DOC Potential Ecosystem Vegetation

The ecosystem classification used to map potential ecosystems of the Bay of Plenty Region was developed by the Department of Conservation, as a tool for prioritising ecosystem management (Singers & Rogers 2014). This classification is a synthesis that amalgamates previous classifications and ecological studies aligned to an abiotic framework. It describes a full range of ecosystem types at a variety of scales in a natural or potential state as they potentially existed if people arrived today in New Zealand. The classification system developed by Singers and Rogers (2014) has two tables that describe ecosystem drivers of the abiotic environment (Appendix 1) and biotic compositional description which further includes ecosystem distribution and relevant source references (Appendix 2). The data contained within these two tables have been used as the fundamental basis for mapping ecosystem types, supported by other readily available ecological descriptions, vegetation maps and relevant GIS layers such as soil maps of the region. Vegetation has been previously mapped for parts of the Bay of Plenty Region at a variety of scales and accuracy for multiple purposes. All of these examples have used various classification systems or methodologies for describing vegetation, some of which have a strong equivalency with Singers and Rogers (2014), while others less so. The process of creating the potential vegetation map was relatively straight forward in places where intact forest remains and have been described and mapped. In this situation, mapping involved identifying equivalencies, from one classification or vegetation type to the equivalent ecosystem unit of Singers and Rogers (2014). Mapping potential ecosystems in areas without indigenous vegetation used a variety of data sources to make informed decisions, and because of these assumptions should be seen as a working hypothesis.用于绘制丰盛湾地区（Bay of Plenty Region）潜在生态系统的生态系统分类体系，由新西兰保护部（Department of Conservation）开发，作为生态系统管理优先级划定的工具（Singers与Rogers，2014）。该分类体系为一项综合研究成果，整合了此前的各类分类体系与契合非生物框架的生态学研究。其涵盖了不同尺度下、处于自然或潜在状态的全部生态系统类型，即假设如今人类首次抵达新西兰时本应存在的生态系统原貌。Singers与Rogers（2014）开发的该分类系统包含两张表格：其一为非生物环境的生态系统驱动因子描述（附录1），其二为生物组成描述，后者进一步涵盖了生态系统分布与相关参考文献（附录2）。上述两张表格中的数据，已作为生态系统类型制图的核心依据，并辅以该地区其他现成的生态学描述资料、植被地图以及土壤地图等相关GIS图层。此前，针对丰盛湾地区的部分区域，科研人员已以不同尺度与精度开展过多用途植被制图工作。上述所有研究均采用了不同的分类体系或方法开展植被描述工作，其中部分体系与Singers和Rogers（2014）的分类体系具有较强的等效性，其余体系的等效性则相对较弱。在尚存原生森林且已完成描述与制图的区域，潜在植被地图的绘制过程相对简便。此类场景下的制图工作，需识别不同分类体系或植被类型与Singers和Rogers（2014）提出的等效生态系统单元之间的对应关系。对于无本土植被的区域，潜在生态系统的制图工作需依托多种数据源作出研判，基于此类假设所生成的成果应被视为一种工作假说。