January 23, 2012
Biomes
Our planet is split into eight groups called biomes. Biomes are large areas that have
distinctive animal and plant species. Also, Biomes have a distinctive climate that limits the plants
that can be grown and the animals that can live in the area. In addition, biomes can be classified
as land or aquatic. The eight land biomes are: Tundra, Taiga, Grasslands, Temperate Deciduous
Forest, Scrub Forest (Chaparral), Desert, Tropical Rainforest, and Temperate Rainforest
(rcn.com).
There are also six water biomes, and those are split up into Freshwater and Marine
biomes. The Freshwater biomes are: Freshwater Ponds and Lakes, Streams and Rivers, and
Wetlands. The Marine biomes are: Oceans, Coral Reefs and Estuaries. Oceans are the largest
biome because they spread through out such a vast distance (Kidzworld).
The major factors telling the difference in the biomes are latitude, humidity, elevation,
and rainfall. There are five systems that are used to classify the biomes. These systems are: the
Holdridge scheme, the Whittaker’s classification scheme, the Walter system, the Bailey system,
and the WWF system (Wikipedia).
The Holdridge Scheme was developed by L.R. Holdridge and arranges climates by four
categories. The Holdrige Scheme is based on average temperature and rainfall (JSTOR).
Robert Whittaker, a distinguished plant ecologist, developed the Whittaker Classification
Scheme. The Whittaker Classification Scheme uses “gradient analysis” which is a more simple
way to divide the world into biomes (Wikipedia).
The Walter System was developed by Heinrich Walter (a German ecologist). The Walter
System is based on mainly temperature and precipitation (Wikipedia).
Robert G. Bailey developed his own system called the Bailey System that is based on
climate. When the Bailey System was first created, it was only for the United States but was later
expanded to include South America (Wikipedia).
Finally, the WWF system was created by a group of scientists put together by the World
Wide Fund for Nature. The WWF system has a total of fourteen biomes and they are called
major habitat types (Wikipedia).
So, that is everything you need to know about biomes, what they are, and how they are
divided.
Works Cited
"Biome." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, 23 Jan. 2012. Web. 23 Jan. 2012.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biome>.
"Biomes of the World :: Aquatic." Kidzworld.com. Kidzworld, 2011. Web. 23 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.kidzworld.com/article/1951-biomes-of-the-world-aquatic>.
JSTOR. Journal of Biogeography. 5th ed. Vol. 26. Blackwell Science, 1999. JSTOR. Web. 23
Jan. 2012. <http://www.jstor.org/pss/2656243>.
Kimball. "Biomes." Rcn.com. Rcn, 12 Sept. 2011. Web. 23 Jan. 2012.
<http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/B/Biomes.html>.