biome
n.a large area of the world that has a specific climate and a set of plants and animals that live there. Examples include deserts, rainforests, and tundras.
n.a large, naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a large, continuous area, determined largely by climate. Often used in ecological and environmental science contexts.
“The Amazon rainforest is a tropical biome.”
“Scientists study how different biomes respond to rising global temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns.”
“The transition between the temperate forest biome and the arid desert biome is often marked by a sharp decline in biodiversity and a shift toward more drought-resistant plant species.”
From bio- + -ome.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.