Abiotic Factors Are Determinants of Terrestrial Biome Distribution
Definition
Biome
- Large-scale groupings of ecosystems sharing similar abiotic factors (e.g., temperature, precipitation).
- Despite being geographically distant, biomes of the same type (e.g., deserts) share comparable abiotic conditions.
- Two primary abiotic factors, temperature and rainfall, govern the development of these distinct ecosystems.
1. Temperature: The Energy Factor
- Influence on Metabolism and Growth
- Warm regions (e.g., tropics) foster rapid plant growth and high biodiversity due to abundant energy.
- Cold regions (e.g., tundra) limit plant growth and species diversity because metabolic activities slow in low-temperature environments.
- Impact on Ecosystem Productivity
- Higher temperatures generally boost photosynthesis and nutrient cycling, resulting in lush vegetation.
- Lower temperatures restrict these processes, often yielding more sparse and specialized communities.
Temperature affects not only the survival of plants and animals but also their behavior and reproduction. For example, many species in colder biomes hibernate or migrate to cope with seasonal changes.
2. Rainfall: The Water Factor
- Essential Resource
- Water is vital for all living organisms; varying levels of rainfall create gradients of vegetation density.
- High rainfall supports tropical rainforests, while low rainfall leads to desert conditions.
- Seasonality
- The timing of rainfall influences growing seasons and the life cycles of organisms.
