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What's a Biome?

To make sense of complexity, humans often need to categorize, or group, things. We have food groups, sexes, eye colors, ages, and movie genres, to name a few. We categorize all types of things, whether they are ideas or objects, and whether they are small or large. One of the largest things that we try to categorize may be the types of environments found on Earth.

The natural world is more varied than we can imagine, and one way to try to make this variation easier to handle is to put different environment types into groups. We can divide our surroundings many ways-by how much water there is, by how warm it is, or by the types of plants or animals we find there. Depending on what characteristics we choose to describe an environment, the groupings we end up selecting may be different.

Usually we group the different natural areas on Earth into categories based on plant and animal life and how they are able to survive in that part of the world. Making groups based on living organisms can be very complicated. We already know of over 1.7 million species of organism, and there are likely over 17 million that exist. But again, by grouping organisms with similar adaptations together, we can see through some of the complexity and have a chance to better understand the living Earth.

A biome is a type of environment that is defined by the types of organisms that live there. We can also think of these as life zones ("bio" means life). Dividing land up in this way lets us talk about areas that are similar, even if they're on different continents. But depending on whom you talk to, the way we divide up the world into separate biomes differs.

Biome vs. Biome

Biome categories can be broad or narrow. When we say forest, you may picture a cool, quiet area with pine trees, where bears, deer, and rabbits wander around. Or instead, you might imagine a wet, dark, and noisy rainforest, where you can see monkeys, parrots, and big cats.

According to some people, all forest types belong in one group - the forest biome. But others think that temperate forests (seasonally cold) with pine trees, are very different from tropical rainforests, with dense, leafy canopy and lots of rain. This difference of opinion means that the number of biomes can range anywhere from 5 to 20 biomes.

How Different is Different?

If we take a closer look at these temperate and rain forests, we see that they differ quite a bit in the amount of rain they get and in their temperatures. Tropical rainforests are warm and don't experience a winter season. But temperate forests have a defined winter, with snow and temperatures below zero.

With those cold temperatures, the plants and animals in temperate rainforests have to have adaptations to deal with cold weather. Do those groups seem different enough to you to be in a separate biome?

Don't worry, there is no right or wrong answer. This method of categorizing is one of convenience, and sometimes it just depends on why you're dividing the groups.

Biomes of the World

In order to give you a small taste of the huge diversity of the types of environments out there, we divide the world up into only nine biomes. Just remember that these groups could also be divided into nearly 20 biomes. That means that within each of these biomes there is a range of temperature and weather conditions, and we also find some organisms that are adapted to only part of the biome and others that are adapted to the full range of conditions within the boundaries we are defining.

You probably picture tropical rainforest as a jungle, where it stays warm all year. There are too many animals to count and the huge numbers of trees keep their leaves year-round. Many of these forests get so much rain that there isn't even much of a dry season - more like a rainy season and a rainier season.

This is the kind of forest where there are four relatively distinct seasons. Many of the trees shed their leaves in the fall and become inactive through the cold winter. In these forests, you find deer, woodpeckers, and bears, some of which hibernate through the winter.

Deserts make up the hottest biome, but can also get cold temperatures in winter. Such temperature swings make this an extreme environment, where many animals have to burrow underground to find more stable temperatures in order to survive. Plants and animals here must be able to withstand long periods without water.

Tundra is flat and cold with low plants like grass and moss that only grow during the short summer. A thick layer of ice lies just below the shallow soil (permafrost) all year around, and trees cannot penetrate it to anchor their roots. Many birds visit the tundra in the summer to nest, but most escape the winter by migrating to warmer areas. Mice and other small mammals stay active during the winter in protected tunnels under the snow.

Taiga is the largest land (terrestrial) biome in the world. It is made up of mainly conical-shaped evergreen trees with needle-like leaves. These trees are called conifers because their seeds are clumped into cones. The taiga has long, cold winters when most mammals hibernate and birds migrate, or leave the area because the winters are too cold for them to stay. Animals like weasels, grouse and rabbits that do not migrate or hibernate grow dense feathers or fur and turn white to match the snow.

Sometimes called plains or prairie, grasslands are almost entirely short to tall grasses with no trees. This land type gets just enough rain to help grasses, flowers, and herbs grow, but stays dry enough that fires are frequent and trees cannot survive. Here we find large mammals that often travel together in huge herds.

These tree-studded grasslands receive enough seasonal rainfall so that trees can grow in open groups or singly throughout. The animals living here have long legs for escaping predators and usually are seen in herds. A combination of fire and grazing animals are important for maintaining the savannah.
Freshwater
This water biome is named for the low concentration of salt found in the water. This includes most ponds, streams, lakes, and rivers. Because salt is important to body function, the plants and animals here have many adaptations that help them save salt.
Marine
This water biome is the largest biome in the world, as it includes the five major oceans that cover 70% of the Earth. Marine water has high levels of salt, so animals and plants living here have adaptations that help them get rid of salt or take on water.
Virtual Biomes
Take a virtual look inside some of these biomes using a computer, smart phone, tablet, or Google Goggles. Our first two virtual biomes are the desert and rainforest. Compare how the two are different and how they are the similar. Write up your results in our biologist notebook.

