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Ecosystem Classifications - HTML

Ecosystem classification is a system for categorizing Earth's diverse ecosystems based on characteristics such as biological communities, climate, soil, and topography. The IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology 2.0 is a hierarchical classification system consisting of 5 realms (terrestrial, freshwater, marine, subterranean, transitional), 25 biomes, and further subdivided ecosystem functional groups. This classification is widely used as an international standard for ecosystem conservation status assessments and environmental-economic accounting.

ecosystem biome IUCN conservation biodiversity ecological classification

<table>
<thead><tr><th>code</th><th>slug</th><th>name</th><th>description</th><th>realm</th></tr></thead>
<tbody><tr><td>T1</td><td>tropical-subtropical-forests</td><td>Tropical-Subtropical Forests</td><td>Forest ecosystems adapted to hot and humid climates near the equator.</td><td>Terrestrial</td></tr>
<tr><td>T2</td><td>temperate-boreal-forests-woodlands</td><td>Temperate-Boreal Forests and Woodlands</td><td>Forest ecosystems distributed from temperate to boreal regions with distinct seasonal changes.</td><td>Terrestrial</td></tr>
<tr><td>T3</td><td>shrublands-shrubby-woodlands</td><td>Shrublands and Shrubby Woodlands</td><td>Ecosystems dominated by shrubs in Mediterranean climates and dry regions.</td><td>Terrestrial</td></tr>
<tr><td>T4</td><td>savannas-grasslands</td><td>Savannas and Grasslands</td><td>Grassland ecosystems dominated by herbaceous plants with scattered trees.</td><td>Terrestrial</td></tr>
<tr><td>T5</td><td>deserts-semi-deserts</td><td>Deserts and Semi-Deserts</td><td>Dryland ecosystems adapted to extremely low precipitation.</td><td>Terrestrial</td></tr>
<tr><td>T6</td><td>polar-alpine-cryogenic</td><td>Polar-Alpine (Cryogenic)</td><td>Polar and alpine ecosystems adapted to permafrost and low-temperature environments.</td><td>Terrestrial</td></tr>
<tr><td>T7</td><td>intensive-anthropogenic-terrestrial</td><td>Intensive Anthropogenic Terrestrial Ecosystems</td><td>Terrestrial ecosystems created by human activities.</td><td>Terrestrial</td></tr>
<tr><td>F1</td><td>rivers-streams</td><td>Rivers and Streams</td><td>Freshwater ecosystems characterized by flowing water.</td><td>Freshwater</td></tr>
<tr><td>F2</td><td>lakes</td><td>Lakes</td><td>Freshwater ecosystems characterized by standing water.</td><td>Freshwater</td></tr>
<tr><td>TF1</td><td>palustrine-wetlands</td><td>Palustrine Wetlands</td><td>Wetland ecosystems located at the boundary between terrestrial and freshwater realms.</td><td>Transitional</td></tr>
<tr><td>M1</td><td>marine-shelf</td><td>Marine Shelf</td><td>Marine ecosystems including the continental shelf.</td><td>Marine</td></tr>
<tr><td>MT1</td><td>shorelines</td><td>Shorelines</td><td>Coastal ecosystems where land and sea meet.</td><td>Transitional</td></tr>
<tr><td>S1</td><td>subterranean-lithic</td><td>Subterranean Lithic</td><td>Ecosystems existing in underground rock spaces.</td><td>Subterranean</td></tr></tbody>
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