biomes
Tundra, desert, rainforest
Biomes are large-scale ecological regions defined by their climate and dominant plant and animal life.
The major terrestrial biomes include tundra, desert, grassland, and various forest types.
Aquatic biomes cover freshwater and marine environments.
The term appears most often in biology education and environmental science: Students learned about the rainforest biome.
Each biome supports characteristic species adapted to its conditions.
Frigid treeless biome
- rainforestWet tropical woodland ecosystem
- desertTo leave behind completely
- savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
taiga · chaparral · wetlands · coral reef · forest · jungle · steppe · prairie
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
- photosynthesisLight-to-sugar conversion in plants
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
nutrient cycle · succession · carrying capacity · niche · energy flow · producers · consumers · decomposers
Plants of a region
- faunaAnimal life collectively
- endemic speciesLife found nowhere else
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- speciationFormation of distinct species
keystone species · genetic diversity · interdependence · food chains · migration · hibernation · camouflage · pollination
Guarding against harm
- restorationReturning something to condition
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
reforestation · habitat loss · fragmentation · wildlife corridors · protected areas · rewilding · deforestation · desertification
Massive saltwater body
- reefUnderwater rock or coral formation
- marineRelating to the sea
- saltwaterOcean water, chemically speaking
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
estuary · pelagic · benthic · abyssal · littoral · neritic · intertidal · hydrothermal vent
Measured heat intensity
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- aridityAbsence of moisture
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
- seasonalityDependence on annual cycles
permafrost · monsoon · drought · glacial · polar · subtropical · equatorial · microclimate
tundra
Frigid treeless biome
- rainforestWet tropical woodland ecosystem
- desertTo leave behind completely
- savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
grassland · taiga · chaparral · wetlands · coral reef · forest · jungle · steppe · prairie · woodland
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
- photosynthesisLight-to-sugar conversion in plants
decomposition · nutrient cycle · succession · carrying capacity · niche · energy flow · producers · consumers · decomposers · carbon cycle
flora
Plants of a region
- faunaAnimal life collectively
- endemic speciesLife found nowhere else
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
speciation · keystone species · genetic diversity · interdependence · food chains · migration · hibernation · camouflage · pollination · seed dispersal
protection
Guarding against harm
- restorationReturning something to condition
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
stewardship · reforestation · habitat loss · fragmentation · wildlife corridors · protected areas · rewilding · deforestation · desertification · climate change
ocean
Massive saltwater body
- reefUnderwater rock or coral formation
- marineRelating to the sea
- saltwaterOcean water, chemically speaking
freshwater · estuary · pelagic · benthic · abyssal · littoral · neritic · intertidal · hydrothermal vent · deep sea
temperature
Measured heat intensity
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- aridityAbsence of moisture
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
seasonality · permafrost · monsoon · drought · glacial · polar · subtropical · equatorial · microclimate · rainfall
- plant geographyfloristic regions, native flora, native plants, tropical flora, desert flora
- geographycontinents, continent, oceans, countries, country
- earth scienceatmosphere, earthquake, geology, volcano, crust
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- ecosystemsrainforest, forest, desert, jungle, ocean
- nature triviaanimal behavior, animal sounds, defense mechanisms, hibernation, migration patterns
biomesmicrohabitats
Small distinct ecological zones
habitats · niches · microsites · ecosystems · patches
biomesurban landscapes
City environments as viewed
industrial zones · concrete jungles · human settlements · cities · cityscapes
- biometric dataMeasurable bodily characteristics
- biometric scannerSensor reading physical traits
- biometric screeningIdentity check via body features
- biometric scanIdentification via physical traits
- biometric authenticationIdentity verification via body traits
- biometric lockLock using body measurements