]. The boundaries of ecoregions are often not as decisive or well [[recognized]], and are subject to greater disagreement.

The eight [[terrestrial]] ecozones follow the major floral and faunal boundaries, identified by [[botanists]] and [[zoologists]], that separate the world's major [[plant]] and [[animal]] [[communities]]. Ecozone boundaries generally follow [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent continental] boundaries, or major barriers to [[plant]] and [[animal]] [[distribution]], like the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayas Himalayas] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahara Sahara]. The boundaries of ecoregions are often not as decisive or well [[recognized]], and are subject to greater disagreement.

Ecoregions are [[classified]] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biome biome] type, which are the major global [[plant]] [[communities]] determined by rainfall and [[climate]]. Forests, grasslands (including savanna and shrubland), and deserts (including xeric shrublands) are distinguished by climate (tropical and subtropical vs. temperate and boreal climates) and, for forests, by whether the trees are predominantly conifers (gymnosperms), or whether they are predominantly broadleaf (Angiosperms) and mixed (broadleaf and conifer). Biome types like Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub; tundra; and mangroves host very distinct [[ecological]] [[communities]], and are recognized as distinct [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biome biome] types as well.

Ecoregions are [[classified]] by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biome biome] type, which are the major global [[plant]] [[communities]] determined by rainfall and [[climate]]. Forests, grasslands (including savanna and shrubland), and deserts (including xeric shrublands) are distinguished by climate (tropical and subtropical vs. temperate and boreal climates) and, for forests, by whether the trees are predominantly conifers (gymnosperms), or whether they are predominantly broadleaf (Angiosperms) and mixed (broadleaf and conifer). Biome types like Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub; tundra; and mangroves host very distinct [[ecological]] [[communities]], and are recognized as distinct [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biome biome] types as well.

[[Category: Earth Science]]

[[Category: Earth Science]]