Additional images from Wikimedia via Adrien Facélina and Pam Brophy.

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No two environments on Earth are the same. But with so many places to learn about, we often need to talk about some environments as a similar group rather than individually. For that, we have the brilliance of biomes.Also in: Français | Español

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Biology Articles, Tutorials & Dictionary Online

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Biome
n., plural: biomes
[ˈbaɪoʊm]
Definition: A major regional biological community

Biome Definition

What are biomes? There is no universal definition of biomes. But biome definition in biology of different biomes reveals the ecological truth by testing hypotheses. Biomes are the great communities of the world. They are classified according to their specific characteristics, such as the climate, vegetation, soil, and wildlife. Biomes are important. They change constantly during history since they are damaged because of, for instance, human activities. Therefore, we should continue the preservation and conservation of biomes.

Some people are confused with different ecological concepts, such as biomes and ecosystems. An ecosystem refers to a system of interactions between different living species, such as plants and animals, in a certain environment Thus, the main difference between biome and ecosystem is that the ecosystem is a part of a biome. Therefore, several ecosystems will form a biome.

Biome (biology definition): A major ecological community of organisms adapted to a particular climatic or environmental condition on a large geographic area in which they occur.

Biome Characteristics

What is a biome? A biome meaning is simply a large environment generally characterized by various abiotic factors (e.g. temperature, amounts of precipitation, pH, light intensity, and so on) and biotic factors. There are many ways to classify biomes. One of them is according to climate- whether it is hot, dry, cold, rainy, or humid. Biomes are formed as a result of physical climates that consequently affects the soil, precipitation, and wildlife.

Types Of Biomes

There are 6 biomes in the world. Four of which are land biomes: forest, desert, grassland, and tundra, in addition to the two aquatic biomes: i.e. marine and freshwater. These biomes are subdivided into specific types, e.g. temperature rainforest, tropical rainforest, taiga, and savanna.

Forests are considered to be important homes for several biotic communities. They serve as a habitat and food source for various animals. As such, one may find various microhabitats within a forest. Moreover, forests serve in the climate-buffering global capacity; therefore, forest destruction may lead to great changes in the local or the global climate.

The marine and freshwater biome types represent the most important examples of biomes since water is the main constituent of all living organisms. It is a major biomolecule of life. Additionally, a great number of living species live in marine and freshwater. Oceans have a great effect on the global climate even more than forests as the earth's surface is covered mainly by waters. In addition to its contribution to maintaining the atmospheric temperature, the Earth's hydrosphere (water component) contains a huge number of photosynthetic planktons that produce oxygen that supports the large population of aerobic organisms thriving in oceans, seas, and freshwater.

Read these free lessons on Freshwater Ecology Tutorial.

Even though freshwater biomes are one of the most important world biomes they suffer greatly from pollution. Overfishing, for instance, makes these biomes unstable and harms many organisms within these systems. Read this tutorial on the conservation efforts made to recover the toheroa population in New Zealand that significantly declined due to overharvesting.

Biomes are useful for ecological studies since they help in defining the ecosystem changes using the remote sensing satellite. Biomes may also give us information about the functioning of ecosystems. For example, the productivity of ecosystems, the function of plants, or climate changes.

Earth biome map is constructed either using the knowledge of experts as well as the vegetation maps of different regions or using satellites. Satellites, such as A-train, are used to monitor the Earth's meteorology, for instance, taking satellite images, and remote sensing. NASA Earth Observatory is an online repository of various satellite imagery.

Satellite-based biome maps are more accurate and objective regarding the different threshold of climate that influences the biome boundaries. The biome map of the world helps in comparing the different ecosystems in different areas around the world. The same biome in different parts of the world might contain different species and different ecological systems. This variance aids in studying the evolutionary and ecological processes in different regions.

Different types of biomes found in the biomes map are shown in the following biomes list where further biome facts are shown to explain biomes meaning:

1. Forests:

Forests are covered in trees. They contain great biodiversity of species such as birds, insects, and mammals. There are three major biomes of forests, which are tropical forests, temperate forests, and boreal forests (Taiga). These forests experience different conditions of the climate since they occur in different regions. Therefore, different types of forests are classified as follows:

A. Tropical rainforests:

Tropical rainforests are more like jungles. They are close to the equator where the weather is rainy and warm all year. Several species live in tropical rainforests as well as a great number of trees that serve as shelters to many animals, and also contribute to oxygen production and maintain climate buffering capacity.

