Biome – Definition, Classification and Examples

Biome Explanation and Notes

The biome associated with the temperate deciduous forest is the temperate broadleaf and mixed forest. The biome is located in the middle latitudes and has a moderate climate. The biome has four seasons with cool winters and warm summers. The biome is made up of trees that lose their leaves in the fall. The leaves fall off the trees and the trees become dormant in the winter. The trees become active again in the spring and grow new leaves. The biome is home to a variety of animals, including deer, bears, and wolves.

What is Biome?

A biome is a large, naturally occurring community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct geographical area. Biomes are often defined by the vegetation that is found in them.

Whittaker’s Classification of Earth’s Biomes

Whittaker’s classification of Earth’s biomes is a five-level system that organizes the world’s ecosystems into five categories based on the predominant vegetation type and climate.

The five levels of Whittaker’s classification are:

• Terrestrial biomes – land ecosystems
• Aquatic biomes – water ecosystems
• Marine biomes – saltwater ecosystems
• Aerial biomes – air ecosystems
• Hypolithic biomes – cave ecosystems

1. Terrestrial biomes

• The first level of Whittaker’s classification is the terrestrial biomes, which are land ecosystems. Terrestrial biomes are divided into two categories: the hot biomes and the cold biomes.
• The hot biomes are the tropical rainforest, the tropical dry forest, the tropical scrub forest, the tropical deciduous forest, and the taiga.
• The cold biomes are the tundra, the boreal forest, the temperate rainforest, the temperate deciduous forest, and the chaparral.

2. Aquatic biomes

• The second level of Whittaker’s classification is the aquatic biomes, which are water ecosystems. Aquatic biomes are divided into two categories: the freshwater biomes and the saltwater biomes.
• The freshwater biomes are the rivers, the lakes, the marshes, and the swamps.

The Biome types defined in Whittaker’s classification are:

1. Terrestrial Biomes:

a. Deserts
b. Grasslands
c. Forests
d. Tundra

2. Aquatic Biomes:

a. Marine Biomes
b. Freshwater Biomes

The terrestrial biomes are further subdivided into two categories:

1. Hot Deserts
2. Cold Deserts

The aquatic biomes are subdivided into two categories:

1. Marine Biomes
2. Freshwater Biomes

Olson and Dinerstein’s Classification of Biome

Olson and Dinerstein’s classification of biome is a system that organizes the world’s ecosystems into a series of nested levels, from the largest to the smallest. The classification system is based on the dominant type of vegetation in an ecosystem. The six biomes are:

1. Tundra
2. Taiga
3. Temperate Forest
4. Tropical Rainforest
5. Desert
6. Marine Ecosystem

• The Tundra biome is the coldest of all the biomes, with a mean annual temperature of just below freezing. The Tundra is dominated by grasses, mosses, and lichens, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including caribou, moose, and grizzly bears.
• The Taiga biome is located in the northern hemisphere, between the Tundra and the Temperate Forest biomes. The Taiga is dominated by coniferous trees, such as pines and spruces, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including moose, elk, and black bears.
• The Temperate Forest biome is located in the northern and southern hemispheres, between the Taiga and the Tropical Rainforest biomes. The Temperate Forest is dominated by deciduous trees, such as oaks and maples, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, raccoons, and skunks.

Terrestrial Biome

• A biome is a large, naturally occurring community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct geographic area. Terrestrial biomes are those that occur on land.
• There are six major terrestrial biomes on Earth: tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous forest, tropical rainforest, temperate grassland, and desert.

The freshwater biomes will include

• ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes. The marine biome will include salt water and estuaries. The terrestrial biome will include forests, meadows, and deserts.
• The freshwater biomes will include ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes. These biomes are characterized by their relatively low salt levels. The marine biome will include salt water and estuaries. These biomes are characterized by their relatively high salt levels. The terrestrial biome will include forests, meadows, and deserts. These biomes are characterized by their lack of salt water.

Biome Types

There are many different types of biomes in the world. The biomes are classified by their climate and the types of plants that grow in them.

Examples of Biome- Tundra

The tundra biome is a cold, wet environment that is found in the Arctic and subarctic regions of the world. The tundra is characterized by its short, cool summers and long, cold winters. The soils are very poor in nutrients, and the vegetation is sparse. The main plants found in the tundra are grasses, mosses, and lichens. The animals that are found in the tundra are caribou, moose, musk oxen, wolves, and arctic foxes.

Examples of Biome- Mangrove Forests

The Amazon rainforest, the Congo rainforest, and the Florida Everglades are all examples of biome- mangrove forests.

Etymology of Biome

The word biome is derived from the Greek word bion, meaning “life.”