Ecological Classification System Levels

PROVINCE
In general, provinces are subdivisions of Divisions (in Minnesota the province and division levels happen to be the same); these subdivisions are based on climatic subzones of moisture and temperature along with broad topographic features. 

Minnesota is situated in an area of ecological transition (Figure 3) that is created by changes in the amount of available moisture and temperature.

                                          Figure 3

Climate varies considerably across the state, with precipitation greatest in the east and least in the west (Figure 4).

                                           Figure 4

The growing season (as expressed as growing degree days in (Figure 5) is shorter in the northeast and longer in the southwest.

                                             Figure 5

In summary, it is colder and wetter in the northeast and warmer and drier in the southwest; the weather pattern is indicated by broad zones with similar vegetation types (forest, savanna, prairie) prior to European settlement 
(Figure 6) . 

                                             Figure 6

These vegetative zones were used as a basis for delineating provinces in Minnesota.  These zones are still evident today in broad patterns of land use and native plant communities (Figure 7).

                                             Figure 7

The province level is useful for state, regional (e.g., Lake States), and national planning but is too broad for more detailed applications.

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