Biome Ecology

A biome is a large-scale biotic community and its environment, defined using functional rather than biodiversity-focused criteria of delimitation. Biotic communities are structured by drivers at various scales and levels of complexity. Most of the research in (biotic) community ecology in the past has been concentrating on fine- and mid-scales involving habitats and their complexes at the landscape level. Less attention has been paid to large scales – those involving (sub)continents, hemispheres, and indeed – the entire planet. Knowing the biome structure and its origins, are becoming vital to understanding complex patterns in relation to processes operating at large scales. Such processes involve climate dynamics, land-use changes, and effects of continental- and global-level nature conservation efforts.

Biomes are functional units of ecology and are challenging to define and delimit because of the poorly tangible nature of processes underpinning the functioning of large-scale communities. These processes involve biomass production, nutrient cycling, disturbance, and recovery dynamics and the like. Several biome schemes are used to tackle the functionality of these large-scale units, yet there is still a lot of latitude left to formulate more scientifically robust and better-formalized tools of delimitation of biomes. Not all parts of the world have a functional classification of ecosystems available. Undoubtedly, this dire situation is calling for action. More information and more profound syntheses of the biome patterns are dearly needed.

The new book series will focus on synthesizing the knowledge of the distribution and origins of biomes in various parts of the world and at the planetary scale. Further, the series will offer space for the development of new approaches to delimitation of biomes and new tools of using this knowledge in predictive, as well as reconstructive, modelling for the purposes of the most urgent tasks facing humankind, such as climate change, land-use dynamics, survey of natural resources, food production, and health.