Biomes

• Biomes - ecological units that cover extensive geographic areas and are defines by similar climate patterns, such as temperature and precipitation.
• Terrestrial biome - land-based ecosystem
• Aquatic biome - water-based ecosystem
• Tropical Rainforest - The largest biome, located in the equatorial regions of the world. With high temperature and rainfall throughout the year. Dense vegetation including tall trees, epiphytes, and diverse plant and animal species.
• Temperate deciduous forest - moderate temperatures and distinct season. Dominated by deciduous trees with diverse plant and animal life.
• Boreal forest - found in subarctic and cold temperate regions with long winters and short summers. Dominated by coniferous trees and home to cold animals.
• Grassland

  • Savanna - tropical grasslands with scattered trees and distinct wet and dry seasons.
  • Temperate grasslands - have fertile soils, moderate rainfall, and are characterized by grasses and few trees.
• Desert - Arid regions with very low rainfall, high temperatures during the day, and cold temperature during the night. Vegetation is also sparse.
• Tundra - found in arctic and antarctic regions with extremely cold temperature and shot growing seasons. Characterized by low lying vegetation such as mosses, lichens, and small shrubs.
• Alpine - found in mountain regions at high altitudes, above the treeline.
• Lakes - large bodies or still or slow moving water,, with wide range of sizes and depths

  • Oligotrophic - low nutrient
  • Eutrophic - high nutrient
• Pond - smaller and shallower than lakes usually withstanding water and supporting diverse aquatic life
• Rivers or streams - flowing bodies of freshwater varying in size from small creeks to large rivers, with distinct habitats along their course.
• Wetlands - areas where the water table is at or near the surface, creating conditions of saturated soil. Includes swamps, marshes, and bogs, which are vital habitats for many species.
• Coral reefs - underwater structures built by colonies of coral animals. They are found in warm, shallow waters and support an incredibly diverse range of marine species
• Estuaries - transition zone between rivers and the sea
• Intertidal zone - the area between high and low tide levels, subject to regular fluctuations in water availability and home to specialized organisms.
• Deep sea - the vast, dark, and cold ocean depths beyond the continental shelf, supporting an array of extraordinary creatures adapted to extreme conditions.