Biomes of the World: Definition, Map, Types, Examples, & Facts
A biome is a collection of plants and animals that have common characteristics for the environment they exist in. They can be found over a range of continents. Biomes are distinct biological communities that have formed responses to a shared physical climate. Biome is a broader term than habitat, a biome can comprise of variety of habitat.
This Story also Contains
- What are Biomes of the World?
- Major Types of Biomes
- Terrestrial Biome
- Aquatic Biome
- Characteristics of Biomes
- Benefits of Biomes
- Biomes NEET MCQs
- FAQs on Biomes of the World
Biomes of the world refer to large ecological areas covering different parts of the Earth like forests, deserts, tundras, grasslands, and aquatic systems, each with unique climates, vegetation, and animal life. All of them hold specific types of life which have well adapted to their respective surrounding environments. They regulate Earth’s climate, sustain biodiversity, and provide essential resources. Understanding biomes is crucial for Class 12 Biology under Ecosystem.
What are Biomes of the World?
A biome is a large ecological area on Earth where plants, animals, and other organisms live in a specific type of climate and environment. The term biome was suggested by Clements in 1916. Each biome, including deserts, forests, grasslands, and aquatic regions, has special features and life forms designed to their conditions, such as temperature, rainfall, and soil type. Biomes help classify Earth's biodiversity and where different environments support different species and ecological interactions.
Major Types of Biomes
There are different types of biomes present in the world. Each one of them has its own importance and contribution in balancing the environment. The major types and biomes of the world facts are discussed below:
Biomes | Features |
Tundra |
|
Taiga/Boreal Forest |
|
Temperate Forests |
|
Grasslands |
|
Deserts |
|
Tropical Rainforests |
|
Terrestrial Biome
A terrestrial biome is a soil-based ecosystem with specific climates and features, including the form of vegetation, animals, and other organisms adjusted to those conditions. Examples include forests, deserts, grasslands, and tundra. All biomes are different, for example, deserts are warm and dry and consist of plants such as cacti, while forests are covered with very dense trees that support both wide-ranging animals and flora. These biomes are also highly dependent on climatic conditions. The impacts of temperature and precipitation on their types of life will be directly affected by those climatic conditions. Terrestrial biomes are important components in the functioning of Earth's climate regulation, carbon cycles, and providing supportive diverse ecosystems.
Aquatic Biome
An aquatic biome is a water-based ecosystem, which comprises freshwater environments such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands, as well as marine environments like oceans and coral reefs. Aquatic biomes sustain diverse forms of life according to different water conditions-from fish and algae to coral and plankton. The organisms that survive in the water are affected by factors such as salinity, depth, and flow. Oceans are the biggest aquatic biomes, and they play a role in regulating the climate, oxygen production, and nutrient cycles. Aquatic biomes are significant to Earth's biodiversity. It means habitats for many species and support systems for global ecosystems.
Characteristics of Biomes
A biome is usually simply a large environment characterised by several abiotic factors like temperature, rainfall, pH, light intensity, etc. and biotic factors. There are many ways to classify biomes. One of the classification depends on the climate: hot, dry, cold, rainy or humid. Biomes are formed due to the physical environment affecting soil, rainfall, and wildlife.
Benefits of Biomes
Biomes have several benefits. Biomes also help humans in many ways. Biomes are also crucial for tourism and recreation.
Regulating climate: Biomes are essential in regulating the Earth's climate. They do this by exchanging water and energy with the atmosphere. Forests, for example, help regulate the environment by evaporating water from leaves to cool the surrounding air.
Providing homes for wildlife: Biomes are home to various plants and animals. Each biome has its flora and fauna that have adapted to the climate and other conditions of that biome.
Purifying the air and water: Biomes also play an important role in purifying air and water. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air. It also helps filter out pollutants in the air. Wetlands also act as natural filters, purifying running water.
Providing food, fuel, medicines and building materials: Biomes offer many of the things we need to live. For example, forests provide us with wood for fuel and building materials.
