A biota is the collection of organisms that live in a location. The location can be very small, such as inside an insect or in a cubic centimeter of soil or water, or very large, such as in a valley, on an island, or in a lake. The biota is an important component of any habitat because it provides food, shelter and other conditions for certain species of organisms to survive and thrive.
For example, a biota that contains vast groves of bamboo is necessary for the survival of the giant panda because the panda's diet must consist mostly of bamboo. Because of the low calories and nutritional value of bamboo stems and leaves, pandas must each large amounts of it every day.