Structured Lists Directory

Overview

Biome Types

Biomes are large-scale ecosystems characterized by similar climate, vegetation, and animal life. They are formed by climatic conditions, particularly temperature and precipitation, and are classified into major types including forests, grasslands, deserts, tundra, wetlands, and oceans. Each biome provides unique biodiversity and ecosystem services, playing essential roles in sustaining life on Earth.

ecosystem biome climate vegetation biodiversity environmental science biology geography
code slug name description characteristics_biodiversity characteristics_climate characteristics_precipitation characteristics_vegetation subtypes
01 forest Forest Terrestrial biome dominated by woody plants. Very high Warm to cold, humid 750mm+/year Trees, shrubs, herbs [{"code":"01-01","slug":"tropical-rainforest","name":"Tropical Rainforest"},{"code":"01-02","slug":"temperate-forest","name":"Temperate Forest"},{"code":"01-03","slug":"boreal-forest","name":"Boreal Forest (Taiga)"}]
02 desert Desert Extremely arid terrestrial biome. Low Arid, large daily/annual temperature variation Less than 250mm/year Succulents, shrubs, herbs [{"code":"02-01","slug":"hot-desert","name":"Hot Desert"},{"code":"02-02","slug":"cold-desert","name":"Cold Desert"},{"code":"02-03","slug":"coastal-desert","name":"Coastal Desert"},{"code":"02-04","slug":"semiarid","name":"Semiarid"}]
03 grassland Grassland Terrestrial biome dominated by herbaceous plants. Moderate Dry to semi-humid 250-1000mm/year Grasses (Poaceae dominant) [{"code":"03-01","slug":"savanna","name":"Savanna"},{"code":"03-02","slug":"steppe","name":"Steppe"},{"code":"03-03","slug":"prairie","name":"Prairie"},{"code":"03-04","slug":"pampas","name":"Pampas"}]
04 tundra Tundra Cold biome distributed in polar and alpine regions. Low Extremely cold, short summer 150-250mm/year (mostly snow) Mosses, lichens, herbs [{"code":"04-01","slug":"arctic-tundra","name":"Arctic Tundra"},{"code":"04-02","slug":"alpine-tundra","name":"Alpine Tundra"}]
05 wetland Wetland Biome of land areas and transitional zones covered by water. High Diverse Abundant or submerged Aquatic and wetland plants [{"code":"05-01","slug":"marsh","name":"Marsh"},{"code":"05-02","slug":"swamp","name":"Swamp"},{"code":"05-03","slug":"bog","name":"Bog"},{"code":"05-04","slug":"fen","name":"Fen"}]
06 ocean Ocean Aquatic biome covering approximately 71% of Earth's surface. Very high Diverse (polar to tropical) N/A (saltwater environment) Algae, seagrasses [{"code":"06-01","slug":"coral-reef","name":"Coral Reef"},{"code":"06-02","slug":"open-ocean","name":"Open Ocean"},{"code":"06-03","slug":"deep-sea","name":"Deep Sea"},{"code":"06-04","slug":"estuary","name":"Estuary"}]

Classification of major ecosystem types on Earth.