A biome (/ˈbaɪ.oʊm/) is a distinct geographical region with specific climate, vegetation, and animal life. It consists of a biological community that has formed in response to its physical environment and regional climate.[1][2] Biomes may span more than one continent. A biome encompasses multiple ecosystems within its boundaries. It can also comprise a variety of habitats.
While a biome can cover small areas, a microbiome is a mix of organisms that coexist in a defined space on a much smaller scale. For example, the human microbiome is the collection of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that are present on or in a human body.[3]
A biota is the total collection of organisms of a geographic region or a time period, from local geographic scales and instantaneous temporal scales all the way up to whole-planet and whole-timescale spatiotemporal scales. The biotas of the Earth make up the biosphere.
- ^ Bowman, William D.; Hacker, Sally D. (2021). Ecology (5th ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. H3–1–51. ISBN 978-1605359212.
- ^ Rull, Valentí (2020). "Organisms: adaption, extinction, and biogeographical reorganizations". Quaternary Ecology, Evolution, and Biogeography. Academic Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-12-820473-3.
- ^ "Finally, A Map Of All The Microbes On Your Body". NPR. Archived from the original on 2018-04-16. Retrieved 2018-04-05.