Biomes and Ecosystems

Biomes Vs. Ecosystems

A biome is a vast region on Earth characterized by a specific climate, geography, and distinct types of living organisms.

• Major biomes include tundra, aquatic, forests, grasslands, and deserts.
• The plants and animals in each biome have special traits that help them thrive in their unique environment. 

Within these biomes, smaller areas known as ecosystems exist, where living organisms rely on one another for survival. 

• Pond ecosystem within a forest biome
• Wetland ecosystem within a grassland biome

Each biome is made up of many such ecosystems. Let’s explore some of the biomes!

Aquatic Biomes

Aquatic biomes cover most of the Earth’s surface. 

Marine Biomes:

These include oceans covering 70% of the Earth’s surface, coral reefs, and estuaries where rivers meet the sea. 

Freshwater Biomes:

These include lakes & ponds, rivers & streams, and wetlands.

Importance of Aquatic Biomes:

• Regulate the Earth’s climate, cycle nutrients, and support biodiversity.
• Oceans absorb a large amount of carbon dioxide, helping to regulate global temperatures.
• Freshwater biomes provide drinking water and habitat for many species and are vital for agriculture.

Grassland Biomes

Grassland biomes are communities of plants characterized by grasses and large shrubs or trees, covering more than 25% of the world’s land area.

Temperate Grasslands include Eurasian steppes, North American prairies, and Argentine pampas. 

Tropical grasslands include the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa and northern Australia.

Importance of Grassland Biomes:

• They support a large variety of wildlife.
• They support much of the world’s agriculture (wheat, corn, and cattle).
• Grasslands help prevent soil erosion and play a critical role in the carbon cycle by storing carbon in the soil.

Desert Biomes

Deserts cover about one-third of Earth’s surface.

Hot and Dry Deserts like the Sahara are characterized by scorching temperatures and very little vegetation.

Cold Deserts, like the Gobi Desert in Asia, have significant temperatures drop, especially in winter.

Coastal Deserts like the Namib Desert in Africa, where cool ocean currents create fog but very little rainfall.

Importance of Desert Biomes:

• Deserts are rich in natural resources, including minerals, fossil fuels, and solar energy.
• They shape Earth’s surface through wind and water erosion.
• They reflect a significant amount of solar radiation back into space due to their sandy surfaces.

Fun Facts

Here are some interesting facts about biomes:

• The Sonoran Desert in North America is home to the saguaro cactus, which can grow up to 40 feet tall and live for over 150 years.
• Over half of the world’s plant and animal species are in the rainforest biome.
• The Boreal Forest, also called Taiga, is so vast that it is known as the “green belt” of the planet. 
• Desert biomes aren’t always hot. The largest desert in the world is Antarctica, which is cold and dry!

Review

Let’s quickly recap what we learned about biomes and ecosystems:

• What are the five major biomes on Earth? Aquatic,  Grasslands, Forests, Tundra & Desert
• What are the smaller areas within biomes where organisms interact? Ecosystems
• Which biome covers 70% of the Earth’s surface? Marine Biomes
• Which biome helps shape the Earth’s surface through wind and water erosion? Desert
•  What biome supports much of the world’s agriculture? Grasslands