Biomes are vast ecological areas, defined by dominant vegetation and climate-adapted

organisms. Categorized as terrestrial (land) or aquatic (water), they are global ecosystems shaped
by climate and geography, crucial for biodiversity and ecological interactions.
I. Terrestrial Biomes: Land-Based Life
Terrestrial biomes are defined by climate (temperature, rainfall) and vegetation, vital for global
cycles and biodiversity.
a. Forest Biomes: Earth's Oxygen Producers
Forests, with dense tree cover, are key for oxygen and carbon regulation.
 1. Tropical Rainforests: Equatorial hotspots of biodiversity.
o Climate: Hot, wet year-round.
o Vegetation: Dense, layered evergreen trees, high plant diversity.
o Fauna: Extremely diverse, monkeys to insects.
o Soil: Poor, nutrients in biomass.
o Significance: Oxygen, carbon, medicinal resources, threatened by deforestation.
 2. Temperate Forests: Seasonal, deciduous and coniferous.
o Climate: Distinct seasons, moderate rainfall.
o Vegetation: Deciduous and coniferous trees, layered structure.
o Fauna: Seasonal wildlife like deer and bears.
o Soil: Fertile, from leaf litter.
o Significance: Timber, recreation, water protection, carbon sequestration,
vulnerable to acid rain.
 3. Taiga (Boreal) Forests: Cold, coniferous, high latitudes.
o Climate: Long, cold winters, short summers, moderate snow.
o Vegetation: Coniferous trees, sparse undergrowth.
o Fauna: Cold-adapted, moose, wolves.
o Soil: Acidic, nutrient-poor, often permafrost.
o Significance: Largest biome, carbon storage, timber, impacted by climate change
and logging.
b) Grassland Biomes: Grass-Dominated Plains
Grasslands feature grasses, few trees due to rainfall, drought, fires; key for grazing and soil.
  1. Temperate Grasslands (Prairies/Plains): Fertile, agricultural regions.
o Climate: Seasonal temperatures, moderate rainfall, fertile soil.
o Vegetation: Grasses, herbs, few trees, fire and drought adapted.
o Fauna: Grazers like bison, predators like coyotes.
o Soil: Deep, fertile, organic-rich.
o Significance: Agriculture, grazing, threatened by conversion and overgrazing.
 2. Savannas: Tropical grasslands with scattered trees.
o Climate: Warm, wet/dry seasons, seasonal rainfall.
o Vegetation: Grasses, scattered trees, drought/fire-adapted trees.
o Fauna: Diverse large herbivores (zebras, elephants), predators (lions).
o Soil: Porous, less fertile.
o Significance: Wildlife, grazing, tourism, threatened by habitat loss.
c) Desert Biomes: Arid, Specialized Ecosystems
Deserts are driest biomes, low precipitation, organisms adapted to water scarcity.
 1. Hot & Dry Deserts: Scorching heat, minimal water.
o Climate: Extreme heat, very low rainfall.
o Vegetation: Sparse xerophytes, cacti, succulents.
o Fauna: Heat and water conserving animals, nocturnal.
o Soil: Sandy/rocky, low organic matter.
o Significance: Fragile, solar energy potential, desertification risk.
 2. Semiarid Deserts: Less extreme, slightly more rainfall.
o Climate: Less extreme temperatures, slightly more rain.
o Vegetation: Shrubs, grasses, scattered trees, denser than hot deserts.
o Fauna: More diverse, jackrabbits, lizards.
o Soil: Variable, more developed.
o Significance: Grazing, susceptible to erosion.
 3. Coastal Deserts: Cool, fog-influenced aridity.
o Climate: Cool to warm, ocean currents limit rain, fog moisture.
 o Vegetation: Sparse, fog-adapted succulents, lichens.
o Fauna: Unique coastal fauna, marine birds, seals.
o Soil: Sandy, marine influenced.
o Significance: Unique ecosystems, mineral deposits, sensitive to development.
