Ecosystems of the Conterminous US and Adjacent Areas

This layer presents information on the distribution of IVC groups for North America. For 2025 v1.0, the US and adjacent areas have been completed, using the US. National Vegetation Classification (NVC). This NVC group level map provided a detailed representation of different regional ecosystems across landscapes. It categorizes ecosystems into groups based on shared vegetation and ecological characteristics, such as climate, soils, and diagnostic species. For more information about the methods, uses, and limitations of this map, please see this document. The chart below shows the NVC hierarchy: By classifying the vegetation at this level, the map highlights the diversity and distribution of plant communities, offering insights into ecological patterns and processes. It serves as a valuable tool for conservation planning, land management, and ecological research, allowing stakeholders to identify key habitats, monitor changes over time, and implement appropriate conservation strategies. The group-level classification provides a balance between detail and manageability, making it useful for both regional planning and site-specific studies. To download data as a layer package, navigate here.本图层展示了北美地区IVC群系的分布情况。在2025 v1.0版本中，美国及其邻近区域的制图工作已完成，采用了美国国家植被分类系统（U.S. National Vegetation Classification, NVC）。该NVC群系层级地图详细呈现了不同景观尺度下的各类区域生态系统。其依据共有植被与生态特征（如气候、土壤及指示物种）将生态系统划分为不同群系。如需了解该地图的制作方法、应用场景与局限性，请参阅此文档。下图展示了NVC的层级结构：通过该层级的植被分类，本地图清晰凸显了植物群落的多样性与分布格局，有助于深入理解生态模式与生态过程。该地图可作为保护规划、土地管理与生态研究的重要工具，能够帮助利益相关方识别关键生境、开展长期动态监测并制定适宜的保护策略。群系层级的分类在细节精度与可操作性间实现了平衡，既适用于区域层面的规划工作，也可服务于特定场地的专项研究。如需下载图层包格式的数据，请访问此链接。