IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology 2.0 (IUCN GET 2.0)
The IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology 2.0 offers a structured classification system that categorizes ecosystems based on their ecological functions and species assemblages. BASIN honed in on Levels 2 and 3, the system identifies "Functional Biomes" and "Ecosystem Functional Groups" as critical components within broader realms like terrestrial, freshwater, and marine. Functional Biomes share major ecological drivers that regulate key functions, while Ecosystem Functional Groups within these biomes share common drivers that lead to similar biotic traits. This hierarchical framework is essential for understanding the traits and drivers that underlie ecosystem functionality, thus aiding in ecosystem management and conservation efforts. This classification is crucial given the human influence on ecosystems, many of which are at risk of collapse, impacting biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being.
SEEA EA, TNFD, and IUCN Red List utilize and reference IUCN GET 2.0
Realms, Biomes, and Ecosystem Functional Groups
Terrestrial
T1 Tropical-subtropical forests
T1.1 Tropical-subtropical lowland rainforests
T1.2 Tropical-subtropical dry forests and thickets
T1.3 Tropical-subtropical montane rainforests
T1.4 Tropical heath forests
T2 Temperate-boreal forests & woodlands
T2.1 Boreal and temperate high montane forests and woodlands
T2.2 Deciduous temperate forests
T2.3 Oceanic cool temperate rainforests
T2.4 Warm temperate laurophyll forests
T2.5 Temperate pyric humid forests
T3 Shrublands & shrubby woodlands
T3.1 Seasonally dry tropical shrublands
T3.2 Seasonally dry temperate heaths and shrublands
T3.3 Cool temperate heathlands
T3.4 Rocky pavements, screes and lava flows
T4 Savannas and grasslands
T4.1 Trophic savannas
T4.2 Pyric tussock savannas
T4.3 Hummock savannas
T4.4 Temperate woodlands
T4.5 Temperate subhumid grasslands
T5 Deserts and semi-deserts
T5.1 Semi-desert steppes
T5.2 Thorny deserts and semi-deserts
T5.3 Sclerophyll hot deserts and semi-deserts
T5.4 Cool deserts and semi-deserts
T5.5 Hyper-arid deserts
T6 Polar-alpine
T6.1 Ice sheets, glaciers and perennial snowfields
T6.2 Polar-alpine rocky outcrops
T6.3 Polar tundra and deserts
T6.4 Temperate alpine grasslands and shrublands
T6.5 Tropical alpine grasslands and shrublands
T7 Intensive land-use systems
T7.1 Annual croplands
T7.2 Sown pastures and fields
T7.3 Plantations
T7.4 Urban and industrial ecosystems
T7.5 Derived semi-natural pastures and oldfields
Subterranean
S1 Subterranean lithic systems
S1.1 Aerobic caves
S1.2 Endolithic systems
S2.1 Anthropogenic subterranean voids
SF1 Subterranean freshwaters
SF1.1 Underground streams and pools
SF1.2 Groundwater ecosystems
SF2 Anthropogenic subterranean freshwater
SF2.1 Water pipes and subterranean canals
SF2.2 Flooded mines and other voids
SM1 Subterranean tidal systems
SM3.1 Anchialine caves
SM3.2 Anchialine pools
SM3.1 Sea caves
Wetlands
TF1 Palustrine wetlands
TF1.1 Tropical flooded forests and peat forests
TF1.2 Subtropical/temperate forested wetlands
TF1.3 Permanent marshes
TF1.4 Seasonal floodplain marshes
TF1.5 Episodic arid floodplains
TF1.6 Boreal, temperate and montane peat bogs
TF1.7 Boreal and temperate fens
F1 Rivers and streams
F1.1 Permanent upland streams
F1.2 Permanent lowland rivers
F1.3 Freeze-thaw rivers and streams
F1.4 Seasonal upland streams
F1.5 Seasonal lowland rivers
F1.6 Episodic arid rivers
F1.7 Large lowland rivers
F2 Lakes
F2.1 Large permanent freshwater lakes
F2.2 Small permanent freshwater lakes
F2.3 Seasonal freshwater lakes
F2.4 Freeze-thaw freshwater lakes
F2.5 Ephemeral freshwater lakes
F2.6 Permanent salt and soda lakes
F2.7 Ephemeral salt lakes
F2.8 Artesian springs and oases
F2.9 Geothermal pools and wetlands
F2.10 Subglacial lakes
F3 Artificial fresh waters
F3.1 Large reservoirs
F3.2 Constructed lacustrine wetlands
F3.3 Rice paddies
F3.4 Freshwater aquafarms
F3.5 Canals, ditches and drains
FM1 Semi-confined transitional waters
FM1.1 Deepwater coastal inlets
FM1.2 Permanently open riverine estuaries and bays
FM1.3 Intermittently closed and open lakes and lagoons
Marine
M Marine shelves
M1.1 Seagrass meadows
M1.2 Kelp forests
M1.3 Photic coral reefs
M1.4 Shellfish beds and reefs
M1.5 Photo-limited marine animal forests
M1.6 Subtidal rocky reefs
M1.7 Subtidal sand beds
M1.8 Subtidal mud plains
M1.9 Upwelling zones
M2 Pelagic ocean waters
M2.1 Epipelagic ocean waters
M2.2 Mesopelagic ocean waters
M2.3 Bathypelagic ocean waters
M2.4 Abyssopelagic ocean waters
M2.5 Sea ice
M3 Deep sea floors
M3.1 Continental and island slopes
M3.2 Marine canyons
M3.3 Abyssal plains
M3.4 Seamounts, ridges and plateaus
M3.5 Deepwater biogenic beds
M3.6 Hadal trenches and troughs
M3.7 Chemosynthetically-based ecosystems
M4 Anthropogenic marine systems
M4.1 Submerged artificial structures
M4.2 Marine aquafarms
Shoreline Systems
MT1 Shoreline systems
MT1.1 Rocky shores
MT1.2 Muddy shores
MT1.3 Sandy shores
MT1.4 Boulder and cobble shores
MT2 Supralittoral coastal systems
MT2.1 Coastal shrublands and grasslands
MT3 Anthropogenic shorelines
MT3.1 Artificial shores
MFT1 Brackish tidal systems
MFT1.1 Coastal river deltas
MFT1.2 Intertidal forests and shrublands
MFT1.3 Coastal saltmarshes and reedbeds
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