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BIOMES AND ANIMAL COMMUNITIES

The earth is made up of many different climatic regions, called biomes. Each biome is home to a characteristic community of animals. Similar species of animals are found in the same vegetation belt. For example, the rain forest biome in Africa, Asia, and South America have similar characteristics of species of animals and habitats across the world. The animals of the deserts regions are not exempted. In addition, some unique animals are found in saltwater and freshwater environments. Rainfall and temperature play major roles in determining the types of organisms that live in each biome. The geographic features of an area shape the distribution of organisms. Rivers and lakes harbour attract specific birds, insects and animals; the cold temperature at mountaintops result in species that are similar to, or have similar adaptations and those found at the poles.  The ptarmigans for example, are cold-adapted birds and bears found in the arctic and in the alpine regions of mountains at the equator.  Majority of animals of mountain ecosystem are wild and carnivores in nature.

Some dominant biomes are considered here.

Polar Regions Biome: The cold, mossy tundra biome of the poles attracts vast clouds of mosquitoes and flies. These insects draw many species of birds to feed during the brief, cool summers. In turn, small mammals like the arctic fox eat the eggs and young offspring’s of ground nesting birds. Caribou graze on the grasses, moss, and lichens; and lemmings and arctic hares provide food for the bears and other large predators. In south of the tundra, the taiga biome, or boreal forest, encourage conifer forests of pine, spruce, fir, and hemlock. The dense growth of the conifers provides shelter and good breeding ground for small animals ‘like the lynx, wolverine, porcupine, snowshoe hare, and small rodents. Wolves prey on the lynx and other mammals; black bear and grizzly bear munch on berries, nuts, and buds; and mule deer and moose browse on shrubs. 

Temperate Regions Biome: Is the temperate forest biome, the varied rainfall and seasonal temperature encourage more animal diversity than the tundra and taiga biome. Rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, opossums, and a variety of birds make their homes in these forests. Human encroachment has made wolves scarce, the predator that once controlled the abundant deer population. The bear fox, and mountain lion that prey on the smaller animals are also declining as forests give way to pavement and lawns.

Tropical Regions Biome: This biome type has more diverse community structure. The biome include the most varied and productive animal communities on earth. The warmth and abundant moisture of the rain forest supports close-growing trees with dense canopies that sustain a great variety of animal species. In most countries in Africa and Nigeria in particular, the biome play an important role in animals formation, development and adaptation. Grasslands support great numbers of grazing animals and the mountains ecosystems support such animal species as the reptiles, monkeys, apes gorillas’ antelope and deer’s etc.

Desert Regions Biome: The desert biome, with its low rainfall and high temperature harbours a diversity of animals. Rodents such as the kangaroo rat feed on fruits and seeds of desert plants while lizards and snakes prey on rodents, bird eggs, and insects. Many desert animals survive the heat, night hunting and hiding in burrows during the day. Animals such as kangaroo rats seldom drink water because their efficient kidney systems that enable them to get all the water they require from their food.

Mountain Region Biome: The mountain biome is characterized by different species of animals ranging from ants to large wildlife. Insects, birds, monkeys, black snakes, and beavers constitute the small animals while the buffalo, lions, elephants, gorillas and leopards constitutes the large animals.  The buffalo and lions have retreated in many places as a result of hunting, settlements, agriculture, and of the virulent disease called rinderpest, but their population (mostly the buffalo) still remains over a million in most tropical mountain regions of the world. Before modern development, the various biomes in Nigeria have supported a diversity of large and wildlife of animals.  

The following are some of the characteristics of the wild life mountain ecosystem in Nigeria:

-          Cross River gorillas were once common in some parts of south-eastern Nigeria, but their populations have declined as farming and born-fire have damaged their forest homes.

-          Cross River National Park forest reserves, provides important gorilla habitat. Some of the park’s reserves date to the 1930s, when established communities were permitted to remain inside the forest and a series of enclaves were created to accommodate them.

-          The sheltering of the mountain ecosystems provides critical habitat for primates such as the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee, red colobus, Sclater’s guenon, and Preuss’s guenon.

-          Elephants, which once roamed across Nigeria, live only in a few protected areas today.

-          The mountains communities accommodate some leopards, lions and African wild dogs