Biotope

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Definition of Biotope:
(1) The smallest geographical unit of the biosphere or of a habitat that can be delimited by convenient boundaries and is characterized by its biota.[1].


(2) A region that has a characteristic set of environmental conditions and consequently a particular type of fauna and flora.[2].
This is the common definition for Biotope, other definitions can be discussed in the article

Notes

The physical habitat with its biological community; a term which refers to the combination of the physical environment (habitat) and its distinctive assemblage of conspicuous species [3]. So, a biotope combines the concepts of habitat and community for defining geographical units.

References

  1. Lincoln R., Boxshall G. and Clark P. (1998). A Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics (2nd Ed). Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, (England). 361pp.
  2. Martin E. and Hine R.S. (2000). Oxford Dictionary of Biology (4th Ed). Oxford University Press: New York, (USA). 641pp.
  3. Connor, D.W., Brazier, D.P., Hill, T.O.& Northen, K.O., 1997(a). Marine Nature Conservation Review: marine biotope classification for Britain and Ireland. Volume 1. Littoral biotopes. Version 97.06. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, JNCC Report, no. 229.

See also

Biotopes and classification systems