Biomes – Definition and Types

Introduction of Biomes

Biomes are areas of the Earth with similar plants, animals, and climates.

Explanation:

A biome is a way to describe a large group of similar ecosystems. Biomes have similar weather, rainfall, animals, and plants. There are many biomes on Earth.

Ecosystem vs Biome

Biomes are several ecosystems put together.

Ecosystems vary in size and can be as small as a puddle or as large as a forest.

Types of Biomes

Biomes are divided into aquatic and land biomes, which are further divided into many biomes, as shown in the given figure.

Aquatic Biomes

You have probably come in contact with water in at least a few ways today. Not only do we drink water, but we also wash with it. Plants need it to grow, it makes rain and snow, and the list goes on and on.

Water is so important to life that it covers 75% of the Earth’s surface. Large areas of water where plants and animals live are called aquatic biomes.

The aquatic biome is the largest of all the biomes.

There are two types of aquatic biomes, which include freshwater and marine biomes.

Freshwater Biomes

Freshwater biomes include ponds, lakes, rivers, and plants like algae, pond lilies, cattails, and animals like snails, fish, and ducks.

Marine Biomes

Marine biomes have saltwater, like oceans. Algae and seaweed grow with animals like crabs, whales, and octopuses.

Land Biomes

A land biome is a large land area with the same type of climate, plants, and animals. Earth has many land biomes, and they vary based on their location.

Some land biomes are very cold, while others are very hot.

Tundra Biome

This biome covers 20% of the Earth’s land surface. The Tundra biome is the coldest of all the biomes. It has little biodiversity, and vegetation is simple, including shrubs, grasses, and mosses.

Desert Biome

Deserts are the driest biome. A desert is a place that has almost no rainfall. The largest desert, the Sahara, is in northern Africa.

Animals that live in deserts include camels, lizards, geckos, toads, snakes, spiders, and meerkats.

Plants and animals here don’t need much water.

Grassland Biomes

Grasslands are open regions dominated by grass and have a warm and dry climate.

Gets enough rain for grasses to grow but not enough for a lot of trees.

Forest Biomes

A forest biome is defined as an area with a large number of trees. It is the biome with the largest diversity of species.

There are different types of forests.