Figure 3: A typical structure of a rainforest. Source: Maria Victoria Gonzaga of BiologyOnline.

B. Temperate forest

In temperate forests, all four seasons of the year alternate throughout the year, in the fall, leaves of trees shed and fall, through winter, trees are inactive. Moreover, through the winter you can find bears, deer, and woodpeckers.

C. Boreal forest (Taiga)

This biome represents the largest terrestrial (land) biome on earth. Taiga biome is characterized by the presence of conical-shaped trees called conifers. The boreal forests have cold, dry, and long winters where most of the birds migrate and mammals hibernate. Some animals remain active and grow during winter. Therefore, they have fur or feathers to warm their bodies and thus, are capable of living in cold conditions.

2. Deserts

Deserts represent biomes of the highest temperature of all biomes. However, they get very cold during the winter. The extreme swinging in the temperature contributes to the presence of extreme environments in the desert where several species migrate to underground shelters to live in more stable temperatures so that they can survive. Moreover, animals and plants living in desert biomes are mostly able to live for a long period without water.

3. Tundra

Tundra biome is cold and flat, it is characterized by the lowest temperature of all biomes as well as poor nutrients in the soil, which consequently lead to the presence of short plants, such as moss, shrubs, lichens, and grasses that grow during summer since a thick ice layer is present below the soil throughout the year, which is called the permafrost. Therefore, trees cannot grow their roots into the soil because they cannot penetrate the ice layer. Birds may be found nesting in the tundra during the summer but they migrate again during the winter to other areas of higher temperature. Mammals, such as mice, live in tunnels below the snow during the winter.

Tundra biome is greatly threatened as the climate changes greatly affect it. Global warming disrupts the tundra biome, its permafrost, and species living in it.

4. Grassland

Grasslands contain no trees; only short to tall grasses. These lands do not get adequate rain to grow trees since the weather is usually dry and warm. However, they get the rain that is enough to grow some herbs, flowers, and grasses. Large mammals that travel in herds are often found in grasslands.

There are two types of grasslands: (1) temperate grasslands and (2) savannah (tropical grasslands), The savanna is often found near the equator. They receive seasonal rainfalls; therefore, trees usually grow singly or in groups throughout the biome. Animals with long legs usually live there. They are seen in herds and can escape predators, e.g. by running.

Humans have greatly affected the grassland biome. In the United States, most of the grasslands having rich soil have been used for grazing cattle or agriculture. Different species were affected, from the small animals like s the monarch butterfly to the various large animals such as elephants. Losing large animals, e.g. by excessive hunting, will disturb the ecological balance of an ecosystem. For instance, losing grasses will eventually lead to the loss of grazing animals such as zebras, which are a food source of predators or carnivores in the area.

5. Freshwater

Freshwater contains low salt concentration, i.e. is about less than one percent. Freshwater biomes include rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. Read this Freshwater Ecology tutorial to learn how living things in freshwater ecosystems adapt to their environment.

Figure 11: A typical structure of a lake ecosystem.Source: Maria Victoria Gonzaga of BiologyOnline.

6. Marine

The marine biome is the largest biome in the world, it covers almost 70% of the world. It includes five major oceans of the world: the Arctic Ocean, Southern Ocean, Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. Marine water has high concentrations of salt, therefore, plants and animals in marine waters adapt to high concentrations of salt by getting rid of excess salt or by increasing the uptake of water ( homeostasis).

Biomes may be classified into:

Terrestrial biomes or land biomes - e.g. tundra, taiga, grasslands, savannas, deserts, tropical forests, etc.

Freshwater biomes - e.g. large lakes, polar freshwaters, tropical coastal rivers, river deltas, etc.

Marine biomes - e.g. continental shelf, tropical coral, kelp forest, benthic zone, pelagic zone, etc.

Biome Examples

Forests cover about one-third of the earth. They are distributed in various geological regions. One example is the temperate forests found in Eurasia and eastern North America. Several species are found in temperate forests, including squirrels, deer, and bears. Another type of forests are the tropical forests They are found near the equator in regions such as Central America, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan regions. Examples of animals thriving in tropical forests are large birds and harpy eagles. The taiga (Boreal forests) are found across Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia, and Siberia. Deer, moose, and large herbivores are found in Boreal forests.

Deserts cover about 20% of the earth (one fifth) divided into four categories depending on their climate or location which are: hot, cold, coastal, and semiarid. The Sahara desert covers most of the continent of Africa. It is a known arid desert. Another desert biome is found in the southwest of the United States, the Moava desert. Some areas of North America, Asia, Greenland, and Europe are covered with semiarid deserts, an example of coastal desert in South America is the Atacama desert of Chi, additionally, a famous cold desert is the Antarctic.

