What factors contribute to the distinction of a biome?

Biomes are primarily defined by their climate, particularly temperature and rainfall patterns. These two factors significantly influence the types of vegetation and animal life that can thrive in a given area. For example, tropical rainforests, characterized by high temperatures and abundant rainfall, support diverse species due to the abundant resources available. Conversely, deserts, which have low rainfall and can vary in temperature, have adapted organisms that can survive in such harsh conditions.

While the genetic makeup of organisms, social structures, and reproductive strategies are all important aspects of ecology and evolution, they do not define the biome itself. Instead, they are factors that may vary within a biome or affect the organisms living in it, but the overarching classification into specific biomes is driven by the climatic conditions represented by temperature and precipitation.