BIOMES
Biomes are types of climax communities (or quasi-stable 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, aredetermined primarily by temperature and rainfall
Biome Stress
NPP Productivity, g/m2/yr
Diversit y Fire Resistance
Resiliance
Tundra Low temp, water
1 4 0 low (S) hig h low
Taiga, boreal forest
low temp, water variable
1000 low (K, S )
low, depending on water
hig h
Temperate broad-leaf forest
Temp seasonalit y
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
Grasslands
Variable: fire,grazing, floods
600-900 moderate ( R )
low hig h
Deserts
Low water, temperature variable
1 0 0 low (S) hig h low
SummaryBiomes, described by the predominant plants, aredetermined primarily by temperature and rainfall