There are two types of tundra and both are found over high-latitude lands: (1) the alpine and (2) the arctic tundra. The alpine tundra is found over very high mountains where the temperature falls overnight. The arctic tundra is found in the north of boreal forests on high landmasses in Russia, Iceland, Canada, Greenland, Scandinavia, and Alaska.

Animals in tundra build layers of fat to keep their temperature during winter. They are covered in fur to insulate them. Tundra animals include small mammals, such as ground squirrels and large mammals (e.g. caribou). Tundra carnivores such as snowy owls, polar bears, arctic foxes, and wolves are on the top of the tundra food chain. They mostly develop white feathers or fur for camouflage in snow during winter.

Savannas cover most of the continent of Africa, some areas of India, Asia, Australia, and South America. Temperate grasslands are found away from the equator covering areas in Argentine, Eastern Europe, North America, and Russia. Temperate grasslands have no shrubs or trees. Savanna and temperate grasslands may seem similar but actually, they are different regarding several aspects. For example, elephants are not found in the United States temperate grasslands but they are found in the Savannas of Africa. In contrast, prairie dogs are usually found in temperate grasslands.

Freshwater and marine biomes cover about 75% of the Earth. Rainwater or melting glaciers are the main sources of freshwater running rivers and streams. They usually empty in an ocean or a lake whereas lakes and ponds represent the stationary forms of freshwater. Oceans are saltwater bodies that span around most of the surface of the earth, Various living species live in marine biomes, in deep oceans, there is insufficient light to support photosynthesis, however, many creatures undergo chemosynthesis to survive. Coral reefs are formed in shallow oceans, they are made up of calcium carbonate. Climate changes can affect coral reefs greatly since oceans become more acidic and hotter.

You are probably wondering what biome do we live in. Here is a simple example, if you are living in California then biomes in California are: temperate forests in Redwood forests in northern California and grassland in Western North America in mountains rose. Moreover, the desert biome is found in several regions.

In order to explore different biomes in regions all over the world, 3d biome models were developed to provide a virtual look at any biome mentioned in the list of biomes using a computer, tablet, or phone.

References:

Biomes CA. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2020, from https://livingforapes.weebly.com/biomes-ca.html

Kazilek. (2013, July 19). Boundless Biomes. Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/biomes

National Geographic Society. (2012, October 09). Ecosystem. Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/ecosystem/

National Geographic Society. (2019, September 07). Biomes, Ecosystems, and Habitats. Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/biomes-ecosystems-and-habitats/

National Geographic Society. (2020, February 05). Aquatic Biome. Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/aquatic-biome/

National Geographic Society. (2020, February 05). Desert Biome. Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/desert-biome/

National Geographic Society. (2020, February 05). Forest Biome. Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/forest-biome/

National Geographic Society. (2020, February 05). Grassland Biome. Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/grassland-biome/

National Geographic Society. (2020, February 05). Tundra Biome. Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/tundra-biome/

National Geographic Society. (2020, September 01). Biome. Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/biome/

National Geographic Society. (2020, September 01). Biome. Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/biome/

University of California Museum of Paleontology. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2020, from https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/index.php

©BiologyOnline.com. Content provided and moderated by BiologyOnline Editors.

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Biome - Definition and Examples - Biology Online Dictionary

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Biome n., plural: biomes [ˈbaɪoʊm] Definition: A major regional biological community What are biomes? There is no universal definition of biomes. But biome definition in biology of different biomes reveals the ecological truth by testing hypotheses. Biomes are the great communities of the world.

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Some Facts about Our planet

Earth is the third planet, and 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 km.) from the sun. It is estimated to be over 4.5 billion years old.

The planet rotates once every 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.09 seconds. It makes one full revolution around the sun every 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, and 9.45 seconds. Earth's axis is tilted at a 23.5° angle.

Earth has a total surface area of 196,800,000 square miles. Approximately 57,300,000 square miles, or 29% of the total surface area is land. Water covers approximately 139,500,000 square miles, or 71% of the total surface area.

The highest temperatures on Earth have reached 136° F (58° C) at Al Asisiyah, Libya. Temperatures of - 128° F (-89° C) have been recorded at Vostok station in Antarctica.

The atmosphere is a thin, gaseous layer of air that envelops the planet. Its inner layer is called the troposphere and reaches only 11 miles above sea level. It contains most of the planet's air, which consists of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%). The stratosphere, or outer layer, stretches 11-30 miles above sea level and contains ozone (O3). Ozone filters out most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.

More than 99% of earth's atmosphere is less than 50 miles (80 km.) high. However, particles of the atmosphere are found 1,000 miles (1,600 km.) in space above the planet's surface.

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Earth is the third planet, and 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 km.) from the sun. It is estimated to be over 4.5 billion years old. The planet rotates once every 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.09 seconds. It makes one full revolution around the sun every 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, and 9.45 seconds.