Economic Benefits: Biomes offer recreational benefits like tourism, fishing, sightseeing, which can support local economies.
Biomes NEET MCQs
Q1. Which one of the following pairs is mismatched?
Savanna - Acacia trees
Prairie - Epiphytes
Tundra - Permafrost
Coniferous forest- Evergreen trees
Correct answer: 2) Prairie - Epiphytes
Explanation:
Prairies are tall grasses and shrubs, which thrive in areas with moderate rainfall. Savannas, on the other hand, have acacia trees, which are adapted to dry conditions. Tundras are characterized by permafrost, which limits the growth of vegetation to low-growing plants. Coniferous forests, dominated by evergreen trees, thrive in colder climates, and these biomes have diverse ecosystems.
(b) Prairies contain tall grasses and shrubs
(a) Savanna -Acacia trees
(c) Tundra- Permafrost
(d) Coniferous forest -Evergreen trees
Hence, the correct answer is option 2) Prairie - Epiphytes
Q2. Most animals are tree dwellers in a:
temperate deciduous forest
tropical rain forest
coniferous forest
thorn woodland
Correct answer: 2) tropical rain forest
Explanation:
Stratification -
The vertical distribution of different species occupying different levels is called stratification. For example, trees occupy the top vertical strata or layer of a forest, shrubs the second and herbs and grasses occupy the bottom layers. The vegetation in the tropical rain forests is stratified i.e. each stratum has different fauna contributing to the diversity, because of this most animals in these biomes are tree dwellers.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2) tropical rainforest
Q3. ______ ecosystem does not possess a self-regulating mechanism.
Natural
Man-made
Terrestrial
Space
Correct answer: 2) Man-made
Explanation:
Artificial ecosystems or Man-made ecosystems do not possess a self-regulating mechanism. Examples include aquariums, botanical gardens, and agricultural fields. These ecosystems often require human intervention for maintenance, such as nutrient input and waste management. They are used for research, conservation, education, and food production.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2) Man-made.
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FAQs on Biomes of the World
What are the biomes of the world?
A biome is a major region that is characterized by its climate, soil types and the dominant plants, animals, and other organisms that live there. A biome is made up of many individual ecosystems. Examples of biomes include tundra, desert, grasslands, forests and aquatic.
What are the major types of biomes?
Terrestrial biomes: It is a soil-based ecosystem with specific climates and features, like vegetation, animals, and other organisms. Examples include forests, deserts, grasslands, and tundra.
Aquatic biomes: An aquatic biome is a water-based ecosystem. It is further divided into freshwater environments like rivers, lakes, and wetlands, as well as marine environments like oceans and coral reefs.
What are the characteristics of biomes?
Each biome has a distinct climate (temperature, rainfall, and seasons).
They support unique vegetation adapted to local conditions.
They house specific animal species adapted to survive in that environment.
Soil type and nutrient cycles also vary across biomes.
Why are biomes important?
Biomes are essential in regulating the Earth's climate. They do this by exchanging water and energy with the atmosphere.
Each biome provides shelter to various flora and fauna.
Biome helps in purifying the air and water . Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air. Wetlands purify running water.
Biomes offer many of the things we need to live. For example, forests provide us with wood for fuel, medicinal plants and building materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Urban biomes are ecosystems created and maintained by human activities in cities.
Biome shifts refer to the geographical movement or change in composition of biomes due to changing environmental conditions, particularly climate change. As temperatures and precipitation patterns change, the conditions that define a particular biome may shift to new areas.
Biome resilience refers to the ability of a biome to maintain its core structure and functions in the face of disturbances or environmental changes.
Biome engineers are species that significantly modify their environment, creating or maintaining habitats for other species.
Biome connectivity refers to the degree to which different areas within or between biomes are linked, allowing for the movement of species, genes, and ecological processes.
Ecophysiological adaptations are the functional characteristics that allow organisms to survive and thrive in specific environmental conditions.
Biome-based conservation is an approach that focuses on protecting entire ecological communities and processes rather than individual species.