What are biomes: types, characteristics and examples

A biome is a set of ecosystems that exist in a certain biographical area of ​​the planet. Coming from the Greek “bios” (life), biomes encompass the various species of living beings (animals, plants and microorganisms) that predominate in an area delimited by very specific climatic characteristics.

In this way, biomes present the climate factor and the biodiversity factor as their main components. One of the main functions that biomes perform is to illustrate and present information about the biodiversity that characterizes each region of the planet, also determining how biodiversity is greater in those biomes located close to the equator, while at the poles, the biodiversity of these biomes decreases.

Biomes are large ecological units that group together similar ecosystems, so they can extend across several continents or be limited to a specific region. There are two main types of biomes: terrestrial biomes and aquatic biomes, although within each one there are different more specific classifications.

Differences between biome, ecosystem and habitat

It is common to confuse these three concepts, but each one has a different meaning:

• Biome: it is a large-scale ecological unit that groups ecosystems with similar characteristics in terms of climate, flora and fauna. For example, the Amazon rainforest is part of the tropical forest biome.
• Ecosystem: is a smaller unit within a biome. It refers to the interaction between living beings (biocenosis) and the physical environment (biotope) in a specific area. You may be interested in this article about the aquatic ecosystem: what it is, characteristics, types and examples.
• Habitat: This is the specific place where a species lives, such as a particular tree for a bird or a pond for an amphibian. If you want to know more about What habitat is or the Types of habitat that exist, do not hesitate to consult these other two articles that we recommend.

Factors that determine a biome

Biomes are not distributed randomly, but rather their existence depends on several environmental factors:

• Climate: temperature and precipitation directly influence the vegetation and fauna of a place.
• Latitude: proximity to the equator or the poles affects the amount of solar radiation that an area receives.
• Altitude: Higher areas tend to be colder and have less vegetation.
• Soil type: influences the type of plants that can grow and, therefore, the animals that can live there.
• Water Availability: Determines whether the biome will be dry (like the desert) or wet (like the jungle).

Now that you know what a biome is and its difference from an ecosystem, you can watch this video about ecosystems to learn more about the topic.

There are two main types of biomes: terrestrial and aquatic, and each is divided into subtypes.

terrestrial biomes

Terrestrial biomes develop on the continental surface of the planet. They are classified mainly by climate and dominant vegetation.

• Tropical forest: they are located in areas close to the equator, such as the Amazon jungle. They have warm temperatures and abundant rainfall throughout the year. They are home to the greatest biodiversity on the planet, including thousands of species of plants, insects, birds and mammals. In this article you will find more information about the Tropical forests: characteristics, flora and fauna.
• Tundra: It is located in polar areas, such as in northern Canada or Siberia. It is characterized by its extremely cold temperatures, frozen soils (permafrost) and sparse vegetation, composed of lichens, mosses and small shrubs. Discover more about the Tundra: characteristics, flora and fauna.
• Savannah: it is a tropical biome with well-differentiated dry and wet seasons. It is dominated by grasslands and scattered trees. It is found in regions such as East Africa and South America, and is home to large herbivores such as elephants, giraffes and zebras. Discover the savanna ecosystem: characteristics, flora and fauna.
• Desert: they have very little rainfall, extreme temperatures (very hot or very cold) and vegetation that is very adapted to drought, such as the Sahara or Atacama desert. Know the Types of deserts.
• Temperate forest: they are located in areas with marked seasons and moderate rainfall. They can be deciduous (trees lose their leaves in autumn) or evergreen. Examples are the forests of western Europe and the east coast of North America. You may be interested in this post about the Temperate Forest: characteristics, flora and fauna.
• Taiga: it is a biome characteristic of subarctic areas such as Canada, Russia and Scandinavia. It is mainly made up of conifers and endures long, cold winters. Discover What is taiga: definition and characteristics.

In this other Evidence Network article you can discover much more about the Types of terrestrial biomes.

Aquatic biomes

Aquatic biomes cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and are essential for life on the planet, as they regulate the climate, produce oxygen and host an enormous diversity of species.

• Marine biome: includes oceans, seas, coral reefs and coastal areas. It is the largest biome on the planet and is home to everything from microorganisms such as phytoplankton to large animals such as whales and sharks. It also regulates the global climate and produces oxygen.
• Freshwater biome: includes rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, springs and wetlands. Its biodiversity is enormous, although it is more limited due to its smaller area. Many amphibians, fish, insects and aquatic plants depend on these ecosystems.

Here you will find more information about the Types of aquatic biomes.

Below we show you some of the most representative biomes of each continent.

South America

• Tropical forest: Amazon rainforest.
• Sabana: The Brazilian Cerrado and the Venezuelan Llanos.
• Desert: Atacama (Chile).
• Marine biome: coastal areas of the Pacific (Peru and Ecuador) and the South Atlantic (Argentina), rich in marine biodiversity thanks to ocean currents such as the Humboldt current.

Africa

• Savannah: Serengeti in Tanzania and Kenya.
• Desert: Sahara, the largest in the world. Discover the Animals of the Sahara Desert.
• Tropical forest: Congo Basin.
• Alpine tundra: Kilimanjaro Mountains and Ethiopia.

Asia

• Taiga: Siberia.
• Desert: Gobi (China and Mongolia).
• Temperate forest: Himalayas and areas of Japan.
• Marine biome: South China Sea, Indian Ocean.

Europe

• Temperate forest: Central and western Europe.
• Taiga: Northern Russia and Scandinavia.
• Tundra: Northern Norway and Russia.
• Freshwater biome: Danube Basin, Scottish lakes.

• They regulate the climate: they act as thermal and climate stabilizers on a global scale, especially the oceans and large forests.
• They produce oxygen and capture CO₂: biomes such as tropical forests and oceans help maintain the balance of gases in the atmosphere.
• They are the habitat of millions of species: they allow the survival of plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms, guaranteeing biodiversity.
• They support natural cycles: such as the water cycle, the carbon cycle or the nitrogen cycle, essential for life.
• They provide natural resources: such as food, drinking water, raw materials and active ingredients for medicines.
• They cushion the effects of climate change: many biomes function as natural carbon sinks and protect against extreme events.

How many biomes are there?

It depends on the classification criteria. Some sources recognize 8 main biomes, others up to 11, and some more if subtypes are considered. The most common thing is to talk about terrestrial and aquatic biomes, divided into several types.

What is the largest biome?

The marine biome is the largest on the planet, covering more than 70% of the Earth’s surface. It is home to enormous biodiversity, from microorganisms to large marine mammals. Among terrestrial biomes, the largest is the taiga.

Which biome has the most biodiversity?

The humid tropical forest, like the Amazon rainforest, is the biome with the greatest biodiversity on the planet. Although it occupies only a small part of the earth’s surface, it is home to more than 50% of known species. Its warm and humid climate throughout the year favors the life of thousands of species of plants, animals, fungi and insects.

What is the coldest biome in the world?

The tundra is the coldest biome. It is located in areas near the North Pole and has frozen soils for most of the year. Only small plants such as mosses and lichens grow, and animals adapted to extreme cold live such as reindeer or arctic foxes.

What threats affect biomes?

Biomes are threatened by human activities such as deforestation, pollution, climate change, overexploitation of resources and urbanization. These pressures alter the ecological balance and put biodiversity and the services that biomes provide at risk.

Now that you know what biomes are and their types, do not hesitate to take a look at this video where the characteristics of aquatic ecosystems are explained.

If you want to read more articles similar to What are biomes: types, characteristics and examples, we recommend that you enter our Ecosystems category.