Which biomes have the highest biodiversity

As temperature and precipitation decrease, biodiversity generally decreases. Tropical forests are widely considered to have the greatest species diversity of the terrestrial biomes but diversity is also high in the temperate deciduous biome and. The tundra biome has the least biodiversity , but the northern coniferous biome also has low species diversity. Generally speaking, desert biomes have low species diversity, but pockets of localized high biodiversity do exist.

You can read more about diversity in different terrestrial biomes here. You can find global biodiversity maps for amphibians, mammals, and birds here. The map below is of amphibian species diversity. Some argue that a uniform climate in regards to temperature is important for biodiversity. The amount of available energy or productivity is also thought to contribute to diversity, and tropical rainforests have a large amount of both.

Thus, this energy is available for species to use and diversify. Primary productivity across the globe with greater numbers shown in yellow and red and lower numbers in purple and dark blue.

Tropical rainforests are also one of the oldest biomes on the planet. Having existed for a long period of time, species have had more time to diversify. To read more about why tropical rainforests are so diverse, check out this extensive page.

Which biome has the greatest biodiversity, and why? A biome is a large geographical region where certain types of plants and animals thrive. Each biome has a unique set of environmental conditions and plants and animals that have adapted to those conditions. The major land biomes have names like tropical rainforest , grasslands, desert , temperate deciduous forest, taiga also called coniferous or boreal forest , and tundra.

The differences in these biomes can be traced to differences in climate and where they are located in relation to the Equator. Global temperatures vary with the angle at which the sun's rays strike the different parts of the Earth's curved surface. Because the sun's rays hit the Earth at different angles at different latitudes, not all places on Earth receive the same amount of sunlight. These differences in the amount of sunlight cause differences in temperature.

As a result, the biomes located there tropical rainforest, tropical grassland, and the warm desert receive the most sunlight and have the highest temperatures. Another notable difference between biomes is the amount of precipitation. In the low latitudes, the air is warm, due to the amount of direct sunlight, and moist, due to evaporation from warm sea waters and ocean currents.

Soil moisture, soil nutrients, and length of growing season also affect what kinds of plants can grow in a place and what kinds of organisms the biome can sustain. Along with temperature and precipitation, these are factors that distinguish one biome from another and influence the dominant types of vegetation and animals that have adapted to a biome's unique characteristics.

As a result, different biomes have different kinds and quantities of plants and animals, which scientists refer to as biodiversity. Biomes with greater kinds or quantities of plants and animals are said to have high biodiversity. Biomes like the temperate deciduous forest and grasslands have better conditions for plant growth. Boreal forests are characterized by needle-leaved, drought tolerant, evergreen trees, and a climate consisting of long, cold winters and short, cool summers.

Tundra Biome. Figure Tundra biome climate diagram. Very short growing seasons and temperatures that are below zero degrees Celsius for much of the year characterize tundras. References and Recommended Reading Archbold, O. Ecology of World Vegetation. Cain, S. Life-forms and phytoclimate. Botanical Review 16 , Whittaker, R. Communities and Ecosystems. London, UK: Macmillan, Wilson, E. The Diversity of Life. Article History Close. Share Cancel. Revoke Cancel.

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