The classification and spatial distribution of the world’s biomes Flashcards
2 Major factors influencing the distribution of biomes
Climate and terrain
3 Types of biomes
Terrestrial, marine or freshwater
Overview of the spatial distribution of world biomes
-Terrestrial biomes boundaries are determined predominently by climate
-Polar biomes are colder with a shorter growing season, resulting in fewer kinds of vegetation
-As you move away from the poles towards the equator, precipitation becomes increasingly important, producing temperate climates
-In the equatorial latitudes there is a relatively smaller range of temperature during the year with the type of tropical/subtropical biomes determined by the amount of precipitation
How terrain affects the distribution of world biomes
-With increasing altitude there is a transition in biome types i.e., high mountain regions featuring biomes that share characteristics with polar biomes
-Mountain barriers and coastal locations can dramatically affect the amount of precipitation received
Polar
Very cold and dry all year round
Continental
Long, cold winters with shorter summers
Temperate
Cool winters and mild summers
Tropical
Hot, humid and wet all year round
Arid
Very hot and dry all year round
Tropical/Subtropical biomes
-Flooded grasslands and savannas
-Coniferous forests
-Dry broadleaf forests
-Grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
-Moist broadleaf forests
Temperate biomes
-Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests
-Temperate coniferous forests
-Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Dry biomes
-Deserts and xeric shrublands
-Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and shrub
Polar/Montane biomes
-Boreal forests/taiga
-Montane grasslands and shrublands
-Rock and ice
-Tundra
Aquatic biomes
-Lakes
-Mangroves
Marine biomes
-Polar
-Temperate shelf and sea
-Temperate/tropical upwelling
-Tropical coral
