How do temperature and precipitation affect biomes?

Temperature and precipitation are two of the primary factors that significantly influence the types of vegetation found within a biome. This is because different plants require specific climatic conditions to thrive. For example, a warm and wet climate typically supports dense forests with a rich variety of plant species, while a cold and dry climate may lead to sparse vegetation, such as tundra or desert ecosystems.

The types of vegetation present in an area, in turn, dictate the kinds of organisms that can inhabit that biome. For example, a forest may support diverse herbivores and a wide range of predators, while a desert might support organisms adapted to arid conditions, such as cacti and certain specialized animals. Thus, temperature and precipitation directly shape the ecological dynamics of a biome by determining the dominant plant life, which serves as the foundation for the entire food web in that ecosystem.