Difference between bioma and ecosystem

The simplest bioma definition frames them as a set of ecosystems located in a specific biogeographic area of the planet, in which certain well -defined environmental and ecological characteristics are given.

From the Greek “bios” (life), the term bioma is defined from the Species of living beings which predominate in an area delimited by very specific climatic characteristics. These species of living beings can be:

• Vegetables
• Animals
• Fungus
• Microorganisms

In this way, through the study of biomes, we can know Biodiversity Characteristic of each region of the Earth, since these share both the same climate and the same flora and fauna. Now that we know what biomes consist of, in the next section we will see the definition of ecosystems, to be able to easily distinguish both ecological concepts.

We advise you to read these other articles on what biomes, their types and examples are and what biodiversity is to have more information on the subject.

The ecosystems are biological systems of great complexityin which each and every one of the different interactions between living beings and the environment in which they live are encompassed. In this way, biomes and ecosystems are related because the latter make up the first.

Thus, in the study of ecosystems it is possible to know both the Intraespecific relationships (between individuals of the same species), such as interspecific relationships (Among individuals of different species), in addition to those relationships that living beings establish with the rest of their environment, that is, with natural resources and different energy sources that the ecosystem itself provides to survive.

You can deepen this topic with these two ecology articles that deals with what an ecosystem is and what are the components of an ecosystem.

Now that you know the definition of biomes and ecosystems, then we will see the differences between ecosystem and bioma so you can finish understanding the issue perfectly.

The main difference between ecosystem and bioma is determined by the fact that Biomes are made up of ecosystems. As we have observed in the previous definitions of both concepts, the biodiversity and climatic characteristics of a concrete region of the planet are included in the bioma, in which, therefore, there are different ecosystems, each of them with various biotic and abiotic interactions.

Let’s make some differences between more specific bioma and ecosystem to understand it better:

• The components of each: While the components of an ecosystem are biotic (living beings) and abiotic (physical and chemical elements life, such as soil, humidity and water), and are marked by well -defined relationships with each other, in the case of biomes, the climate factor and the biodiversity factor that compose it define a specific region, but in them they are not studied or interpret their relationships.
• The types that exist: While the ecosystems that exist can be terrestrial, aquatic, mixed, aeroterrestres, artificial or unnatural, that is, modified by anthropic action, biomes can only be natural.
• The classification: If we focus on biomes, it is broader and receives very specific names, due, as we have previously commented, to the biogeographic region in which it is. Thus, according to the classification of Heinrich Walter, we can differentiate 9 great biomes from the world: equatorial, tropical, subtropical, Mediterranean, warm temperate, nemoral, continental, boreal and polar.

Finally, it should be noted how in many studies and articles on the biomes of the world, ecologists and other specialists use different names to refer to them, such as biotic areas or bioclimatic landscapes; while ecosystems are appointed exclusively as ecosystems.

Do not hesitate to take a look at this video of Ecology Verde where we explain what biotic and abiotic factors are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riq0mcykpng

If you want to read more articles similar to Difference between bioma and ecosystemwe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.