Robert J. Whittaker

Robert J. Whittaker was an influential ecologist best known for creating a way to classify different types of ecosystems based on plant communities and environmental conditions. His most famous contribution is the "Whittaker diagram," which maps the relationship between temperature, moisture, and the types of vegetation that grow in those conditions. This helped scientists understand how climate influences ecosystems worldwide. His work has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity, ecological patterns, and how environments function and change over time.