ECOSYSTEMS :

1) TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS :

Terrestrial ecosystems are ecosystems found on land and are

characterized by the interactions between living organisms (plants,
animals, microorganisms) and their physical environment (soil, air,
climate, and geography). These ecosystems can vary signi cantly
based on their geographical location, climate, and the species that
inhabit them.
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 Key types of Terrestrial Ecosystems include:

1. Forest Ecosystems:

- Forests are dense collections of trees and other vegetation.

- Types: Tropical rainforests, temperate forests, and boreal forests (taiga).
- They are crucial for carbon sequestration and provide habitats for diverse
species.

2. Grassland Ecosystems:

- Dominated by grasses rather than large shrubs or trees.

- Types: Savannas, prairies, and steppes.
- Grasslands support large herbivores like bu alo and antelope, as well as
predators like lions and wolves.

3. Desert Ecosystems:

- Characterized by low precipitation and extreme temperature variations.

- Vegetation and animal life are sparse, but species are highly adapted to arid
conditions (e.g., cacti, camels).

4. Tundra Ecosystems:

- Found in polar regions and high-altitude areas.

- Cold temperatures and short growing seasons limit plant growth to mosses,
lichens, and low shrubs.
- Supports species like caribou, arctic foxes, and migratory birds.

5. Mountain Ecosystems:

- Located in high elevation areas.

- Conditions vary greatly with altitude, creating diverse habitats from forests at
lower levels to tundra-like conditions at higher levels.
- Species include mountain goats, snow leopards, and specialized plants like
alpine owers.

6. Savanna Ecosystems:

- A mix of grassland with scattered trees, typically found in tropical regions.

- Known for supporting large herbivores such as elephants, zebras, and various
bird species.
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Each terrestrial ecosystem plays a vital role in regulating global climate,
maintaining biodiversity, and supporting human life through ecosystem services
like pollination, water puri cation, and nutrient cycling

A) THE FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

They are the ecosystems in which an abundance of ora, or plants, is seen

so they have a big number of organisms which live in relatively small space.
Therefore, in forest ecosystems the density of living organisms is quite high.

A small change in this ecosystem could a ect the whole balance, e ectively
bringing down the whole ecosystem. You could see a fantastic diversity in
the fauna of the ecosystems, too.

They are further divided into:

Tropical Evergreen Forest:

These are tropical forests that receive a mean rainfall of 80 for every 400
inches annually. The forests are characterised by dense vegetation which
comprises tall trees at di erent heights. Each level is shelter to di erent
types of animals.

Tropical Deciduous Forest:

Here, shrubs and dense bushes rule along with a broad selection of trees.
The type of forest is found in quite a few parts of the world while a large
variety of fauna and ora are found there.

Temperate Evergreen Forest:

Those have quite a few number of trees as mosses and ferns make up for
them. Trees have developed spiked leaves in order to minimize transpiration.
Temperate deciduous forest: The forest is located in the moist temperate
places that have su cient rainfall. Summers and winters are clearly de ned
and the trees shed the leaves during the winter months.

Taiga:

Situated just before the arctic regions, the taiga is de ned by evergreen
conifers. As the temperature is below zero for almost half a year, the
remainder of the months, it buzzes with migratory birds and insects.
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 B) DESERT ECOSYSTEMS

Desert ecosystems are located in regions that receive an annual rainfall less
than 25.
They occupy about 17 percent of all the land on our planet. Due to the
extremely high temperature, low water availability and intense sunlight, fauna
and ora are scarce and poorly developed. The vegetation is mainly shrubs,
bushes, few grasses and rare trees. The stems and leaves of the plants are
modi ed in order to conserve water as much as possible.
The best known desert ones are the succulents such as the spiny leaved
cacti. The animal organisms include insects, birds, camels, reptiles all of
which are adapted to the desert (xeric) conditions.

