Biology G – 12 2.3 Biomes 2013 E.

2.3 Biomes
What is a biome?
In 1875, the geologist Eduard Suess first coined the term biosphere. He used this to describe the
layer of the Earth’s surface where life is found.
 Biosphere is defined as all those parts of the Earth, including the Earth’s crust, the seas
and the atmosphere, where living organisms can be found.
 Biome is geographically and climatically defined region with organisms which have
similar ecological adaptations.

Biosphere is the integration of the entire world’s ecosystems (the sum of all of the organisms of
the earth and their environment). Biome is the living zone of the planet.

Biosphere is divided into a number of biomes. The concept of a biome brings together several
ideas. A biome is a geographical or regional area with:
 a specific climate,
 a specific soil type, and
 specific animals and plants that are adapted in similar ways to the abiotic conditions
within the area

What are the main climatic factors that determine the Biome types?
Temperature and precipitation (rainfall) are the most significant climatic factors in determining
biome type. These, in turn, are determined to a very large extent by geographical location. For
example,
 It is never anything but cold at the poles, and these areas also receive little precipitation.
 It is never anything but hot at the equator and equatorial regions receive high
precipitation.

Types of Biomes
There have been many classifications of the different biomes and scientists are still refining their
ideas but we can classify the biomes into two main types. These are,
 Terrestrial biomes and
 Aquatic biomes
Each biome can then be further subdivided to give the distinct biomes.

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 Biology G – 12 2.3 Biomes 2013 E.C

Terrestrial Biomes (a biome consisting of an area of land)

Terrestrial biome is defined by temperature, rainfall (precipitation), soil type, flora (plants) and
fauna (animals).

Table 1 shows the characteristics of the major types of terrestrial biomes

Biome Precipitation Temperature Soil Plants Animals
Desert Almost none Hot Poor Sparse - succulents Sparse - insects,
(hot) (like cactus), sage arachnids, reptiles and
brush birds
Desert Almost none Cold Poor Sparse - Sparse - polar bears,
(cold) microorganisms and seals
some lichens
Thorn forest Dry summer, Hot summer, Poor Shrubs, some Drought- and fire
(scrub) rainy winter cool winter woodland (scrub oak) adapted animals
Tundra Dry Cold Permafrost Lichens and mosses Migrating animals
(frozen soil)
Boreal Adequate Cool year Poor, rocky Conifers Many mammals, birds,
forest round soil insects, arachnids, etc.
(Taiga)
Temperate Adequate Cool season Fertile soil Deciduous trees Many mammals, birds,
deciduous and warm reptiles, insects, etc.
forest season
Tropical 8-9 wet Always warm Fertile soil Ferns, tree ferns, Many animals
montane months, air large deciduous trees,
forest always humid epiphytes
Tropical Very wet Always warm Poor, thin Many plants, Many animals
rainforest soil epiphytes common

There are several biomes to be found within Ethiopia.

 Wetter portions of the western highlands
consist of tropical montane vegetation with
dense, luxuriant forests and rich undergrowth.
 Drier sections at lower elevations of the
western and eastern highlands contain tropical
montane forest mixed with grassland.
 Temperate grasslands cover the higher altitudes
of the western and eastern highlands. Figure 3 The main biomes in Ethiopia

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 Biology G – 12 2.3 Biomes 2013 E.C

 Tropical dry forest is found in the Rift Valley and eastern lowlands together with some
dry grassland areas.
 Dry grassland covers portions of the Denakil Plain.

Aquatic Biomes (Marine or Freshwater Biomes)

Aquatic biomes are subdivided into two main types. These are,
 Marine biomes (a biome consisting of a river, a lake or a pond)
 Freshwater biomes (a biome consisting of a part of the sea)
There are several biomes in each category.

Table 2 shows the main features of the aquatic biomes (marine and freshwater biomes)
Biome Salt content Moving or Other feature Animals and plants
standing
Marine Biomes:
oceanic, High Moving The region of the ocean where light Many fish, mammals and
pelagic penetrates plankton
Oceanic, High Less The region of the ocean Angler fish, sulphur bacteria at
abyssal movement where no light penetrates vents
Coral reef High Moving Most diverse of all marine habitats. Corals, many fish, many
Has many strata like a rainforest. seaweeds
Estuarine Intermediate Extreme Unique habitat due to mixing of Shore birds, fish, crabs,
movement saltwater and freshwater mangroves, kelps, sea grass
Freshwater Biomes:
Ponds and Freshwater Standing Are stratified as top layer absorbs Large numbers of plankton,
lakes more heat and light plants and animals in top layer
Streams Freshwater Moving Water is highly oxygenated Algae, plankton, plants and fish
and rivers
Wetlands Freshwater Standing Water is very nutrient rich Many plants and animals –
highest of all aquatic biomes

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