Biome List

Here it is, the list of all Biomes. When suggesting a biome, please include as many details about it as possible including:
-where it occurs on a planet
-resources it needs
-climate it needs
--precipitation
--temperature
-required topography (if any)
-its biodiversity
-trophic levels for autotrophs
-trophic levels for heterotrophs
-others

SCALE
Scale helps define niches. Use these official descriptors for scale. "largest measurement" means length, width or height measurement. These measurements apply to ALL orgs, autotrophs and hererotrophs. Largest measurement is measured by the skeleton of the org. (this would be wood in plants)


Included are references to the animal knigdom. These are only approximates.

Tiny= 10-20 cm largest measurement (up to the size of a rat)

Small= 21-100 cm largest measurement (up to the size of a big dog [based on my yellow lab])

Midsize=101-300 cm largest measurement (up to the size of an adult male polar bear)

Midlarge= 301-700 cm largest measurement (up to the size of a killer whale)

large= 701-1500 cm largest measurement (up to the size of a T-rex)

huge=1501-4000 cm largest measurement (tops off at larger than blue whales (25m))

gargantuan=4001+ cm largest measurement (the world's talles tree is to 83 meters tall)


Precipitation Values

In cm per year

Highly Arid=0-1
Arid=2-15
Semiarid=16-25
Midclimate=26-50
Wet=51-100
Very Wet=101+

Also, Mysterious Calligrapher found this to help you with real-world comparisons. Remember that all factors here are on a logarithmic scale.

Template
occurs:
resources:
elevation:
climate:
topography:
biodiversity:
autotroph niches:
heterotroph niches:
other:



Biome Categories
We will not be categorizing biomes the way anyone on earth does it, because there are too many possibilities. I've decided to split biomes up not by climate, but by biodiversity, geography, and types of life. I think they're pretty self explanitory, but if you have any questions, ask me. If you can think of another category that doesn't fit with these, please tell me and I'll add it.


Open Ocean

All open ocean biomes completed.

Sunlight Zone
occurs: wherever there is open ocean with no bottom within required elevation
resources: saltwater, sunlight
elevation:0-200 m below sea level^T
climate: entirely dependant on latitude higher latitudes=colder, lowe rlat=warmer
topography: required= no topography
biodiversity: 0
autotroph niches: phytoplankton, possibly small to midsize floating plants
heterotroph niches: (all aquatic) tiny herbivores, small filter feeders, midlarge to large filter feeders, tiny carnivores, many small carnivores, midlarge carnivores, midsize carnivores.
other: may share inhabitants with other ocean biomes

Twilight Zone
occurs: wherever there is open ocean with no bottom within required elevation
resources: saltwater, sunlight
elevation:201-1000 m below sea level^T
climate: moderately cold in most areas
topography: required= no topography
biodiversity: 0
autotroph niches: none
heterotroph niches: (all aquatic) tiny to midsize filter feeders, tiny to midlarge carnivores
other: may share inhabitants with other ocean biomes, dependant on a constant marine snow of detrius. High probability of bioluminescence.

Abyss
occurs: wherever there is open ocean with no bottom within required elevation
resources: saltwater, marine snow
elevation:1001- m below sea level^T
climate: very cold in most areas, almost 0 celsius.
topography: required= no topography
biodiversity:0
autotroph niches: none
heterotroph niches: (all aquatic) tiny to midsize filter feeders, tiny to midsize carnivores
other: may share inhabitants with other ocean biomes, dependant on a constant marine snow of detrius. High probability of bioluminescence.

Ocean with Ocean Floor

Coral Reef
occurs: in shallow, warm waters with few available nutrients
resources: Sunlight, saltwater
elevation: Usually less than 50m below sea level (in earth-like lighting conditions), no more than 150m below sea level
climate: Tropical
topography: various formations of corals and other sessile organisms.
biodiversity: 3
autotroph niches: Phytoplankton, Algae, and Seaweed are the main ones.
heterotroph niches: All sorts, from the corals themselves to fish to birds to sharks (a more comprehensive list is here)
other: To compensate for nutrient-poor waters, they recycle nutrients much more than in other, more nutrient-rich environments.

