Biome

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Biomes are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms,[1] and are often referred to as ecosystems. Some parts of the earth have more or less the same kind of abiotic and biotic factors spread over a large area, creating a typical ecosystem over that area. Such major ecosystems are termed as biomes. Biomes are defined by factors such as plant structures (such as trees, shrubs, and grasses), leaf types (such as broadleaf and needleleaf), plant spacing (forest, woodland, savanna), and climate. Unlike ecozones, biomes are not defined by genetic, taxonomic, or historical similarities. Biomes are often identified with particular patterns of ecological succession and climax vegetation(quasiequilibrium state of the local ecosystem). An ecosystem has many biotopes and a biome is a major habitat type. A major habitat type, however, is a compromise, as it has an intrinsicinhomogeneity. The biodiversity characteristic of each extinction, especially the diversity of fauna and subdominant plant forms, is a function of abiotic factors and the biomass productivity of the dominant vegetation. In terrestrial biomes, species diversity tends to correlate positively with net primary productivity, moisture availability, and temperature.[2] Ecoregions are grouped into both biomes and ecozones. A fundamental classification of biomes is: 1. Terrestrial (land) biomes 2. Aquatic biomes (including freshwater biomes and marine biomes) Biomes are often known in English by local names. For example, a temperate grassland or shrubland biome is known commonly as steppein central Asia, prairie in North America, and pampas in South America. Tropical grasslands are known as savanna in Australia, whereas in southern Africa it is known as certain kinds of veld (from Afrikaans). Sometimes an entire biome may be targeted for protection, especially under an individual nation's biodiversity action plan. Climate is a major factor determining the distribution of terrestrial biomes. Among the important climatic factors are:
 

Latitude: Arctic, boreal, temperate, subtropical, tropical Humidity: humid, semihumid, semiarid, and arid

seasonal variation: Rainfall may be distributed evenly throughout the year or be marked by seasonal variations. dry summer, wet winter: Most regions of the earth receive most of their rainfall during the summer months; Mediterranean climate regions receive their rainfall during the winter months.

Elevation: Increasing elevation causes a distribution of habitat types similar to that of increasing latitude.

The most widely used systems of classifying biomes correspond to latitude (or temperature zoning) and humidity. Biodiversity generally increases away from the poles towards the equator and increases with humidity.

Freshwater biomes
According to the WWF, the following are classified as freshwater biomes:[9]
      

Large lakes Large river deltas Polar freshwaters Montane freshwaters Temperate coastal rivers Temperate floodplain rivers and wetlands

     

Temperate upland rivers Tropical and subtropical coastal rivers Tropical and subtropical upland rivers Xeric freshwaters and endorheic basins Oceanic islands

Tropical and subtropical floodplain rivers and wetlan

Streams and rivers [edit]Realms or ecozones (terrestrial and freshwater, WWF)

   

NA Nearctic PA Palearctic AT Afrotropic

   

AA Australasia NT Neotropic OC Oceania AN Antarctic

IM Indomalaya [edit]Marine biomes

[edit]Marine biomes (H) (major habitat types), Global 200 (WWF)

Biomes of the coastal and continental shelf areas (neritic zone - List of ecoregions (WWF))
    

Polar Temperate shelves and sea Temperate upwelling Tropical upwelling Tropical coral[10]

[edit]Realms or ecozones (marine, WWF)

      

North temperate Atlantic Eastern tropical Atlantic Western tropical Atlantic South temperate Atlantic North temperate Indo-Pacific Central Indo-Pacific Eastern Indo-Pacific

     

Western Indo-Pacific South temperate Indo-Pacific Southern Ocean Antarctic Arctic Mediterranean

[edit]Other marine habitat types

Hydrothermal vents  Cold seeps  Benthic zone  Pelagic zone (trades and westerlies)  Abyssal  Hadal (ocean trench) [edit]Major habitats, nonglobal 200 (WWF)


Littoral/Intertidal zone  Kelp forest  Pack ice [edit]Summary - ecological taxonomy (WWF)
 

Biosphere (List of ecoregions)



Ecozones or realms (8)



Terrestrial biomes (major habitat types, 14)



Ecoregions (867) vbn,



Ecosystems (biotopes)

Freshwater biomes (major habitat types, 12)



Ecoregions (426)


Ecosystems (biotopes)

Marine ecozones or realms (13)



Continental Shelf biomes (major habitat types, 5)



(Marine provinces) (62)



Ecoregions (232)


Ecosystems (biotopes)

Open & Deep Sea Biomes (major habitat types)

Endolithic biome

Example


Biosphere


Ecozone: Palearctic ecozone



Terrestrial biome: temperate broadleaf and mixed forests



Ecoregion: Dinaric Mountains mixed forests (PA0418)



Ecosystem: Orjen, vegetation belt between 1,100- 1,450 m, Oromediterranean zone, nemoral zone (temperate zone)


Biotope: Oreoherzogio-Abietetum illyricae Fuk. (Plant list)



Plant: Silver fir (Abies alba)

