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Evergreen Project World Biome Map
Biomes are the major regional groupings of plants and animals evident at a global scale.
Their distribution patterns are strongly correlated with regional climate patterns and
identified according to the climax vegetation type. However, a biome is composed not only
of the climax vegetation, but also of associated successional communities, persistent
subclimax communities, fauna, and soils.
The biome concept embraces the idea of community, of interaction among vegetation, animal
populations, and soil. A biome (also called a biotic area) may be defined as a major region
of distinctive plant and animal groups well adapted to the physical environment of its
distribution area.
To understand the nature of the earth's major biomes, one needs to learn for each:
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The global distribution pattern: Where each biome is found and how each varies
geographically. A given biome may be composed of different taxa on different continents.
Continent-specific associations of species within a given biome are known as formations
and often are known by different local names. For example, the temperate grassland biome
is variously called prairie, steppe, pampa, or veld, depending on where it occurs (North
America, Eurasia, South America, and southern Africa, respectively).
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The general characteristics of the regional climate and the limitations or
requirements imposed upon life by specific temperature and precipitation patterns (if it
is hot and it rains in the summer, organisms are less stressed than if it only rains in
the winter ...)
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Aspects of the physical environment that may exert a stronger influence than climate
in determining common plant growth forms and/or subclimax vegetation. Usually these
factors are conditions of the substrate (e.g., waterlogged; excessively droughty,
nutrient-poor) or of disturbance (e.g., periodic flooding or burning).
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The soil order(s) that characterize the biome and those processes
involved in soil development.
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The dominant, characteristic, and unique growth forms; vertical stratification;
leaf shape, size, and habit; and special adaptations of the vegetation. Examples of
the last are peculiar life histories or reproductive strategies, dispersal mechanisms,
root structure, and so forth.
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The types of animals (especially vertebrates) characteristic of the biome and
their typical morphological, physiological, and/or behavioral adaptations to the
environment.
from Susan L. Woodward
Tundra/Alpine
Boreal Forest or Taiga
Temperate Coniferous
Temperate Deciduous
Mediterranean - Temperate Woodland/Shrubland (Chaparral)
Temperate Grassland
Desert
Tropical Savanna
Tropical Rain Forest
Major Aquatic Biomes
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CCD >
Geo 105 > Physical Geography
> Biomes