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Biomes are regions of the world with similar climate (weather, temperature) animals and plants. There are
Aquatic Biomes | Terrestrial Biomes | What are biomes? GAMES! terrestrial biomes (land) and
aquatic biomes , both freshwater and marine.

Would you like to know what the weather is like in different biomes around the world? How about the types of plants and animals that live in these biomes? Here you will find all sorts of information about the world's biomes.
Games
How many biomes are there? There is really no completely right answer to this question. Some people say there are only 5 major types of biomes: aquatic, desert, forest, grassland, and tundra. Others split biomes further. Forests are separated into rainforest, temperate forest, chaparral, and taiga; grasslands are divided into savanna and temperate grasslands; and the aquatic biome is split into freshwater and marine.
Kids Konnect: Biomes Enchanted Learning: Biomes ThinkQuest: Biomes Major Biomes of the World NASA - Mission: Biomes World Biomes
Links to more information:
Back to Biomes Index

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Biomes are regions of the world with similar climate (weather, temperature) animals and plants. There are Aquatic Biomes | Terrestrial Biomes | What are biomes? GAMES! terrestrial biomes (land) and aquatic biomes , both freshwater and marine. Would you like to know what the weather is like in different biomes around the world?

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a different part of the world? What would the weather be like? What kinds of animals would you see? Which plants live there? By investigating these questions, you are learning about biomes. A biome is a community of plants and animals living together in a certain kind of climate. Scientists have classified regions of the world into different biomes.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to investigate biomes, then test your knowledge about the biomes by completing each mission.

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climate change, global climate change, global warming, natural hazards, Earth, environment, remote sensing, atmosphere, land processes, oceans, volcanoes, land cover, Earth science data, NASA, environmental processes, Blue Marble, global maps

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The different biomes of the world are Tropical Rainforest, Temperate Forest, Desert, Tundra, Boreal Forest or Taiga, Grassland, Savannah, Freshwater and Marine.

Have you ever looked at the world map and considered how diverse our planet is in terms of landscape? We have ice caps at the polar ends, and then below them, we have temperate regions. Going even lower in latitude, we find rainforests like the Amazon and deserts like the Sahara. Think about your closet... don't you have clothes categorized based on the seasons? When winter comes, you take out your warm clothes and in summer, you put on the floral dress. Since humans always have the need to categorize information, we have divided our global landscapes into different categories, known as biomes.

What are biomes?

Biomes are regions or landscapes of the world that are divided on the basis of climatic conditions, vegetation, and adaptation of flora and fauna. The regions with ice caps, like the Arctic, are known as Tundra, the Amazon is a tropical rainforest, while grasslands, savannah and aquatic biomes exist around the world as well. The categorization of biomes is not fixed. The number can range from 9-20 biomes, depending on how you categorize it.

Why can't we have fixed biomes?

Well, consider different genres of movies. Some are pure adventure, while some are thrillers, but some are psychological thrillers, and some are just plain horror. These words are similar, but there is a slight difference, right? Now, let's apply this to biomes. Think of forests, what are you visualizing? A dark, wet canopied forest like the Amazon or a boreal region with pine trees, deer and bears? Both are forests, but would you say that they're the same?

Look at the definition of biomes again. It says regions with similar vegetation and adaptations of organisms. Do you think a grizzly bear would have the same adaptations as a jaguar in the Amazon? No! A bear hibernates, but a jaguar doesn't. Or would the tall canopied trees of the Amazon have similar adaptations to pine trees? Of course not! Therefore, they both belong to subcategories of "forests". Hence, the Amazon is known as a "rainforest" because it is a typical tropical forest that receives plenty of rain, whereas pine tree-laden areas that are occasionally covered with snow are called "temperate forests".

Biomes of the world

Broadly, we can categorize biomes into two main headings: terrestrial (land) biomes and aquatic (water) biomes. Going with the 9-20 biomes, let's learn about the 9 main biomes of the world: Tropical Rainforest, Temperate Forest, Desert, Tundra, Boreal Forest or Taiga, Grassland, Savannah, Freshwater and Marine.

Tropical rainforests boast a majority of diverse species. These areas lie between the 23.5 degrees N and 23.5 degrees S latitude. In terms of season, such forests have only two seasons: wet and dry. Winter is absent. The average temperature is usually 20-25 degrees Celsius. Precipitation (rainfall) is above 2000 mm, thus earning them the name 'rainforests'. The trees have huge canopies, making penetration of sunlight difficult and giving the space an eerie look. Trees are evergreen (have leaves all year round) and an average height of 25-35 m. Orchids, palms, vines, ferns, and mosses are found here. The fauna consists of myriad bird species, bats, small mammals, snakes, jaguars, monkeys etc.

