Biomes
The habitats of the biosphere
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What is a Biome?
Biomes are regions of the
biosphere (the earth) that are
defined by geographic area and
climate.
Each biome has characteristic
flora and fauna that result from
these variables.
There are two types of biomes:
terrestrial and aquatic. Aquatic
biomes are defined by bodies of
water whereas terrestrial biomes
are purely land based.
Watch this introduction to
biomes!
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Why are Biomes Important?
Biomes form the various habitats
of the biosphere. We currently
have only one biosphere—the
earth. By learning about biomes,
we are able to condense macro
biodiversity into a more easily
consumable package.
After learning about biomes in
general, we can begin to
appreciate the impact that
humans have had on them and
therefore the entire biosphere.
We can then begin to appreciate
the uneven impact of human
activity on each biome.
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Why are Biomes Important?
As we understand more about the
way our biosphere works, we are
able to utilize the principle of
uniformitarianism. That is, all
natural processes occur the same
way throughout history. Then, we
can ponder where our biosphere
came from, and where it is going.
Hot topics in the field of where
our biosphere are going include
rising sea levels and relentless
climate change.
Check out this interesting video
about Earth in 1,000 years!
You may wish to skim the video—it is approximately half an hour in
duration.
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Terrestrial Biomes of the Earth
Wait! What’s a Biome?
Polar Ice and Glaciers
Polar ice is not a biome. On our
map of terrestrial biomes, it is
used to indicate areas of extensive
glaciers.
Glaciers are large formations of
ice that cover land. Glaciers are
not stationary—they move across
the land in a process known as
glacial drift.
Glaciers are not considered
biomes because they do not have
a characteristic flora that results
from the climate.
Over time, the movement of
glaciers across land creates a
special sort of soil known as
glacial till. The presence of till is
an easy way to identify prehistoric
ice ages.
Tundra
The word tundra is Russian for
“treeless mountain.” The tundra is
characterized by cold temperatures
Few natural resources of interest
and short growing seasons that
to humans can be found in the
inhibit tree growth.
tundra. Therefore, tundra is often
thought of as a kind of cold
The primary vegetation in the
wasteland.
tundra is composed of dwarf
shrubs, grasses, mosses, and
Tundra is limited to northern
lichens.
Russia, northern Canada, Alaska,
and Greenland.
Taiga
The taiga, also known as the
boreal forest, is the largest
terrestrial biome. Its expansive
coniferous forests cover large
swaths of inland Canada and
Alaska. Furthermore, it covers
most of Finland, Norway, and
Sweden.
The taiga is the coldest
terrestrial biome after the
tundra. It is defined by its long
winter. Permanent ice caps are
not unknown throughout the
taiga.
Large swaths of the taiga have
been clear-cut for toilet paper
and newsprint. This practice is
very disruptive to soil of the
taiga.
Temperate Forest
The temperate forest is
characterized by a continuous
canopy of broad-leafed trees.
Temperate forests are often
classified as deciduous or
evergreen, depending upon the
dominant tree species.
The temperate forest covers the
Eastern United States, including
Georgia.
The temperate forest has a high
level of diversity, including many
tree species such as oaks, beech,
and maples. High climate
variability has encouraged the
development of specialized leaves,
such as the pine needle.
The temperate forest is often
utilized for logging and small scale
agriculture.
Tropical Forest
Tropical forests are defined by
their warm temperatures and
significant amount of rainfall.
They are so named because
they tend to occur between 30
degrees North and South—the
Tropics of Cancer and
Capricorn.
The tropical forest is organized
into different layers of canopy.
Each layer has a different
ecosystem.
Tropical forests have boasted
humans for millennia. Many
groups of indigenous peoples
still inhabit tropical forests.
Over one half of the tropical
forests in the biosphere have
been destroyed by human
activity.
Temperate Grassland
Temperate grasslands are arid
regions underlain by highly fertile
soils. The temperate grassland
covers the Midwestern United
States.
Temperate grassland fauna is fairly
low in diversity. Bison, rodents,
and coyotes are notable.
The temperate grassland is
dominated by perennial grasses
(hence the name). Sunflowers are
not uncommon.
Since the invention of the steel
plow, the temperate grassland has
been exploited as agricultural land
to support the ever-increasing
human population.
Savanna
The savanna is a transition
grassland with trees spaced
such that the canopy never
closes. There are very clearly
defined wet and dry seasons.
Savanna is characteristic of
central Africa and South
America.
The savanna is a very important
area for biodiversity. As a
transition area, it supports many
grassland and desert species. Due
to the extremely dry conditions,
much of the flora is fire resistant.
Use of the savanna as grazing
land has led to the depletion of
grasses and increase in erosion of
the topsoil. Less grass for natural
fires also results in the incursion
of invasive woody plant species.
Desert
The desert is a highly arid biome
with little precipitation. Only
organisms that have developed
adaptations for low water
availability are successful in this
biome.
The desert is characteristic of
much of Central Africa and the
Australian Outback.
The desert is generally
inhospitable to humans. However,
desert farming is possible with
irrigation systems. The year-long
constant sunlight offers excellent
opportunities for sustainable solar
energy power plants.
Chaparral
The chaparral is a droughttolerant shrubland. Its name
comes from the Spanish word
chaparro (scrub oak).
The flora of the chaparral consists
of shrub-like trees, buckwheat,
lilacs, and sage. Infrequent
wildfires are important for the
maintenance of the ecosystem.
Human development has often
halted many productive wildfires
The climate of the chaparral can
in the chaparral. This results in a
be thought of as “mediterranean.” buildup of fuel for future fires,
It features hot, dry summers and
which are often sparked by other
mild, rainy winters.
human activities, such as
campfires.
Mountains
Mountainous areas are transition
zones between multiple biomes.
For example, in the United States,
the temperate forest of the Pacific
Northwest transitions to the
temperate grassland of the
Midwest when crossing the Rocky
Mountains.
Mountains themselves usually do
not have soil that is able to
support a characteristic flora.
Furthermore, most mountains are
high enough in altitude that solar
radiation becomes a major
concern for life.