A biome is a biogeographical unit consisting of a biological community that has formed in response to the physical environment in which they are found and a shared regional climate. Biomes may span more than one continent. Biome is a broader term than habitat and can comprise a variety of habitats. For example: Zones in the oceans include the intertidal, pelagic, and benthic zones. The types of organisms found in these ocean zones are determined by the amount of sunlight the water receives and how rich the water is in dissolved nutrients and oxygen. These factors, in turn, depend mainly... Show more A biome is a biogeographical unit consisting of a biological community that has formed in response to the physical environment in which they are found and a shared regional climate. Biomes may span more than one continent. Biome is a broader term than habitat and can comprise a variety of habitats. For example: Zones in the oceans include the intertidal, pelagic, and benthic zones. The types of organisms found in these ocean zones are determined by the amount of sunlight the water receives and how rich the water is in dissolved nutrients and oxygen. These factors, in turn, depend mainly on the depth of the water and its distance from shore. The intertidal zone is the narrow strip along a coastline that is covered by water at high tide and exposed to air at low tide. There are plenty of nutrients and sunlight in the intertidal zone. Producers here include phytoplankton and algae. Other organisms include barnacles, snails, crabs, and mussels. They must have adaptations for the constantly changing conditions in this zone. The pelagic zone is all the water farther from shore in the open ocean. It is further divided by depth of water. The top 200 meters of water is the photic zone. Producers here include seaweeds and phytoplankton. Other organisms are plentiful. They include zooplankton and animals such as fish, whales, and dolphins. Below 200 meters is the aphotic zone. There are no primary producers here because there isn't enough sunlight for photosynthesis. However, the water may be rich in nutrients because of dead organisms drifting down from above. Organisms that live here may include bacteria, sponges, sea anemones, worms, sea stars, and fish. The benthic zone includes the ocean floor and the water just above it. Organisms living in this zone include clams and crabs. They may be few in number due to relatively scarce nutrients in this zone. There are many more organisms around deep-sea vents on the ocean floor. Microorganisms use chemicals that pour out of the vents to make food by chemosynthesis. These producers support large numbers of other organisms, including crustaceans and tubeworms. Show less
A biome is a biogeographical unit consisting of a biological community that has formed in response to the physical environment in which they are found and a shared regional climate. Biomes may span more than one continent. Biome is a broader term than habitat and can comprise a variety of habitats.
For example: Zones in the oceans include the intertidal, pelagic, and benthic zones. The types of organisms found in these ocean zones are determined by the amount of sunlight the water receives and how rich the water is in dissolved nutrients and oxygen. These factors, in turn, depend mainly on the depth of the water and its distance from shore. The intertidal zone is the narrow strip along a coastline that is covered by water at high tide and exposed to air at low tide. There are plenty of nutrients and sunlight in the intertidal zone. Producers here include phytoplankton and algae. Other organisms include barnacles, snails, crabs, and mussels. They must have adaptations for the constantly changing conditions in this zone. The pelagic zone is all the water farther from shore in the open ocean. It is further divided by depth of water. The top 200 meters of water is the photic zone. Producers here include seaweeds and phytoplankton. Other organisms are plentiful. They include zooplankton and animals such as fish, whales, and dolphins. Below 200 meters is the aphotic zone. There are no primary producers here because there isn't enough sunlight for photosynthesis. However, the water may be rich in nutrients because of dead organisms drifting down from above. Organisms that live here may include bacteria, sponges, sea anemones, worms, sea stars, and fish. The benthic zone includes the ocean floor and the water just above it. Organisms living in this zone include clams and crabs. They may be few in number due to relatively scarce nutrients in this zone. There are many more organisms around deep-sea vents on the ocean floor. Microorganisms use chemicals that pour out of the vents to make food by chemosynthesis. These producers support large numbers of other organisms, including crustaceans and tubeworms.
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