Download Introduction to Biomes

Introduction to
Biomes
The Rule of Climatic Similarity
• Similar environments lead to the evolution of organisms
similar in form and function and to similar ecosystems
• This rule leads to the concept of the biome
• Biomes are the major regional groupings of plants and
animals discernible at a global scale.
To understand each biome, we
need to know:
• The global distribution pattern
• The general characteristics of the climate and specific
temperature and/or precipitation patterns.
• Other aspects of the physical environment that can effect plant
growth
• The soil order(s) that characterize the biome
• The dominant, characteristic, and unique growth forms of the
vegetation.
• The types of animals
Species Types in Biomes
• Exotic species – a species introduced into a new geographic
area
• Invasive species – species not native to an area that are
particularly aggressive and problem causing
• Endemic (native) species – a species that is native to a
particular area and not native elsewhere
• Cosmopolitan species – a species with a broad distribution,
occurring all over the world whenever the environment is
appropriate