Kelp Forest-not necessarily kep, mind you
occurs: Under the sea, close to shore
resources: cold, nutrient rich water, sunlight
elevation: 20 - 80 feet below sea level (6-25 m)
climate: 50 - 60 F water, (10 - 18 C)
topography: more level than not
biodiversity: 2
autotroph niches: all up to large. It's hard to tell because kelp grows until it reaches the ocean surface, then starts expandiing outwards
heterotroph niches: Carnivores up to midlarge, herbivores up to about midsize, though it's potentially possible to have midlarge ones
other: has sublevels depending on sun: canopy, midlevel and floor. Also, pretty darn hard to disturb, because most storms just make kelp bend or break off pieces, and it can re-anchor itself.

Tidal Zones

Tidal Forest^A
occurs: where land meets ocean (or a large body of water) on a planet with a strongly attractive moon
resources: Saltwater
elevation:dependant on moon's gravity +/- tide height above/below sea level
climate: 10-70 celsius
topography: gently sloped towards ocean
biodiversity: 3
autotroph niches: all except for huge and gargantuan
heterotroph niches: tiny to midsize amphibious carnivore, tiny to midsize amphibious herbivore, tiny to midsize flying carnivore, midsize carnivore (nonamphibious)
other: Has lots of corals, wich provide a very complex ground covering and trap pools of water inside their networks.

Beach
occurs: where land meets ocean on a gentile slope
resources: Saltwater
elevation:0-50 m above sea level
climate: any temperature
topography: gently sloped towards ocean
biodiversity: 1
autotroph niches: tiny to small
heterotroph niches: tiny to small carnivore, tiny to small herbivore, tiny filter feeder
other: Scavengers from other biomes may visit frequently, large animals may use on migration routes

Forests

Cloud Forest
occurs: In Mountanous areas with high moisture
resources: Primarily dirt, abundant water, and it's own biodiversity
elevation: 500 m to 4000 m above sea level. * Elevation depends on planet average temp - the higher the temperature, the higher the clouds form and the higher the forest.
climate: About 8 to 20 C average temp, wet Atmospheric conditions will be altered by this biome.
topography: Required = one side slopes downwards towards the ocean, one side reaches much higher than the cloud forest to create the rainshadow effect.
biodiversity: 4
autotroph niches: All. (Redwoods are Gargantuan) Also, epiphytes (bromeliads, spanish moss, mistletoe) and "parasitic" plants.
heterotroph niches: up to midsize, herbivorous, carnivorous and omnivorous.
other: Very high soil acidity, top layer comprised almost entirely of moss and peat. High Biomass and Biodiversity, stratified canopy.

Alpine Forest
Occurs: on the sides of mountains
resources: rainfall, snowmelt
elevation: From about 5000 ft to upwards of 10,000. We also need to set a global temperature dependent tree line (altitude at which trees can no longer grow) as well as a tundra line, at which your plant size is reduced basically to lichen.
climate: Temperatures up to about 10 C. Midclimate precip. great temperature variation between day and night
Topography: sloped ground, poor soil
secession stage: 3
auautotroph niches: carnivores and herbivores up to midsize
heterotroph niches:up to huge. Evergreens or similar preferrable.
Other: comes after an Alpine meadow in sucession, unless said meadow is out of it's altitude range. Also, all organizms must be adapted to a thinner atmosphere, meaning less oxygen or whatever your critter breathes. High winds are probable.


Forested Wetlands: Riparian
occurs: Wherever a river spreads out to become a wetland where there is a large percentage of "Trees" or woody-stemmed autotrophs. Also, average slope must approach zero.
resources: Water, bottom muck, sometimes peat
elevation: not necessarily dependent on it - more dependent on temperature.
climate: Temperature above freezing for the growing season: approx. 3/4 of the year. Midclimate
topography: average slope approaches zero. Water currents are present, but slow-moving.
biodiversity: 3
autotroph niches: up to large. (This may be adjusted, but the soil's none too stable, so nothing enormous.)
heterotroph niches: mostly herbivores/carnivores up to small
other: Soil will be variable: sometimes alkaline and sometimes acidic and resource poor. This is linked to the predominant type of trees... I'll think us a simple way out of this one, I promise.

