Biomes are climatically and geographically defined areas of
ecologically similar climatic conditions such as communities of plants, animals,
and soil organisms,[1] and are often
referred to as ecosystems. Biomes are defined by factors such as
plant structures (such as trees, shrubs, and grasses), leaf types (such as
broadleaf and needleleaf), plant spacing (forest, woodland, savanna), and
climate. Unlike ecozones, biomes are
not defined by genetic, taxonomic, or historical similarities. Biomes are often
identified with particular patterns of ecological succession and climax vegetation
(quasi-equilibrium state of the local ecosystem). An ecosystem has many biotopes and a biome is a major habitat type. A major habitat type, however, is a
compromise, as it has an intrinsic inhomogeneity.
The biodiversity
characteristic of each biome, especially the diversity of fauna and subdominant
plant forms, is a function of abiotic factors and the biomass productivity of the dominant vegetation. In terrestrial biomes,
species diversity tends to correlate positively with net primary
productivity, moisture
availability, and temperature.[2]
