biophysical regions

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MAINE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
Maine Forest Service

Biophysical Regions of Maine

Over the years a number of classification systems have been devised to categorize the Maine landscape on the basis of biophysical criteria. A workable prototype was set forth by Janet McMahon in her MS thesis in 1990. This system was quickly adopted by the Maine Forest Service and other agencies and put to various uses. Another system was developed by Keys, et al, in 1995 for the entire eastern United States which further modified and subdivided McMahon's system for Maine. These two systems showed a similar pattern for Maine although some difference were evident. In 1998 Janet McMahon brought these two systems together and presented the system now used for all insect collections data recorded by the FH&M Division.

Keys, J. Jr., C. Carpenter, G. Hooks, F. Koenig, W.H. McKlab, W. Russell, and M.L. Smith. 1995. Ecological units of the eastern United States - first approximation (map and booklet of map unit tables), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Atlanta, Georgia.

McMahon, J.S. 1990. The Biophysical Regions of Maine - patterns in the landscape and vegetation. Orono, Maine. Univ. of Maine MS thesis (unpublished) 120 pp.

McMahon, Janet. 1998 (July). An Ecological Reserves System Inventory. Augusta, Me. Me. State Planning Office. 122 pp.

Legend
1 - Aroostook Hills
2 - Aroostook Lowlands
3 - Central Foothills
4 - Maine-New Brunswick Lowlands
5 - Eastern Interior
6 - Coastal Region
7 - Central Maine Embayment
8 - Penoscot Bay Region
9 - Casco Bay Coast
10 - Boundary Plateau
11- Saint John Uplands
12 - Central Mountains
13 - White Mountains
14 - Mahoosuc & Rangley Lakes
15 - Connecticut Lakes
16- Wewstern Foothills
17 - Gulf of Maine Coastal Plains
18- Gulf of Maine Coastal Lowlands
19 - Sebago-Ossipee Hill & Plain

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