You will find temperate forests in North America, Northeast Asia, western and central Europe. Unlike tropical rainforests, temperate forests have well defined seasons, meaning that there is a distinct winter, 140-200 days of a growing season and 4-6 frost-free months. Unlike the evergreen trees in rainforests, the trees here are deciduous, meaning that they shed their leaves annually. Temperature varies greatly, from -30 to 30 degrees Celsius. Trees found in this region are oak, maple, willow, elm, cottonwood, beech and spring-flowering herbs. Black bear, deer, squirrel, fox, skunk, rabbits, mountain lions represent the main fauna of this region.

The last category of forests is the taiga, which is the largest terrestrial biome. It is found in the broad belt of Eurasia and North America. The seasons here are a short, moist summer and a long and dry winter. The growing season is roughly 130 days. The temperatures are low and precipitation comes in the form of snow. The flora consists of evergreen conifers, which include pine, spruce and fir. The fauna found here are moose, wolf, deer, bear, weasel, woodpecker and hare.

The hottest biome of the world, deserts are found in southern Central America, South Asia, parts of Africa and Australia. Deserts have the least precipitation of all biomes and cover 1/5 of the land surface area of Earth. The deserts can be both hot and cold, the hottest being the Sahara in Africa and the coldest being Antarctica. The plants adapt themselves by growing long roots and waxy leaves. The animals bury themselves underground to cool themselves and can survive with minimal water. The animals found here are fox, snakes, lizards, beetles and camel.

The tundra is the coldest biome and it means "treeless plain". Tundra is characterized by extremely low temperatures, little precipitation, a short growing season, low biodiversity, and nutrients in the form of dead organic matter. Tundra is divided into two regions: Arctic Tundra and Alpine Tundra. Arctic tundra encircles the north pole and has a permanent layer of ice known as permafrost. This region has 1700 different species of plants, including reindeer mosses, shrubs, sedges and grass. There are also 400 varieties of flowers. Fauna includes polar bear, arctic fox, migratory birds and fish, like salmon and trout.

The alpine tundra is found in the high altitude mountain regions of the world. Trees cannot grow here. The growing season is 180 days. Nighttime temperatures are usually freezing. Fauna like butterflies, grasshoppers, mountain goat, sheep and elk are found here.

Grasslands are large areas of land with grass instead of shrubs and trees. Temperate grasslands have hot summers and cold winters. These grasslands are found in South Africa, the plains of central North America and the steppes of the former Soviet Union. There is moderate precipitation and the soil here is dark and fertile. It is also a region of seasonal drought and occasional fires. The flora found here, besides grass, includes oaks, willows and cottonwood in the river valleys. The grassland has many species of grass, such as blue grama, buffalo grass and purple needlegrass. The fauna found here are zebra, gazettes, wild horses, owl, spider hawk, rhinoceros and lions.

Savannahs cover half the surface of Africa, as well as large areas of Australia and India. They are grasslands with scattered trees. The precipitation is for 6-8 months, followed by a period of drought. The soil is porous with rapid water drainage. Savannahs have occasional fires and thunderstorms. The fires become a feast for birds, because it drives away insects, thereby exposing them. Animals in the savannah include elephants, giraffes, hyenas, lions, beetles, cheetah, snakes, kangaroos, leopards, termites and buffaloes.

Water is a common link to all the biomes. It makes up the largest part of the biosphere and occupies 75% of Earth's surface. Freshwater is a region that is defined by low salt concentration, namely less than 1%. The different types of freshwater regions include ponds, lakes, rivers and wetlands. The biodiversity found here include algae, aquatic plants, plankton, which are crucial for the food chain, turtles, ducks, snakes and more. The fauna in this region are heterotrophs, which means that they feed on dead organisms and use oxygen for cellular respiration.

Marshes, swamps and bogs are part of wetlands. Wetlands are standing water regions, so the plants here are hydrophytes. Some wetlands are not freshwater regions, as they contain salt marshes.

The marine biome covers ¾ of the Earth's surface. It includes oceans, coral reefs and estuaries. Marine algae supply most of the world's oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. While the forest help in this, they are not nearly as important as the algae in the ocean. This is a vital biome, as the evaporation of seawater supplies precipitation on land. The flora and fauna consist of all aquatic animals, such as octopuses, whales, sharks, jellyfish, sea birds and seaweeds.

Biomes have moved and changed over the course of geologic time. Remember, this planet has gone through a number of ice ages! However, the major cause of change is now human activities which are putting these vital ecosystems under threat. The conservation and preservation of biomes has now become a global concern, from the wildfires in the Amazon and Australia to rising waters in coastal cities around the world!

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Biomes : Definition, Explanation, Examples, Types, List and Significance

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The different biomes of the world are Tropical Rainforest, Temperate Forest, Desert, Tundra, Boreal Forest or Taiga, Grassland, Savannah, Freshwater and Marine. Have you ever looked at the world map and considered how diverse our planet is in terms of landscape? We have ice caps at the polar ends, and then below them, we have temperate regions.