 4. Cold Deserts: Freezing winters, dry conditions.
o Climate: Cold winters, short summers, low snow precipitation.
o Vegetation: Sparse shrubs, grasses, cold-tolerant plants.
o Fauna: Cold-arid adapted, camels, snow leopards.
o Soil: Frozen, nutrient-poor.
o Significance: Fragile, slow growth, climate change sensitive.
d) Tundra Biomes: Cold, Treeless Plains
Tundra: Coldest, short growing seasons, low vegetation, high latitudes/altitudes.
 1. Arctic Tundra: Permafrost, low arctic vegetation.
o Climate: Long, cold winters, short summers, low precipitation, permafrost.
o Vegetation: Mosses, lichens, grasses, dwarf shrubs, treeless.
o Fauna: Cold-adapted, caribou, arctic fox.
o Soil: Permafrost, poor drainage, nutrient-poor.
o Significance: Fragile, carbon cycle role, climate change vulnerable.
 2. Alpine Tundra: High altitude, cold, similar vegetation.
o Climate: High altitude, cold, windy, intense sun, short season.
o Vegetation: Low grasses, shrubs, mosses, wind/UV adapted.
o Fauna: High-altitude adapted, mountain goats, marmots.
o Soil: Well-drained, rocky, nutrient-poor.
o Significance: Watershed protection, high-altitude biodiversity, climate sensitive.
e) Mountain Biomes: Elevational Zones
Mountains: Habitat zones change with altitude, biodiversity hotspots, varied climate.
 Zonation: Forests base to tundra-like peaks.
 Biodiversity: High, refugia during climate change.
  Climate: Variable with elevation.
 Examples: Himalayas, Andes, Rockies.
II. Aquatic Biomes: Water-Based Life
Aquatic biomes: Defined by salinity, flow, depth; essential for global cycles.
a. Marine Biomes: Saltwater Ecosystems
Marine biomes: Saltwater, largest, crucial for climate and life.
 1. Oceans: Vast, deep saltwater realms.
o Characteristics: Largest, saltwater, varied zones by depth/light.
o Zones: Intertidal, Neritic, Oceanic (Epipelagic, Mesopelagic, Bathypelagic,
Abyssopelagic, Hadal), Benthic, Pelagic.
o Biodiversity: Plankton to whales, diverse adaptations.
o Significance: Climate regulation, oxygen, food, threatened by pollution.
 2. Coral Reefs: Tropical, biodiverse underwater structures.
o Characteristics: Warm, shallow, coral-built, high diversity.
o Location: Tropical oceans.
o Biodiversity: "Rainforests of sea," diverse marine life.
o Significance: Coast protection, fisheries, tourism, climate change sensitive.
 3. Estuaries: Brackish, river-sea transition zones.
o Characteristics: Freshwater meets ocean, brackish, productive.
o Location: Coastlines at river mouths.
o Biodiversity: Brackish-adapted, nursery grounds, mangroves.
o Significance: Pollutant filter, storm buffer, fisheries, threatened by pollution.
b) Freshwater Biomes: Low-Salt Environments
Freshwater biomes: Low salt, vital for water, agriculture, unique life.
 1. Lakes & Ponds: Standing freshwater bodies.
o Characteristics: Standing water, varied size/depth.
o Zones: Littoral, Limnetic, Profundal, Benthic.
o Biodiversity: Fish, amphibians, aquatic plants.
 o Significance: Water source, habitat, vulnerable to pollution.
 2. Rivers & Streams: Flowing freshwater systems.
o Characteristics: Flowing water, varied flow/oxygen along course.
o Zones: Source, Transition, Floodplain.
o Biodiversity: Flow-adapted fish, insects, riparian plants.
o Significance: Water source, transport, hydropower, impacted by dams/pollution.
 3. Wetlands: Water-saturated, transitional lands.
o Characteristics: Saturated soil, transitional, aquatic plants.
o Types: Marshes, Swamps, Bogs, Fens.
o Biodiversity: Highly productive, diverse plants, birds, amphibians.
o Significance: Pollutant filter, flood control, habitat, threatened by drainage.
REFFERENCES
Allen-Fletcher, C. (2023). Beastly Biomes. The Indianapolis Public Library.

Christensen, V. G. (2020). Freshwater Biomes Around the World. The Indianapolis