Information AboutBiome |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT BIOME | |
| biogeography | |
| ecology | |
| biomes | |
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A biome is a major class of ecologically similar Communities of Plant s, Animal s, and Soil Organisms , often referred to as Ecosystems . Biomes are defined based on factors such as plant structures (such as trees, shrubs, and grasses), leaf types (such as broadleaf and needleleaf), plant spacing (forest, woodland, savanna), and other factors like climate. Unlike Ecozone s, biomes are not defined by genetic, taxonomic, or historical similarities. Biomes are often identified with particular patterns of Ecological Succession and Climax Vegetation . The Biodiversity characteristic of each biome, especially the diversity of fauna and subdominant Plant forms, is a function of Abiotic factors and the Biomass productivity of the dominant Vegetation . Species diversity tends to be higher in terrestrial biomes with higher Net Primary Productivity , Moisture Availability , and Temperature .1 Ecoregions are grouped into both biomes and ecozones. A fundamental classification of biomes is into: # Terrestrial (land) biomes and # Aquatic (water) biomes. Biomes are often given local names. For example, a Temperate Grassland Or Shrubland biome is known commonly as '' Steppe '' in central Asia , '' Savanna '' or Veldt in southern Africa , '' Prairie '' in North America , '' Pampa '' in South America and '' Outback '' or '' Scrub '' in Australia . Sometimes an entire biome may be targeted for protection, especially under an individual nation's Biodiversity Action Plan . TERRESTRIAL BIOMES Climate is a major factor determining the distribution of terrestrial biomes. Among the important climatic factors are:
Biodiversity generally increases away from the poles towards the Equator , and increases with humidity. The most widely used systems of classifying biomes correspond to Latitude (or temperature zoning) and humidity. Udvardy system In 1975, Miklos Udvardy published a system of Biogeographic Provinces that were divided into 12 terrestrial biomes:
Bailey system Robert G. Bailey developed a biogeographical classification system for the United States in a map published in 1975. Bailey subsequently expanded the system to include the rest of North America in 1981, and the world in 1989. The Bailey system is based on climate, and is divided into four domains (Polar, Humid Temperate, Dry, and Humid Tropical), with further divisions based on other climate characteristics (subarctic, warm temperate, hot temperate, and subtropical, marine and continental, lowland and mountain).
WWF system A team of biologists convened by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) developed an Ecological Land Classification system that identified 14 biomes, called major habitat types, and further divided the world's land area into 825 Terrestrial Ecoregions . This classification is used to define the Global 200 list of Ecoregion s identified by the (WWF) as priorities for conservation. The WWF major habitat types are as follows:
AQUATIC BIOMES
OTHER BIOMES The Endolith ic biome, consisting entirely of microscopic life in rock Pore s and cracks, Kilometer s beneath the surface, has only recently been discovered and does not fit well into most classification schemes. SEE ALSO
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