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A biome is a large area characterized by its vegetation, soil, climate, and wildlife. There are five major types of biomes: aquatic, grassland, forest, desert, and tundra, though some of these biomes can be further divided into more specific categories, such as freshwater, marine, savanna, tropical rainforest, temperate rainforest, and taiga.

Aquatic biomes include both freshwater and marine biomes. Freshwater biomes are bodies of water surrounded by land-such as ponds, rivers, and lakes-that have a salt content of less than one percent. Marine biomes cover close to three-quarters of Earth's surface. Marine biomes include the ocean, coral reefs, and estuaries.

Grasslands are open regions that are dominated by grass and have a warm, dry climate. There are two types of grasslands: tropical grasslands (sometimes called savannas) and temperate grasslands. Savannas are found closer to the equator and can have a few scattered trees. They cover almost half of the continent of Africa, as well as areas of Australia, India, and South America. Temperate grasslands are found further away from the equator, in South Africa, Hungary, Argentina, Uruguay, North America, and Russia. They do not have any trees or shrubs, and receive less precipitation than savannas. Prairies and steppes are two types of temperate grasslands; prairies are characterized as having taller grasses, while steppes have shorter grasses.

Forests are dominated by trees, and cover about one-third of the Earth. Forests contain much of the world's terrestrial biodiversity, including insects, birds, and mammals. The three major forest biomes are temperate forests, tropical forests, and boreal forests (also known as the taiga). These forest types occur at different latitudes, and therefore experience different climatic conditions. Tropical forests are warm, humid, and found close to the equator. Temperate forests are found at higher latitudes and experience all four seasons. Boreal forests are found at even higher latitudes, and have the coldest and driest climate, where precipitation occurs primarily in the form of snow.

Deserts are dry areas where rainfall is less than 50 centimeters (20 inches) per year. They cover around 20 percent of Earth's surface. Deserts can be either cold or hot, although most of them are found in subtropical areas. Because of their extreme conditions, there is not as much biodiversity found in deserts as in other biomes. Any vegetation and wildlife living in a desert must have special adaptations for surviving in a dry environment. Desert wildlife consists primarily of reptiles and small mammals. Deserts can fall into four categories according to their geographic location or climatic conditions: hot and dry, semiarid, coastal, and cold.

A tundra has extremely inhospitable conditions, with the lowest measured temperatures of any of the five major biomes with average yearly temperatures ranging from -34 to 12 degrees Celsius (-29 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit). They also have a low amount of precipitation, just 15-25 centimeters (six to ten inches) per year, as well as poor quality soil nutrients and short summers. There are two types of tundra: arctic and alpine. The tundra does not have much biodiversity and vegetation is simple, including shrubs, grasses, mosses, and lichens. This is partly due to a frozen layer under the soil surface, called permafrost. The arctic tundra is found north of boreal forests and the alpine tundra is found on mountains where the altitude is too high for trees to survive. Any wildlife inhabiting the tundra must be adapted to its extreme conditions to survive.
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A biome is a large community of vegetation and wildlife adapted to a specific climate.

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In ecosystems, organisms interact with each other and their environment. A biome is a very large geographical area that is bigger than an ecosystem.

Biomes are named and categorized based on the climate, plants and animals that exist there.

A biome is a large area of land that is classified based on the climate, plants and animals that make their homes there. Biomes contain many ecosystems within the same area.

Land-based biomes are called terrestrial biomes. Water-based biomes are called aquatic biomes. Temperatures, precipitation amounts and prevalent organisms characterize the biomes of the world.

Terrestrial biomes include tropical rainforests, temperate forests, grasslands, deserts, tundra, taiga, savanna and chaparral.

Scrubland and few trees characterize chaparral. Chaparral receives between 25 and 30 inches of rain annually, chiefly in winter. Dry summers mean dormancy for many plants. Chaparral can be found throughout southern California and Baja, Mexico.

Desert biomes receive less than 12 inches of precipitation annually and experience very high temperatures. Desert subtypes include hot and dry, semiarid, coastal and cold (Arctic).

Plants are adapted for low rainfall. Animals use burrowing or have nocturnal activity to escape scorching daytime temperatures. Some types of desert species include yuccas, cacti, reptiles, small mammals and burrowing owls.

Example: the Mojave Desert of the American Southwest.

The coldest biome, the treeless Arctic tundra, receives only about 60 growing days and low precipitation. Plants consist mostly of shrubs, lichens, mosses, sedges and liverworts. Tundra animals include lemmings, caribou, migratory birds, mosquitos, flies and fish.

Example: the High Arctic Tundra in the islands of the Arctic Ocean.

Taiga ( boreal forest) extends south of the Arctic Circle. Taiga endures long, dry winters, cool, wet summers and a 130-day growing season. Annual precipitation ranges from about 16 to 40 inches, typically as snow.

