This exercise will help you to revise the locations of the main world ecosystems. The world can be divided up into 8 major ecosystem types. These large-scale ecosystems are called biomes . The main factor determining the global position of the biomes is climate . Biomass is measured in grams per square metre .
Rainforests have the most biomass and deserts have the least.
The map below shows six of the major world biomes. Happening hints Remember that most maps of biomes are very generalised and show what the vegetation in the area would be like naturally. They do not include changes by people, for example urbanisation or farming . You will be expected to have a brief knowledge of each biome and a more detailed knowledge of a few of them - check with your teacher and use the other Revision Bites in this section to help you. For each biome you have studied you are likely to need to know its location , its climate , what the vegetation is like, how it is adapted to the climate and how people affect the ecosystem.