Understanding biomes - the communities of nature that share a similar climate and plant and animal life - is key to a student's success in biology, geography and environmental studies. This volume aids this understanding with a thorough and accessible description of the climate, plant and animal life, origins and human impacts, and history of the scientific exploration of all the major biomes of the world. In addition, chapters on the "human-dominated" biomes - urban areas and agricultural regions - illustrate how these often-ignored communities are also an important part of the global environment. Over 90 maps and photographs help the reader visualize the extent and characteristics of each biome. The text divides the world's biomes into the four principal types: terrestrial, freshwater, marine, and human-dominated. The in-depth discussion of each of these biomes should enable the reader to obtain a thorough understanding of each biome, and the convenient one-volume format allows easy comparison between aspects of each region. A student can compare the typical characteristics of flora and fauna of continental shelf and the deep-sea biomes, or the climates of the tropical rainforest and the tundra. The text should provide a convenient first-step for those interested in more intensive investigations on such issues as the human impact on the distribution of natural biomes and the loss of biodiversity in the world.