BIOMES
Biomes are types of climax communities (or quasistable successional communities)
• Determined primarily by temperature and rainfall
• Defined (described) by the predominant plants,
because plants are the primary producers, most
obvious organisms, have the most biomass
• Plants determine interesting characteristics, like
productivity, diversity, resistance to fire, drought,
resiliance (recovery from stress)
Biomes, described by the predominant plants, are
determined primarily by temperature and rainfall
Biome
Stress
Low temp,
wa t e r
low temp,
Taiga,
water
boreal for e s t
variable
Temperate
Temp
broad-leaf
seasonalit y
forest
Tundra
NPP
Productivity,
g/m2 / y r
Diversit y
Fire
Resistance
Resilia n c e
140
low (S)
hig h
low
1000
low (K, S )
low,
depending
on wa t e r
hig h
1200
high (R, K )
moderat e
moderate to
hig h
Wet tropical
forest
leaching,
shade
2200
high (R, K )
hig h
high to low
(depends on
extent)
Dry tropical
forest,
chaparral
Water
seasonalit y
1600
high (R, K )
low
hig h
600-900
moderate
(R)
low
hig h
100
low (S)
hig h
low
Grassla n d s
Deserts
Variable:
fire,grazing,
flo o d s
Low water,
temperature
variable
Summary
Biomes, described by the predominant plants, are
determined primarily by temperature and rainfall