Which term describes a complex of terrestrial communities that cover a large area and is defined by climate and soil conditions?

• A. Biome
• B. Predation
• C. Competition
• D. Food chain

Answer: (A)

A biome is a large geographic region whose terrestrial communities are shaped primarily by climate and soil conditions, leading to characteristic vegetation and animal life across vast areas. The climate—patterns of temperature and rainfall—determines which plants can thrive, and the soil influences nutrient availability and plant growth, together creating the dominant vegetation you’d expect in that region. Because the vegetation supports specific animal communities, biomes are broad, recognizable patterns rather than a single local community. This differs from predation, which is about one organism hunting another; competition, which is about organisms vying for limited resources; and a food chain, which traces a simple line of who eats whom.