Flooded Forest (May be a Freshwater Biome)
Occurs: In wet forests, due to a flood; may or may not be yearlong.
Resources: Large amounts of water, dependant.
Elevation: Depends on area.
Climate: Is Wet and temperature is dependant on where the forest is.
Topography: Usually flat, with some heavy amounts of water.
Biodiversity: 3
Autotroph Niches: Tiny to Midlarge/LOW large.
Heterotroph Niches: Tiny to Midsize.
Other: Many aquatic niches here, and the level of water is dependant.

Temperate Forest
Occurs: Between tropical and alpine lines, with enough precipitation.
Resources: Good soil, fresh water,
Elevation: Between 50- 2500m above sea level.
Climate: Is warm and moist during hot months, but cold and frozen in the cooler months. Is midclimate/wet
Topography: Usually between flatish with some hills, to outright hillish.
Biodiversity: 3
Autotroph Niches: All up to Gargantuan (Very rarely).
Heterotroph Niches: All up to midsize.
Other:Goes through a drastic temperature change over the year, and many organisms will be driven out because of it.


Deserts

Dune Desert
occurs: very dry areas, usually in the center of a continent
resources: none
elevation: from -100(not below water) to +3000 m
climate: very arid/arid, frequent dust storms
topography: shifting dunes, with occasional rocky outcrops or plateaus
biodiversity: 1
autotroph niches: tiny to small
heterotroph niches: tiny to midsize (very rare) herbivore, tiny to small carnivore
other:organisms must be extremely efficient in their handling of water. Life is driven by the search for water, most animals are "nomadic".

Rocky Desert
Occurs: In areas of very poor soil, and extreme dryness.
Resources: Rocks, almost nothing.
Elevation: Between -100 (land) and 3000m (again)
Climate: Very Arid/Arid, and usually hot.
Topography: Usually relatively flat, with some rocky plateaus and spires adorning the landscape. Soil is VERY rocky.
Biodiversity: 1
Autotroph Niches: Tiny to midsize (Rare).
Heterotroph Niches: Tiny to small (Very Rarely Midsize).
Other: Water is very rare, and is competitively sought after. Also, the rock formations can get pretty amazing and huge.

Cold Barren Desert
Occurs: between 45°-60°\next to an MT range\near the ocean(the MTs seperate the Ocean and biome)
Resouces: will get to that
Elevation: low enough to be overshadowed by the MTs
Climate: cold like the arctic\dry like a desert
Topagraphy: can be any\direction of wind from the ocean
Biodaversity: will get to that
Autotroph niches: will get to that
Heteratroph niches: will get to that
Other: because of unique location, all precipitatin gets dried out due to the MTs and the biome becomes very dry


Plains

Alpine Meadow?
occurs: on the sides of mountains
resources: rainfall, snowmelt
elevation: Approximately 5000 feet upwards - I will revise this sucker, but it's relative to latitude.
climate: high temperatures are up to 10 C. semiarid. great temperature variation between day and night
topography: sloped ground, poor soil
secession stage: 2
autotroph niches: carnivores and herbivores up to midsize
heterotroph niches:up to midsize. (small trees/shrubs are included.)
other: All organizms must be adapted to a thinner atmosphere, meaning less oxygen or whatever your critter breathes. High winds probable.

Chaparral
Occurs: Where there is rather poor soil, and extreme heat and dryness.
Resources: Again, not much, but there is the craggy and rocky soil.
Elevation: 400 to 5500m above sea level.
Climate: Is cool and moist in the winter, but very hot and dry the rest of the year. Is Semi-arid as an average.
Topography: Contains flat plains, rocky hills, and mountainous slopes.
Biodiversity: 2
Autotroph Niches:Tiny to Midsize.
Heterotroph Niches:Tiny to small/midsize (around deer size rarely).
Other: Organisms are mainly grassland and desert types. Varies seasonally to a greater extent than most deserts.

