Original: Ecozones represent large areas of the Earth 's surface where plants and animals developed in relative isolation over long periods of time , and are separated from one another by geologic features , such as oceans , broad deserts , or high mountain ranges , that formed barriers to plant and animal migration .
Simplified: The term ecozone , as used here , is a fairly recent development , and other terms , including kingdom , realm , and region , are used by other authorities with the same meaning .