Biome (バイオーム)
- Biome
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Proposed by Clements (1916) and used by Clements & Shelford (after 1932)
A major regional ecological community of organisms usually defined by the botanical habitat in which they occur and determined by interaction of the substrate, climate, and flora. The term is often limited to denote terrestrial habitats, for example, tundra, coniferous forest, and grassland. Oceans may be considered a single biome, the marine biome, although sometimes this is subdivided, for example, coral reef biome. There is no sharp distinction between adjacent biomes. (Hale & Margham 1991)
A major regional ecosystem, characterized by its distinctive vegetation, a particular plant formation, and associated animals, microbes, and physical environment (life zone) (e.g., grassland, tundra, savanna). A biome is a subdivision of a continent on the basis of major differences in the life form of the vegetation, where life-forms reflect the regional climates and soils. (Dunster & Dunster 1996)
Translation into Japanese
'Biome' is transtrated 'Seibutsu-gunkei (生物群系)', or 'Shokubutsu-gunkei (植物群系)' into Japanese. The phonological translation is also used.
- Biome type
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Table. The characteristics of biome. (Summarized from Mackenzie et al. 1998)
biome net primary production biomass ecosystem environment Temperature Precipitation Tundra Low Low Low low (< 250 mm), mainly as snow Desert Depending on rainfall Low Highly variable Extremely low (so-called arid regions) Grassland High Low Intermediate between that of deserts and forests Forest High High Various High - References
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- Dunster J & Dunster K. 1996. Dictionary of natural resources management. UBC Press, Vancouver
- Hale WG & Margham JP. 1991. The Harper Collins Dictionary. Biology. Harper Perennial, New York
- Mackenzie A, Ball AS & Virdee SR. 1998. Instant notes in ecology. BIOS Scientific Publishers Ltd, Oxford
- physiognomy
- The World's Biomes LINK