Scrubland (duplicate?)
Occurs: In areas of poor soil, like a burned-out forest, or an area of little rain.
Resources: Relatively little. It persists on poor soil and rocky terrain.
Elevation: Between -100 (land) and 3000m above sea-level.
Climate: Arid/Semi-Arid. Relatively hot.
Topography: Usually flat, sometimes some slight hills rise out of the shrubby ground.
Biodiversity: 2
Autotroph Niches: Tiny to midsize.
Heterotroph Niches:Tiny to small/midsize (around goat size.)
Other: The main plants are the equivalence to shrubs, due to the poor soil and lack of rain. The ecosystem revolves around these, as they are the only autotrophs able to thrive in these conditions.

Steppe
occurs: On land where following conditions are met.
resources: Loose soil, very little water.
elevation: Most any, but usually significantly above sea level.
climate: 313.15 Kelvin to 233.15 Kelvin
topography: Flat, occasional small hills, but most just flat.
biodiversity: 1
secession stage: 2
autotroph niches: Tiny to Midsize grasses.
heterotroph niches: Tiny to Midsize herbavores. Tiny to Small carnivores. Tiny to small detritivores. 1-2 Tiny to midsize transient herbavores. 0-1 midlarge transient herbavores. 0-1 Small transient carnivore.
other: Percipitation is 20-50 cm per year.

Barren
Barren biomes are biomes with no niches for autotrophs or heterotrophs. They are important because they constrict movement of organisms.

Fallout Zone
Occurs: anywhere following a major nuclear event
Resouces: none
Elevation: any
Climate: any
Topagraphy: any
Biodaversity: 0
Autotroph niches: 0
Heteratroph niches: 0
Other: nothing can live here but the heartiest of tiny creatures. the radiation will poison anything else. this land will recover in time, but until then it is a graveyard.


Caves*

River Caves
occurs: underground anywhere above sea level at opening
resources: fresh water
elevation: anywhere
climate:cool close to the surface, hotter deep down
topography: caves cut through the earth by flowing water, often labyrinthine in form. Contains a river and small or large pools of freshwater
biodiversity: 1
autotroph niches: almost none, except at the surface
heterotroph niches: tiny to small carnivores/omnivores/detrivores
other: high chance of bioluminescence. few permanent residents, but many that come in every night/day for shelter.

Undersea Caves
occurs: underwater, in the ocean near land
resources: none
elevation: 0 to -100 m below sea level
climate: cool to warm, depending on climate above water
topography: these caves are sometimes freshwater caves that ran into the ocean, but can also be lava tubes
biodiversity: 1
autotroph niches: none, except at entrance(s)
heterotroph niches: tiny to midlarge carnivores/omnivores/detrivores
other: more permanent residents than a river cave, again, more visitors than permanent residents

Blue Hole
occurs: near sea level
resources: possible fresh water
elevation: opening @100m above to 50 m below sea level
climate: cool, usually anoxic at a certain depth
topography: basically a huge cylinder cut out of the earth by limestone dissolving- requires flat terrain
biodiversity: 1
autotroph niches: small/tiny floating plants
heterotroph niches: tiny to small herbivores/carnivores/omnvores
other: only bacterial life in the anoxic zone. May have visitors from surrounding environment.

Labarynth
occurs: Around lava-erupting volcanoes, made up of many lava tubes
resources: Rich soil
elevation: any
climate: any precipitation, any temperature.
topography: made up of previous lava fields and lava tubes
biodiversity: 2?
autotroph niches: tiny to midsize
heterotroph niches: tiny to midsize all
other: These lava fields and lava tubes are difficult to navigate. Sharp rocks punish any misstep, and many scavengers live here.

Freshwater*





*Caves and freshwater biomes can pop up inside other biomes
^T levels of ocean change with sunlight intensity on the surface.

Biomes tagged with ^A are not found on earth.

Thank you scio, for creating this thread. This forum is 10x more productive if we can get people creating things with a programmer-like mindset.

Also, optional niches are great.

Quote :

possibly floating plants

Over the course of evolution, you will start to see floating plants simply because they now have a possible place. (Technically every niche is optional, but adding strange niches is a plus)

Assuming everyone fills in all the fields, we can now harness everyone's creativity.

roadkillguy wrote:

Thank you scio, for creating this thread. This forum is 10x more productive if we can get people creating things with a programmer-like mindset.

