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