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In Biology / High School | 2014-10-26

Why aren't mountain ranges classified into major biomes?

Asked by dscookies

Answer (3)

Mountains and polar regions cannot be defined in terms of community of plants and animals and are not classified as biomes.
What is biomes?

"A biome is a distinct biogeographical unit consisting of a biological community that has formed in response to a shared regional climate."
It includes tundra, grassland, desert, forest and aquatic.

What is community?

"An interacting group of various species in a common location."

Hence, mountains and polar regions are not classified as biomes because it cannot be defined in terms of plant and animal community .
To know more about biomes here
https://brainly.com/question/24518645
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Answered by Vickynehra | 2024-06-15

Mountain ranges are not classified into major biomes because they have unique climatic effects that can create microclimates and alter vegetation patterns significantly within small geographic areas. Biomes, such as tropical rainforests or grasslands, are identified by their characteristic vegetation and climate on a larger scale. The complex terrain of a mountain range can cause orographic effects and rain shadows, leading to dramatic temperature and precipitation changes over short distances. As a result, distinct ecological zones can exist close together on a mountain, each with unique species and vegetation types.
Furthermore, mountains can affect biodiversity by creating barriers that isolate species, as observed with the different types of species that can flourish on one side but not the other. They can also act as climate moderators, as elevation increases, temperature generally decreases, which can force species to shift their ranges to higher altitudes or latitudes in response to global warming. The interaction of these factors can result in anomalies in species distribution, such as the salamander populations in the Appalachian mountains or the small-ranged mammals of western North America.

Answered by VeraMindy | 2024-06-24

Mountain ranges are not classified into major biomes due to their significant climate variations and diverse ecosystems found at different elevations. Since biomes are defined by specific plant and animal communities, the microclimates present in mountains make uniform classification challenging. This complexity is similar to polar regions, which also cannot be simplified into major biome categories.
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Answered by Vickynehra | 2024-09-18