life-zone An original concept of C. H. Merriam (1894) describing the way in which changing vegetation forms give a series of life-zones in relation to temperature gradients. In modern ecology these life-zones are defined by reference to a range of interacting environment gradients, and reflect animal as well as plant characteristics. On a world scale life-zones are thus synonymous with the major biomes. However, life-zone is more frequently used for more local changes (e.g. the altitudinal zonation of communities on mountains).

life-zone An original concept of C. H. Merriam (1894) describing the way in which changing vegetation forms give a series of life-zones in relation to temperature gradients. In modern ecology these life-zones are defined by reference to a range of interacting environment gradients, and reflect animal as well as plant characteristics. On a world scale life-zones are thus synonymous with the major biomes. However, life-zone is more frequently used for more local changes (e.g. the altitudinal zonation of communities on mountains).