Also, optional niches are great.

Quote :

possibly floating plants

Over the course of evolution, you will start to see floating plants simply because they now have a possible place. (Technically every niche is optional, but adding strange niches is a plus)

Assuming everyone fills in all the fields, we can now harness everyone's creativity.

Thanks. I'm going to put up an official "scale" category, so that people will have definitions for small/tiny/large/huge/etc.

Awesome thread. Good work guys!

Only one note at the moment: You said that higher lat = Colder temperatures. I assume that we are using the equator as equaling zero, right? What about alternative rotation patterns?

Just saying. I may be wrong here. On second thought, I'm pretty sure that life would be sevearly limited in most alternates.

Tenebrarum wrote:

Awesome thread. Good work guys!

Only one note at the moment: You said that higher lat = Colder temperatures. I assume that we are using the equator as equaling zero, right? What about alternative rotation patterns?

Just saying. I may be wrong here. On second thought, I'm pretty sure that life would be sevearly limited in most alternates.

Excellent point. If a planet's poles are closer aligned to the plane on which it rotates, we'd have very extreme conditions. Also, I need to put a note there that ocean levels are subject to change with sunlight intensity.

~sciocont wrote:

Tenebrarum wrote:

Awesome thread. Good work guys!

Only one note at the moment: You said that higher lat = Colder temperatures. I assume that we are using the equator as equaling zero, right? What about alternative rotation patterns?

Just saying. I may be wrong here. On second thought, I'm pretty sure that life would be sevearly limited in most alternates.

Excellent point. If a planet's poles are closer aligned to the plane on which it rotates, we'd have very extreme conditions. Also, I need to put a note there that ocean levels are subject to change with sunlight intensity.

Yeah, it might be easier to mark average temperature than to mark latitude. Make recalculation much simpler and is far more direct.

Tenebrarum wrote:

~sciocont wrote:

Tenebrarum wrote:

Awesome thread. Good work guys!

Only one note at the moment: You said that higher lat = Colder temperatures. I assume that we are using the equator as equaling zero, right? What about alternative rotation patterns?

Just saying. I may be wrong here. On second thought, I'm pretty sure that life would be sevearly limited in most alternates.

Excellent point. If a planet's poles are closer aligned to the plane on which it rotates, we'd have very extreme conditions. Also, I need to put a note there that ocean levels are subject to change with sunlight intensity.

Yeah, it might be easier to mark average temperature than to mark latitude. Make recalculation much simpler and is far more direct.

ok.

Cloud Forest
occurs: In Mountanous areas with high moisture
resources: Primarily dirt, abundant water, and it's own biodiversity
elevation: 500 m to 4000 m above sea level. * Elevation depends on planet average temp - the higher the temperature, the higher the clouds form and the higher the forest.
climate: About 8 to 20 C average temp, and about 500 to 10000 mm/year of rainfall. Atmospheric conditions will be altered by this biome.
topography: Required = one side slopes downwards towards the ocean, one side reaches much higher than the cloud forest to create the rainshadow effect.
biodiversity: High. Diversity of woody plants is lower than in similar forests at a lower elevation.
autotroph niches: All. (Redwoods are Gargantuan) Also, epiphytes (bromeliads, spanish moss, mistletoe) and "parasitic" plants.
heterotroph niches: up to midsize, herbivorous, carnivorous and omnivorous.
other: Very high soil acidity, top layer comprised almost entirely of moss and peat. High Biomass and Biodiversity, stratified canopy.

Very well done. About Omnivores- I think we should handle slots in the ecosystem only through carnivore/herbivore. Omnivores can exist, but they don't have specific slots.

So omnivores can fill both types of slots?

Yes. It seems the easiest way to do things. Being an imnivore just lets your species use more resources.

~sciocont wrote:

Yes. It seems the easiest way to do things. Being an imnivore just lets your species use more resources.

How about more specific diets like ours?

Tenebrarum wrote:

~sciocont wrote:

Yes. It seems the easiest way to do things. Being an imnivore just lets your species use more resources.

How about more specific diets like ours?

What do you mean?