[edit]Anthropogenic

biomes

Humans have fundamentally altered global patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem processes. As a result, vegetation forms predicted by conventional biome systems are rarely observed across most of Earth's land surface. Anthropogenic biomes provide an alternative view of the terrestrial biosphere based on global patterns of sustained direct human interaction with ecosystems, including agriculture, human settlements, urbanization, forestry and other uses of land. Anthropogenic biomes offer a new way forward in ecology and conservation by recognizing the irreversible coupling of human and ecological systems at global scales and moving us toward an understanding how best to live in and manage our biosphere and the anthropogenic biosphere we live in. The main biomes in the world are freshwater, marine, coniferous, deciduous, ice, mountains, boreal, grasslands, tundra, and rainforests. [edit]Major
    

anthropogenic biomes

Dense settlements Villages Croplands Rangelands Forested

[edit]Other

biomes

The endolithic biome, consisting entirely of microscopic life in rock pores and cracks, kilometers beneath the surface, has only recently been discovered, and does not fit well into most classification schemes. [edit]Map

of biomes

There are quite a few different types of biomes in the world. Each of them has unique characteristics. Due to the climate and features, there are different plants and animals that are

able to thrive in them. Learning about the types of biomes helps us to make sense of why certain animals and plants are found in one location and not the next.

It also helps us to fully understand why the different plants and animals within a given biome are so dependent upon each other. There is a balance that has to be maintained in order for all to continue surviving there. The dependence that they have upon each other is very detailed. It is also interesting to explore. The classifications of these biomes help us to understand the world. Too often we are caught up in only what goes on around us. By identifying the different factors that take place throughout the world, you can get the sense of what is really going on around us. It is fascinating information. Each of the biomes by themselves is worth exploring in great detail.

Terrestrial Biomes

Biomes that are found on land and that have an abundance of vegetation are known as terrestrial biomes. There are many variations though depending on the climate, vegetation, and location of them. Some of the popular terrestrial biomes include the tundra biome, the forest biome, the grassland biome, and the desert biome. Tundra biomes are extremely cold and have very harsh conditions. They include areas of Russian and the Arctic. Only a few types of plants and animals are able to survive here. Even humans find it to be very hard to live in such conditions. With the forest biome you are talking about the tropical and subtropical areas. They are the ones that have lots of humidity, ample rainfall, and plenty of thick forest regions in them. In the grassland biome there are plenty of plants, grass, and flowers that grow. There is a rainy season and a dry season. This is a type of environment with decent temperatures throughout the year. As a result it is easier for the plants and animals that live here to be able to survive. However, in some locations there is a long drought season. During this period of time it is harder for them to survive. The desert biome is the hottest and the driest of all the terrestrial biomes out there. The extreme temperatures and lack of rainfall can really take a toll. The risk of fire is very high too which can result in many areas being burned. Freshwater Biomes Freshwater biomes are those that are found in the water. It is unbelievable the amount of aquatic life that exists out there. The depth of the water will determine what lives there as well as the temperature. If the water moves or if it stands still will also be something that is taken into

consideration. When you think about freshwater biomes, they dont have to be large bodies of water to count. They include lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, and the wetlands. Sometimes the organisms that live there are only a single cell. They often rely on the water for food and for survival. When you look at such freshwater you may see areas of moss. That is a big indicator that there are organisms living in the water. They feed on that moss as a means of surviving in their given biome. Marine Biomes When you think about extremely large bodies of water such as the ocean, those are marine biomes. They contain saltwater instead of freshwater. They also include coral reefs and estuaries. The ocean biome is the biggest of all of them in the world. That makes sense because so much of the surface of the Earth is made up of water. Due to the mass size of the ocean biome, there are many subcategories offered as well. This makes it possible for further evaluation of all of them to be considered. It is amazing what can take place in the marine biomes. The technology we have today allows us to use underwater cameras to see those magnificent relationships among the plants and animals living there. Endolithic Biomes Some argue if the endolithic biome is really a separate classification. Yet many experts believe that these living things dont all into any other categorization properly. You will find endolithic biomes in all of these other types of biomes though. This reference is to various forms of microscopic life. They live in the rocks and pores so they are very difficult to identify and to categorize. Anthropogenic Biomes Perhaps the most complicated element of biomes is wrapped up with anthropogenic biomes. This is one that takes all of the human efforts into it. The fact that we use land for planting food through farming efforts falls into this category. The forms of vegetation that will be offered can be evaluated. Based on that information, we are able to determine what will grow best in a given type of environment. The use of the land in different biomes depends on what it has to offer. You cant fight nature but you can certainly benefit from all that it offers. Anthropogenic biomes explain why certain activities are possible in one biome but not in others. It is very interesting to explore in more detail how all of this helps to maintain the ultimate balance among plants and animals that live in a given biome. There is no doubt that the actions of humans have continued to alter the natural patterns of climate. Take the issue of global warming for example. It has causes certain areas to be much

warmer than they normally would be. As a result there are shifts in the way plants an animals living in those biomes are able to survive. Being able to manage what is best for plants and animals doesnt always come with such easy answers. However, the fact that we do understand the biomes in detail allows for action to be taken against humans. If their efforts could result in a location being destroyed, then there can be actions taken to prevent humans from building in that area or destroying it. Such efforts can be complicated and time consuming. Yet they are for the overall good of a given biome. Anthropogenic biomes also give us the opportunity to do what is right within any given biome as well. They allow us to make good choices about how our movements will affect all other living things. Being able to see the whole picture instead of only reaching for what we want is very important. There are too many plants and animals out there at risk of being extinct due to the selfish efforts of humans. To give them credit, for a long time it wasnt understood how everything fit and was interconnected. However, now that we have that information it is wrong to ignore it. Being able to identify your own role in any biome is important. However, never lose track of the fact that we depend on plants and animals for our ultimate survival as well.