CK12 Life Science

Table 23.6: (continued)

Characteristics of Terrestrial Biome Description of Characteristics

Elevation Increasing elevation causes habitat types

similar to that of increasing latitude

Aquatic Biomes

Aquatic biomes(which also can be classified into freshwater and marine biomes) can be
defined according to:

• size


• depth, such as the continental shelf


• vegetation, such as a kelp forest


• animal communities


• other physical characteristics, including pack ice or hydrothermal vents

According to the WWF scheme, freshwater biomes can be classified according to:

• large lakes


• large river deltas


• polar freshwaters


• montane freshwaters (in mountain areas)


• temperate coastal rivers


• temperate floodplain rivers and wetlands


• temperate upland rivers


• tropical and subtropical coastal rivers


• tropical and subtropical floodplain rivers and wetlands


• tropical and subtropical upland rivers


• xeric (dry habitat) freshwaters and endorheic (interior drainage) basins


• oceanic islands

The WWF classifies marine biomes according to:

• polar habitat types


• temperate shelves and seas


• temperate upwelling


• tropical upwelling


• tropical coral