The mountains of the western United States cause the winds from the ocean to rise, cool, and lose their moisture. The World's Biomes A. Biogeographic Distribution 1. Climatic factors determine patterns of vegetation and why unrelated species may have similar adaptations. Biogeography is the study of the global distribution of species. B. Biogeographic Realms and Biomes 1.
Biomes are large vegetational subdivisions including all animals and other organisms.
Biome distribution corresponds with climate, topography, and soil type. The form of the dominant plants tells us something of the weather conditions. Soils of Major Biomes A. Soil is a mixture of rock, mineral ions, and organic matter. The size of the rock can range from gravel, to sand, silt, and clay. The organic matter, in variable stages of decomposition, is called humus.