Biome

How is it possible to identify that a certain place is, for example, a desert, a forest or a jungle? It is the geographical characteristics that will determine what type of biome it is, regardless of where in the world this geographical area is located.

Biome characteristics

Each biome is defined based on its characteristics, these are the geographical conditions, since from them a flora and fauna appropriate to the habitat is generated. Such factors contribute to the balance of the ecosystem . Below are the geographic factors that influence biomes:

• Latitude: Determines the amount of heat in the specific area due to its proximity to the equator , the closer it is, the more heat there will be.
• Precipitation: The amount of rainfall that occurs in an area annually determines whether it would be humid, semi-arid or arid.
• Altitude: Determines the distance of the area compared to sea level.
• Temperature: It refers to the degree of heat in a certain place, a factor that influences depending on the other factors.
• Relief: It is determined due to the irregularities formed in the land surface of the area.

Classification and types of biomes

They can be defined based on their predominant vegetation and fauna, determined by climatic and geographical factors. They can be both terrestrial and aquatic.

Terrestrial biomes

These biomes can have many varied characteristics depending on the climate in which they are found and the latitude and altitude. Among the main terrestrial biomes, we can mention:

• Deserts: Characterized by high temperatures and low rainfall, with three quarters of the year being drought . Mostly infertile relief, which allows a xerophytic flora, characterized by having thorns, superficial roots, like cacti. The fauna is adapted to drought and high levels of heat, in effect, they have reserve mechanisms to survive in this environment.
• The forests: These can be subdivided into humid tropical forests, dry tropical forests and savannas, Mediterranean forests, humid temperate forests and mixed forests. Humid tropical forests and humid temperate forests are characterized by mild climates that are rich in oak and elm trees. The Mediterranean forests in their case, are surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea , with flora adapted to the heat.
• The jungles: These areas are located near the Equator, they have abundant flora, such as tall trees with vegetation underneath. A diverse number of species, both in flora and fauna. Its humid climate, which varies between 18 and 29 ° C, provides rainfall on a regular basis, which keeps its fauna healthy.
• The savannas: Also known as a tropical dry forest, there are two seasons in this area, drought and rain and its temperature varies between 26 ° C and 28 ° C. Due to their flora, they can be classified into savannas with bushes with large extensions of grasslands; wooded savannas with large manifestations of trees, whether palms or woody trees; and finally, the open savannas that are composed of herbaceous vegetation.
• The tundra : They are located in the territories of Russia and the Arctic, at the end of the American and Eurasian continents, and areas of very high mountains. Long winters with extremely cold temperatures predominate; low precipitation, mainly in the form of snow. Its fauna is composed of hibernating and migratory animals. It is important to note that very few animal and plant species can survive in these biomes. Likewise, humans have difficulty adapting to these ecosystems.

Aquatic biomes

Aquatic biomes are characterized by factors other than terrestrial ones, given that they depend on depth, temperature and the water regime. Among the main aquatic ecosystems are:

• The freshwater: It is characterized by the freshwater organisms that live in it. The aquatic fauna and flora is very abundant and diverse and includes lakes, ponds, streams and estuaries.
• The seafarers: The difference between these biomes is that they are made up of salt water, which makes it the largest biome on the planet. This includes the seas, oceans, estuaries, and coral reefs .

However, with this simple classification, the World Wide Fund for Nature achieves the classification of biomes according to WWF, whose result gives up to 33 different types of biomes. This distribution is achieved starting from being terrestrial, counting on 14 subdivisions; freshwater biomes, with 14 subdivisions as well; and the marine biomes, with 7 subdivisions.