World Biomes: Characteristics, Human Activities, and Conservation

 World Climatic Types

Equatorial Region (0°-10°)

Zone of convergence of easterlies. Year-round rainfall. Sun overhead at noon at equator. Max heating and evaporation. Cumulonimbus clouds and very high rainfall.

Average temperature above 27°C. Zero range of temperature.

High biodiversity, most complex ecosystems on Earth. Deforestation major threat.

Equatorial Evergreen Forests

Rainfall daily year-round. Maximum moisture. Multi-layered canopy with epiphytes and lianas. Trees like mahogany, ebony.

Minimal undergrowth due to lack of sunlight. Soil moist and damp, less fertile, high organic content. Resilient if intact.

Conservation Efforts

Protection of reserves like Korup National Park in Cameroon. Eco-tourism promotion. Reforestation projects. Monitoring wildlife trafficking.

People and Economy

Hunting and gathering lifestyle. Tribes like Bora, Pygmies inhabit the forests.

Tropical Zone (10°-30°) 

Permanent zone of easterlies bringing summer rainfall. Wet summer monsoon, dry winter. Tropical monsoon climate.

Tropical Monsoon Forests

Rainfall in summer around 150-200 cm. Moderate canopy with 2 layers. Undergrowth present. Trees like sal, teak, rosewood, shisham.

Coastal Regions

Mangrove forests provide storm protection and reduce erosion. Mangrove cover declining due to development.

Conservation Efforts

Mangrove restoration through seeding and planting saplings. Banning further reclamation. Community management for sustainable use.

People and Economy

Intensive agriculture focused on paddy cultivation. High population density and increasing urbanization. Pollution levels high.

Continental Region (20°-30°)

Low rainfall around 50-75 cm. Semi-arid climate. Temperature around 27°C. Grasslands vegetation.

Tropical Grasslands

Grasses and scattered trees like acacia. Soil is vertisol with high clay content. Cattle rearing and grazing activities.

Conservation Efforts

Use of controlled fires to maintain habitat. Wildlife corridors between protected areas. Rotational grazing systems and pasture management. 

People and Economy

Livestock ranching and meat production. Moderate population density. Prone to overgrazing and desertification.

Hot Deserts (15°-30°)

Arid conditions due to offshore winds and cold currents. Low rainfall below 25 cm. High temperatures above 30°C. Xerophytic plants, nocturnal animals. Nomadic pastoralism. Low population density.

Mediterranean (30°-45°)

Wet winters and hot, dry summers. High temperature range. Rainfall 30-90 cm. Chaparral vegetation of cork, eucalyptus, oaks. Viticulture, olives, citrus fruits cultivation.

Conservation Efforts

Use of prescribed burns to reduce fuel load. Strict urban growth boundaries. Removal of invasive weeds, restoration of natives. Protecting seed banks.

Warm Temperate Zone (40°-55°) 

Influenced by year-round westerlies. Rainfall around 100 cm. Low temperature variation. Broadleaf deciduous forests with chestnut, hazelnut, willow, maple. Mixed farming of crops and livestock. High urbanization and population pressure.

Boreal Forests/Taiga (50°-70°)

Summers wet due to westerlies, winters dry. Low precipitation 30-85 cm. Coniferous forests of firs, pines, spruces, larches. Commercial logging, pulp and paper industry.

Conservation Efforts

Protection of old growth forests and restoration of logged areas. Sustainable logging practices. Conservation of caribou migration routes between protected boreal reserves.

Tundra (55°-70°)

Low precipitation around 15-25 cm. Mosses, lichens, shrubs, herbs. No trees. Reindeer herding, fishing, hunting lifestyles.

Conservation Efforts

Reducing carbon emissions globally to control warming rate. Protecting large undisturbed tundra wilderness areas. Monitoring and managing vulnerable Arctic species.

Polar (70°-90°)

Extremely cold temperatures. No vegetation can survive. Complex animal adaptations. Marine mammal hunting lifestyle. Indigenous groups like Inuit inhabit the region.

Human activities are degrading many of these biomes and concerted conservation efforts are needed to preserve them. The forests are most threatened while arid and polar regions are the most fragile.

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