The word ‘biome’ – ‘bios’ (from Ancient Greek βίο, meaning ‘life’) and ‘ome’ (a variation of ōma, from Ancient Greek ωμα, meaning ‘mass’ or ‘group’) – was first used in 1943 by the American botanist Frederic Edward Clements, to define a biological unit or geographic space whose specific characteristics are defined by its macroclimate, phytophysiognomy, soil, and altitude. However, over the years, the definition of biome has changed from author to author.
Currently, biomes are groups of neighboring vegetation types that present similar geographic and climatic conditions. In other words, they are ecosystem sets, grouped according to the characteristics of vegetation, relief, and climate. The classification of these large plant formations into biomes began to emerge after the understanding that several regions of the planet have similar biological diversities (ecosystems), even when located in different continents.
There are seven main biomes in Brazil. They are: Amazon, caatinga, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, Campos do Sul (Pampa), Pantanal, and coastal zones.