XVI International Botanical Congess

Biogeographic comparisons, including transects, help to identify similarities, differences, larger contexts, and useful hypotheses. In the N vs S hemispheres, taxonomy differs totally but other useful bases for comparison may include phenophysiognomy, form composition, climatic limits, taxonomic richness, and spatial heterogeneity. Climatic models for potential biome types seem more reliable than satellite-based models for actual land covers. At biome level, N and S analogs show similar climatic limits. Some unique types also occur. Among N and S analogs, some identifiable differences in forms and richness may translate into differences in potential ecosystem integrity under environmental change.