Question

List‌ ‌the‌ ‌major‌ ‌biomes‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌world‌

Answer 1

A biome is a broader term for habitat i.e., a biome is formed by many habitats. They are basically communities that have formed in response to the same physical climate. They live in the same environmental conditions. If for example, we consider a human microbiome. It will include all the viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms that reside inside a human body.

Different classifications of biomes have been given by different scientists. Allee has given following classification of principal biome types:

1. Tundra
2. Taiga
3. Deciduous forest
4. Grasslands
5. Desert
6. High plateau
7. Tropical forest
8. Minor terrestrial biomes

Kendeigh has classified into terrestrial and marine biomes.

Terrestrial includes:

1. Temperate deciduous forest
2. Coniferous forest
3. Woodland
4. Chaparral
5. Tundra
6. Grassland
7. Desert
8. Tropical savanna
9. Tropical forest

Marine includes:

1. Oceanic plankton and nekton
2. Balanoid-gastropod-thallophyte
3. Pelecypod-annelid
4. Coral reef'

Whittaker has classified using precipitation and temperature.

Let us not go deeper into the classifications. I would like to discuss the major biomes here.

1. Tropical Rainforests

• Stays warm throughout the year and is comprised of dense vegetation.
• A huge number of animals and other fauna are present.
• An uncountable number of trees keep their leaves around the year.
• There is sometimes no dry season because of so much rain that these regions get.

2. Temperate forest

• It is characterized by four distinct seasons.
• Trees shed their leaves during fall and become inactive in cold winters.
• Fauna like deer, bear, woodpeckers can be found here and some undergo hibernation also in winters.

3. Deserts

• They constitute the hottest biome though they get cold during winters.
• Extreme temperatures make it an extreme environment with animals living in burrows underground to find suitable temperatures to survive.
• Flora and fauna here have the ability to withstand long periods of dry spells without water.

4. Tundra

• Tree growth is not much because of the low temperatures and short growing seasons.
• Vegetation - short shrubs, sedges, grasses, mosses, lichens, scattered trees.
• Soil is rich in nitrogen and phosphorous.
• Arctic tundra occurs in the northern hemisphere where the soil is permanently frozen.
• Birds visit in summer to make nests and migrate in winter to warmer areas.
• Mice and small mammals stay active inside tunnels under the snow.

5. Taiga

• Referred to as boreal forest/snow forest
• Includes coniferous forests mainly pines, spruces, and larches
• It constitutes the world's largest land biome.
• Main tree species vary according to the growing season and summer temperatures
• Soil is poor in nutrients. Cold hinders the development of the soil. Soil is acidic because of fallen pine needles.
• Because of long and cold winters, many mammals hibernate and birds migrate.
• Weasels, grouse, and rabbits grow more fur/feathers and turn white for camouflage.

6. Grasslands

• Also called plains/prairie.
• It mainly comprises of tall grasses with no trees.
• It does not get much rainfall. Rainfall is enough just to help grasses, flowers, and herbs to grow.
• Fires are frequent as the environment is very dry.
• Mammals usually travel together in large herds.

7. Savanna

• These are grasslands with trees.
• They get a sufficient amount of rainfall to allow single or groups of trees to flourish.
• Animals travel in herds and have long legs to escape predators.
• Fires are common.

8. Freshwater

• Water has a low concentration of salt.
• It includes lakes, streams, ponds, rivers.
• Because of low salt concentration in water, plants and animals have evolved ways and means to conserve salt essential for various metabolic functions.

9. Marine

• This is the largest water biome in the world.
• It covers 70% of the Earth and constitutes of five oceans.
• Marine water has a large amount of salt so the flora and fauna here have adaptations to get rid of excess salt and conserve water.

10. Virtual biomes

• Biomes that can be seen through smartphones, computers, google goggle using digital technology comprise virtual biomes.