BIOMES OF BRAZIL:

A biome is a set of plant and animal life, consisting of a group of vegetation types that are close and can be identified at a regional level, with similar geological and climatic conditions and that, historically, have undergone the same landscape formation processes, resulting in a diversity of flora and fauna of their own.

In our country, we can find six types of biomes: Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Caatinga, Pampa, Pantanal and Aquatic. Our biomes are important not only as natural resources in our country, but also as environments of great natural wealth on the planet.

The Amazon Rainforest is considered the greatest diversity of biological reserves on the planet, with indications that it is home to at least half of all living species on the planet. The Cerrado is considered the savanna with the greatest biodiversity in the world. The Atlantic Forest has water resources that supply 70% of the national population.

The Atlantic Forest Biome occupies approximately 13% of the Brazilian territory. Because it is located in the coastal region, occupied by more than 50% of the Brazilian population, it is the most threatened Biome in Brazil. Only 27% of its original forest cover is still preserved.

The Amazon Biome occupies approximately 49% of Brazil's territory. The Amazon has the largest tropical forest in the world, equivalent to 1/3 of the tropical rainforest reserves that are home to the largest number of species of flora and fauna. It contains 20% of the world's water supply and large mineral reserves. The delicate balance of its life forms is very sensitive to human interference.

The Cerrado Biome occurs mainly in the Brazilian Central Plateau and occupies approximately 24% of the Brazilian territory. The Cerrado is recognized as the Savannah with the richest biodiversity in the world. Until the 1950s, the Cerrados remained almost unchanged. From the 1960s onwards, with the transfer of the Federal Capital from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília and the opening of a new road network, the natural vegetation cover gave way to livestock farming and intensive agriculture.

The Caatinga Biome occupies an area of ​​approximately 10% of the national territory. Although it is located in a semi-arid climate area, it has a wide variety of landscapes, relative biological richness and species that only occur in this biome. The types of vegetation in the Caatinga Biome have been significantly altered, with native plant species being replaced by pastures and agriculture. Deforestation and burning are common practices in preparing the land for agriculture. In addition to destroying the vegetation cover, this practice also harms the maintenance of wild animals, water quality and the balance of the climate and soil. Of the original area occupied by this Biome, approximately 36% has already been altered by man.

The Pampa Biome occupies approximately 2% of the National Territory. It is characterized by a rainy climate, without a dry season, but with negative temperatures in winter, which influence the vegetation. Throughout the area covered by the Pampa Biome, human activity has led to a uniformity of the vegetation cover, which is generally used as natural pasture or occupied by agricultural activities, mainly rice cultivation.

The Pantanal Biome occupies approximately 2% of the National Territory. However, the Pantanal Biome is recognized as the largest continuous floodplain on Planet Earth, which is the main factor for its formation and differentiation in relation to other biomes. The Pantanal Biome is the most preserved, although cattle raising is an important economic activity for the region, combined with tourism activities.

Aquatic biomes are classified into two main groups: marine and freshwater. Marine biomes correspond to seas and oceans, while freshwater biomes correspond to lakes, lagoons, and rivers. Freshwater biomes can be lentic or still water (lakes and lagoons) and lotic or moving water (rivers).