biome

[bahy-ohm]

noun

Ecology.

1. a complex biotic community characterized by distinctive plant and animal species and maintained under the climatic conditions of the region, especially such a community that has developed to climax.

biome

/ ˈbaɪˌəʊm /

noun

1. a major ecological community, extending over a large area and usually characterized by a dominant vegetation See formation

biome

1. A large community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct region. Terrestrial biomes, typically defined by their climate and dominant vegetation, include grassland, tundra, desert, tropical rainforest, and deciduous and coniferous forests. There are two basic aquatic biomes, freshwater and marine, which are sometimes further broken down into categories such as lakes and rivers or pelagic, benthic, and intertidal zones.

Word History and Origins

Origin of biome¹

First recorded in 1915–20; bi- ² + -ome, indicating a mass or part of something ( -oma )

Word History and Origins

Origin of biome¹

C20: from _bio- + _-ome

Example Sentences

The visitor attraction and environmental charity's huge bubble-like domes, called biomes, were built to recreate some of the Earth's different climates, as well house thousands of different plant species and some animals.

From BBC

“Native trees also support local wildlife, specifically ones endemic to our geographical biome. Pollinators, nesting birds, migratory birds and other species rely on them.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Each biome reveals something new, each path hints at what’s ahead without giving it away.”

From Los Angeles Times

They were able to draw inferences about the global climate on land, about productivity of different regions, and about characteristics of the various biomes of the Miocene compared to today.

From Salon

There is some disagreement in the scientific community over the question of how climate change will affect plant health and groundwater availability across a variety of biomes, with competing models and approaches providing different answers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ecosystem 
• habitat