Biome
A biome is a large-scale ecological region characterised by its distinctive climate, vegetation, and associated animal life. Biomes are defined primarily by temperature and precipitation patterns, which determine the types of plants that can survive there. Major terrestrial biomes include tropical rainforest, savanna, desert, temperate forest, taiga, and tundra, while aquatic biomes include freshwater and marine systems.
Major Terrestrial Biomes and Their Characteristics
| Biome | Mean Temperature | Annual Rainfall | Dominant Vegetation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Rainforest | 25–30 °C | > 2000 mm | Broadleaf evergreen trees |
| Desert | 20–25 °C (hot) | < 250 mm | Cacti, succulents, shrubs |
| Temperate Deciduous Forest | 5–20 °C | 750–1500 mm | Oak, maple, beech trees |
| Taiga (Boreal Forest) | −5 to 5 °C | 300–850 mm | Coniferous trees (spruce, fir) |
| Tundra | < −5 °C | < 250 mm | Mosses, lichens, dwarf shrubs |
| Tropical Savanna | 20–30 °C | 500–1500 mm | Grasses with scattered trees |
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Related Terms
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological community of interacting organisms together with the physical environment they inhabit, including all living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components. It represents a functional unit of ecology where energy flows and nutrients cycle between organisms and their environment. Ecosystems range in scale from a small pond to the entire Amazon rainforest and are the foundational units studied in ecology.
Habitat
A habitat is the natural environment in which a particular species lives, feeds, and reproduces — the physical and biological setting that meets an organism's essential requirements for survival. Habitats are defined by characteristic physical conditions such as temperature, moisture, light, and soil type, as well as the biological community present. Habitat loss is considered the primary driver of global biodiversity decline.
Community (ecology)
An ecological community is an assemblage of populations of different species that live in the same area and interact with one another. Communities are characterised by their species composition, diversity, and the web of interactions such as predation, competition, and mutualism. The study of communities examines how these interactions shape the structure and stability of ecosystems over time.
From Greek bios (life) + -ome (mass, group). The term was introduced by American ecologist Frederic Clements around 1916 and popularised through the work of Victor Shelford to describe large communities occupying broad geographic areas.