What are biomes primarily characterized by?

Biomes are primarily characterized by specific climate conditions and the communities of plants and animals that thrive in those environments. This reflects an important relationship between the physical environment and the living organisms that inhabit it. Climate factors such as temperature, precipitation, and seasonal variations play a crucial role in determining which species can survive and reproduce in a given biome.

In addition to climate, the biotic interactions within these communities—such as competition, predation, and symbiosis—further define the ecological characteristics of a biome. For instance, deserts, forests, grasslands, and tundras can all differ significantly in terms of the types of vegetation, animal life, and overall biodiversity, all of which are influenced by the underlying climate.

This characterization emphasizes the intrinsic connection among organisms and their environment, as opposed to human-driven factors or the mere size of an area. While human influence and diversity of species are important ecological themes, they are not the primary factors in defining biomes.