Earth BiomesEarlier, a biome was defined as a large stable terrestrial ecosystem. Classification of biomes vary and no one system dominates biogeography studies. Here five principal biomes, forest, savanna, grassland, desert and tundra are distinguished on the basis of unique plant and animal communities. Within each biome may be several formation classes, vegetation units defined on the basis of dominate plants in a terrestrial ecosystem. For instance, the forest biome includes the tropical rain forest, seasonal forest and shrub, Mediterranean woodland, Midlatitude broadleaf deciduous and mixed forests, broadleaf evergreen, and marine west coast forest to name a few.
Terrestrial Biomes as classified by the World Wildlife Foundation |
