Biomes are interconnected ecosystems that share similar abiotic and biotic characteristics. This series of 12 mixed media artworks represents these interconnected biomes through the changing colors of paper, one column at a time. Each column focuses on three different birds that share a similar geographical area, making one giant view of changing ecosystems.

 

My main goal was to capture the essence of this change in ecosystems by connecting them though water, trees and rocks. To show how a branch traveling through the columns changes from a kapok tree in the rainforests to an aspen tree of the temperate region to being a Joshua tree in the desert and finally becoming a cedar in the boreal forests. I decided to play with four main colors of handmade papers to represent each biome - greens, reds, yellows and finally pastel violets.

 

The first column of greens represent the deep lushness of the tropical rainforest biome. With abundant rainfall and very humid temperatures, this is one of the most biodiverse biomes that support half of the plants and animal species. The second column of reds signify the temperate freshwater wetlands which include marshes, swamps, bogs and other similar ecosystems. The third column of yellows constitute the sonoran desert biome. Giant saguaros and prickly pear cactus are just some of the varied fauna found here. The fourth and the last column of violets represent the taiga biome, also known as the boreal forest. It is the largest land biome spanning the higher latitudes with long, cold winters.