Grimjaws/EcologyOfCreation
Ecology of Creation
The vast majority of Creation can be divided into major ecoregions based primarily on vegitation and rainfall. In this section Creation will be divided into these regions to provide a guideline for further development of the project. This is a related project to my Lunars project Feather Fur and Scale.
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Terrestrial
Tundra
This region consists of short grasses, mosses and lichens growing in a thin layer of soil above permafrost. The tundra runs in a broad belt from Gethamane, through the lands of the Icewalkers bending north to the pack ice. This region remains frozen year round and sees little precipitation other than snow. The winds blow across the flat landscape for much of the year as well.
Taiga
The taiga regions are characterized by short grass areas not on permafrost and large coniferous forests. Most of the taiga in Creation lies in the Northeast between the tundra to the north of Crystal and the boreal forests of nothern Halta. The forests are dominated by spruce, fir and pine trees creating lichen woodlands where the trees are spaced far apart and the lichens of the taiga cover the floor. Moving further into the forests the trees grow closer togeather and form closed forests with lichen giving way to thick mosses. On the edges of the boreal forests, especially the western ans southern borders of Halta, are some broeadleaf trees including birch, alder, willow and aspen.
Temperate broadleaf forest
These forests consist primarily of decidous trees with oaks, beeaches, maples and birches making up the majority of the plant life, with birch, willow and aspens in the northern areas and elms in the south. This region recieves more precipitation than both the taiga and tundra and supports a much more rich and diverse ecology. This forest exists mainly in the lands held by the Linoa. This region is a bit drier than the boreal forests with ground cover consisting mainly of leaf litter.
Temperate coniferous forest
This region lies further east from the boreal forests and consists exculsively of large conifers consisting of redwoods, sequoias, agathis, alerce and spruce. The gorund cover here is mainly grasses and shrubs until one draws near the elemental pole of Wood and the trees close out all other plant life.
Tropical moist broadleaf forest
Three major regions in Creation. First is the satrapy of An Teng and the Silent Crescent. The second is the region of the Jungle Tribes in the Southeast abutting the Summer Mountains. Third is the region around the city of Mahalanka and the Arczeckhi Horde. This area is drier than the other two regions and many ofthe trees drop thier leaves during the cold season.
Tropical dry broadleaf forest
Region in the far Southeast mostly between Grey and Maruto rivers, including lair of Ma Ha Suchi. This mixes in with the moist broadleaf forest around Mahalanka.
Tropical grasslands, savannah and shrublands
The open terrain of these grasslands is primarily tall grasses, grow up to 16 feet tall, and short thorny shrubs with acacia and baobab trees providing shade. Chaya and the Krala are the major regions in Creation with this type of terrain.
Temperate grasslands, savannah and shrublands
These short grass lands cover most of the River Province and the shores of the Inner Sea. With a tallgrass prairie forming a band between the tropical grassland and the short grasslands. Much of this area is no longer wild as it provides prime cropland for non rice agriculture. This land recieves less rain annually than tropical grasslands but the rain is spread more evenly through out the year.
Montaine grasslands, savannah and shrublands
These short grass areas occure only in the highest mountains beyond the treeline. The Summer Mountains in the Southeast are the best example of this type of terrain.
Desert shrublands
This terrain is characterized by dry sandy soil dominated by cacti and other succulent plants. This area is found exclusively in the South once the climate becomes too dry to support the grasslands, primarily in the hills south of Lap around into Harborhead.
Mediterranean forests
Are characterized by hot, dry summers and rainy winters. Much of the vegitation is a mosaic of grasslands and forests with scrubland on the coasts. The best example of this is on the penninsula north of An Teng.
Mangroves
Mangrove forests occupy much of the coastline of the islands in the Southwest and the Wavecrest Archipelago.
Aquatic
Continental shelf
This is an area of fairly shallow water surrounding land masses. It typically extends 50 miles from shore and rarely falls below 500 feet deep. Though in the Inner Sea between the area around Tuchara on the Blessed Isle and An Teng; and the area connecting the Incas Prefecture to the area around Harborhead are areas of large shelves extending the entire distance.
Littoral
This is the area that is covered by water by the tides.
Riparian
River climate.
Pond
Inland fresh water.
Coral reef
Coral reefs are prevalent in the Western islands and off the shore of the southwest Blessed Isle.
Kelp forest
The largest kelp forest in Creation is the massive sargasso sea surrounding Bluehaven. Smaller kelp forests are found along the land coasts of the Haslanti League in the White Sea and Malice bay.
Pack ice
North shore of the White Sea is primarily pack ice which is ice over a body of water.
Pelagic zone
Open Western Ocean especially in the Northwest and Southwest.