Taiga hosts coniferous trees and low plants. Animal species of the taiga include bears, moose, lynx, deer, hares and woodpeckers, among others.

Example: Interior Alaska-Yukon lowland taiga.

Grasslands represent biomes dominated by grass. The hot, tropical takes up nearly half of Africa as well as parts of India, South America and Australia.

Savannas receive concentrated rainfall for several months and then drought. Few trees dot the grassy savanna.

Temperate grassland includes steppes, veldts and prairies. Moderate precipitation, rich soils, hot summers and cold winters distinguish this biome. The few trees grow along rivers. Some animals include deer, gazelles, birds, insects and larger predators such as wolves and lions.

The tropical rainforest biome contains the world's greatest biodiversity. Located near the equator, this biome experiences equal day length, warm temperatures and up to 200 inches of rain annually.

These conditions lead to prolific plant growth in levels from the forest floor to the canopy. Epiphytic plants grow on trees and other vegetation. The Amazon Rainforest is an excellent example of a tropical rainforest biome.

Temperate rainforests are found in higher latitudes, with cooler temperatures but significant amounts of precipitation. Evergreens, mosses and ferns thrive there. The Olympic National Park of Washington State hosts temperate rainforests.
7. Temperate Deciduous Forest Biome
Temperate deciduous forests populate eastern North America, central Europe and northeastern Asia. Distinct seasons, consistent precipitation and varied temperatures yield a diverse biome.

Deciduous broadleaf trees, evergreens and other plants flourish. This biome hosts many animal species including deer, rabbits, bears, birds, insects and amphibians.

Example: Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The mountainous alpine biome exists only at high altitudes. At those levels, trees do not grow. Alpine regions receive about 180 days of growing season.

A number of shrubs, grasses and heaths thrive. Mammals such as sheep, elk, goats and pikas flourish. Some bird species and several types of insects live there.

Example: the high Sierra Nevada mountain range in California.

Aquatic biomes are related to bodies of water.

Freshwater biomes contain water with very low salt concentrations and include wetlands, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.

Lakes and ponds undergo thermal mixing. These biomes host fish, waterfowl, algae, crustaceans and microorganisms. Rivers and streams constantly move toward either lakes or oceans. Their current speed affects the kinds of species that live in them, as well as water clarity.

Example: the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest.

Marine biomes include the oceans of the world, the largest aquatic biomes, characterized by saltwater. Oceans possess various layers related to sunlight's penetration.

The intertidal zone hugs the shoreline and is greatly affected by tides and waves.

The neritic zone extends to the continental shelf. Enough sunlight penetrates for photosynthesis to take place. Seaweeds are often found here.

The oceanic or pelagic zone extends farther and experiences a mix of temperatures due to current. Large fish and sea mammals ply this zone.

The benthic zone is a deep region beyond the continental shelf. Here sea stars, fish and sponges line the ocean floor.

The abyssal zone represents the deepest ocean zone. High pressure, cold temperatures and essentially no sunlight characterize this zone.

Wetlands are shallow bodies of water such as bogs, marshes, swamps and mudflats. They provide habitat for many plants and animals. Water flow is steady in freshwater wetlands.

Example: the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Orange County, California.

Coral reefs exist in shallow parts of some tropical oceans. Made of calcified remains from coral animals, these reefs build up over time and provide habitat for many underwater species. The Great Barrier Reef of Australia is a large example of a coral reef biome.

Estuaries lie where ocean meets fresh water. Plants tolerating the salinity changes are called halophytic. Estuaries offer important breeding grounds for crustaceans and well as waterfowl. An example of a large estuary biome is that of the Florida Everglades.

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Biome: Definition, Types, Characteristics & Examples

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A biome is a specific subtype of an ecosystem where organisms interact with each other and their environment. Biomes are categorized as either terrestrial, or land-based, or aquatic or water-based. Some biomes include rainforests, tundra, deserts, taiga, wetlands, rivers and oceans.

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If you understand the climatic conditions that create a biome, you can understand why certain plants become dominant. If you understand what plants are dominant, you may understand how the other plantsand animals there are adapted to these particular biomes.

Thus, by understanding these relatively few biomes, you can understand almost all the ecosystems on Earth. They'll all differ a bit, but most of the generalizations will hold true.

Why is that even important? I suppose that answer is up to you. It makes you sound really smart at parties. You may also impress a friend or two about your offhand knowledge of a particular place. Or, imagine if you entered a survival competition and that little bit of knowledge you learned about a particular biome helped you win that thing! Now, I think we're on the same page.

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Biomes of World: A Virtual Tour of the Biomes

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If you understand the climatic conditions that create a biome, you can understand why certain plants become dominant. If you understand what plants are dominant, you may understand how the other plantsand animals there are adapted to these particular biomes. Thus, by understanding these relatively few biomes, you can understand almost all the ecosystems on Earth.