biota

Biota is the collective set of living organisms in a given region, ecosystem, or geological period. It encompasses microorganisms, plants, fungi, and animals, including microbial communities that drive nutrient cycles. The term is widely used in ecology and biogeography to distinguish living components from nonliving environmental factors, and it can refer to regional biota, the global biota of the biosphere, or the biota of a particular epoch in Earth history.

Biota interact through food webs, symbiotic relationships, competition, and ecological succession. They respond to and modify their environment, contributing to processes such as decomposition, soil formation, pollination, and primary production. The composition and structure of biota reflect historical and current environmental conditions, including climate, soil, water availability, and disturbance regimes. Biodiversity, species distribution, and functional groups are central aspects of any biota.

Studying biota involves cataloging species, monitoring population dynamics, and assessing ecological roles and evolutionary history. Biota are a key consideration in conservation and environmental management, as changes in their abundance or distribution indicate ecosystem health and resilience. In paleobiology, fossil biota help reconstruct past ecosystems and climate, informing our understanding of long-term biogeographic patterns.