bioregion

[noun]

(Also known as ecoregion) A large area of land or water defined by its natural features, rather than political boundaries like state lines or international borders. A bioregion is an area with similar ecosystems and natural resources, sharing features like soil types, currents, climate, geological features, vegetation, and wildlife.

For example, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America lists 181 terrestrial ecoregions and 86 marine ecoregions. These include areas like the Ozark Highlands and the Sonoran Desert on land and the Puget Sound Estuarine Area and Central Hudson Bay in the water. Classification systems vary, and not all scientists agree on the exact number or boundaries of Earth's bioregions. But the concept is useful for managing large numbers of wildlife and natural resources.