~sciocont wrote:

Tenebrarum wrote:

~sciocont wrote:

Yes. It seems the easiest way to do things. Being an imnivore just lets your species use more resources.

How about more specific diets like ours?

What do you mean?

We're omnivorous but generally only eat plants in fruit, vegetable, or processed forms.

Tenebrarum wrote:

~sciocont wrote:

Tenebrarum wrote:

~sciocont wrote:

Yes. It seems the easiest way to do things. Being an imnivore just lets your species use more resources.

How about more specific diets like ours?

What do you mean?

We're omnivorous but generally only eat plants in fruit, vegetable, or processed forms.

"vegetable" is any edible part of a plant that's not a fruit. We can eat basically anything that's not toxic, it's just that our modern diet has adapted to plants that are easier to grow in mass quantities.

And the "cooked" development is a much more recent adaptation. We adapted to function better with cooked meat because it offered us easier acess to the resources (calories) in the meat.

Should we add a sub selection for the forests? Like how jungles have different flora and fauna than a temperate forest. Are we to include the tundra and mountains as seperate biomes? Should a shrubland be a mix of dessert and grassland? I just have alot of questions .

MassimoV wrote:

Should we add a sub selection for the forests? Like how jungles have different flora and fauna than a temperate forest. Are we to include the tundra and mountains as seperate biomes? Should a shrubland be a mix of dessert and grassland? I just have alot of questions .

We have different biomes under each category. Each colored title is a category. Deserts are defined by average precipitation.

Forested Wetlands: Riparian
occurs: Wherever a river spreads out to become a wetland where there is a large percentage of "Trees" or woody-stemmed autotrophs. Also, average slope must approach zero.
resources: Water, bottom muck, sometimes peat
elevation: not necessarily dependent on it - more dependent on temperature.
climate: Temperature above freezing for the growing season: approx. 3/4 of the year. Sorry, not loads of info on this - I'll update if/when I find some.
topography: average slope approaches zero. Water currents are present, but slow-moving.
biodiversity: medium-high
autotroph niches: up to large. (This may be adjusted, but the soil's none too stable, so nothing enormous.)
heterotroph niches: mostly herbivores/carnivores up to small
other: Soil will be variable: sometimes alkaline and sometimes acidic and resource poor. This is linked to the predominant type of trees... I'll think us a simple way out of this one, I promise.

Anyone want to figure out a biodiversity scale?

Mysterious_Calligrapher wrote:

Forested Wetlands: Riparian
occurs: Wherever a river spreads out to become a wetland where there is a large percentage of "Trees" or woody-stemmed autotrophs. Also, average slope must approach zero.
resources: Water, bottom muck, sometimes peat
elevation: not necessarily dependent on it - more dependent on temperature.
climate: Temperature above freezing for the growing season: approx. 3/4 of the year. Sorry, not loads of info on this - I'll update if/when I find some.
topography: average slope approaches zero. Water currents are present, but slow-moving.
biodiversity: medium-high
autotroph niches: up to large. (This may be adjusted, but the soil's none too stable, so nothing enormous.)
heterotroph niches: mostly herbivores/carnivores up to small
other: Soil will be variable: sometimes alkaline and sometimes acidic and resource poor. This is linked to the predominant type of trees... I'll think us a simple way out of this one, I promise.

Anyone want to figure out a biodiversity scale?

Biodiversity is a pretty nebulous concept. Basically, it just tells us how many niches there should be. High biodiversity= more niches. More than one niche can be created for each niche listed up there. for instance, a biome could have two "small carnivores" or five "tiny filter feeders"

Well, if we're going to include it on the biome data chart, it better get a quantifiable meaning fast. Which means we ought to decide on how many slots, tops, we can code into a biome while keeping in mind that there has to be room (and processing speed) for your creature to wander through it.

Then we can scale it.

I was wondering, under barren, could we include dride up lakes, salt planes, boulder area which lacks inclines, and canyons. One more thing, what about saltlakes?

Good idea. You want to write it up?

MassimoV wrote:

I was wondering, under barren, could we include dride up lakes, salt planes, boulder area which lacks inclines, and canyons. One more thing, what about saltlakes?

Barren is just anywhere with no complex life.