C) GRASSLAND ECOSYTEMS

Grasslands are located in both the tropical and temperate regions of the
world through the ecosystems vary slightly. The area mainly comprises
grasses with a little number of trees and shrubs. The main vegetation
includes grasses, plants and legumes that belong to the composite family. A
lot of grazing animals, insectivores and herbivores inhabit the grasslands.
The two main kinds of grasslands ecosystems are:
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- Savanna:
- The tropical grasslands are dry seasonally and have few individual trees.
They support a large number of predators and grazers.

- Prairies:
- It is temperate grassland, completely devoid of large shrubs and trees.
Prairies could be categorized as mixed grass, tall grass and short grass
prairies.

BASIS TROPICAL GRASSLAND TEMPERATE GRASSLAND

LOCATION Tropical or savanna Temperate grasslands

are mainly found in are found in regions
the tropical region of north and south of the
Earth. Australia, South equator. Argentina,
America and Africa all Australia, and central
have tropical North America have
grassland. temperate grasslands.
CLIMATE The climate in tropical The climate in
grasslands is mostly temperate grassland is
warmer and varies characterized by
according to the distinct hot and cold
season. It has a wet seasons.
season and a dry
season.
TEMPERATURE Temperature does not Temperature varies
change too much. It significantly. In winter,
lies between 78 to 86 it can drop below zero,
degrees Fahrenheit in and in summer, it can
summer, and in winter, reach 90 degrees
it varies from 68 to 78 Fahrenheit.
degrees Fahrenheit.
PRECIPITATION High Precipitation – Low Precipitation –
Wet season temperate grasslands
experiences heavy receive less rainfall
rainfall, while there is than tropical
very little rainfall in the grasslands.
dry season.
BASIS TROPICAL GRASSLAND TEMPERATE GRASSLAND

SOIL Not very fertile. Less precipitation

Slightly reddish in allows the
color due to high iron accumulation of
content. nutrients; hence the
soil is more fertile and
tends to be darker in
color.

VEGETATION Tall, coarse grass Short, more nutritious

mainly due to high grass with a few trees
rainfall. because of low
rainfall.
PLANTS Buffalo grass, Red oat grass,
sagebrush, cacti, lemongrass, star
perennial grasses, grass, Rhodes grass.
wild indigos,
sunflowers and
clovers.
ANIMALS Zebra, Giraffe, Bison, Pronghorn,
Antelope, Elephant, Deer, Kangaroo, etc.
Lion, Hyena etc.

D) THE MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

Mountain land provides a scattered and diverse array of habitats where

a large number of animals and plants can be found. At the higher
altitudes, the harsh environmental conditions normally prevail, and only
the treeless alpine vegetation can survive.

The animals that live there have thick fur coats for prevention from cold
and hibernation in the winter months. Lower slopes are commonly
covered with coniferous forests.
 E) AQUATIC ECOSYTEM

The aquatic ecosystem is the ecosystem found in a body of water. It

encompasses aquatic flora, fauna and water properties, as well.
There are two main types of aquatic ecosystem - Marine and Freshwater

F) MARINE ECOSYSTEMS

Marine ecosystems are the biggest ecosystems, which cover around

71% of Earth's surface and contain 97% of out planet's water. Water in
Marine ecosystems features in high amounts minerals and salts
dissolved in them.

The different divisions of the marine ecosystem are:

1. Oceanic:

A relatively shallow part of oceans which lies on the continental shelf.

2. Profundal:

Deep or Bottom water

3. Benthic Bottom Substrates

4. Inter-Tidal: The place between low and high tides

5. Estuaries

6. Coral Reefs

7. Salt Marshes

8. Hydrothermal vents where chemosynthetic bacteria make up the food

base.

Many kinds of organisms live in marine ecosystems: the brown algae,

corals, cephalopods, echinoderms, dinoflagellates and sharks.

F) THE FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM

Contrary to the Marine ecosystems, the freshwater ecosystem covers

only 0.8% of Earth's surface and contains 0.009% of the total water.

Three basic kinds of freshwater ecosystems exist:

- Lentic:

Slow-moving or till water like pools, lakes or ponds.

- Lotic:

Fast-moving water such as streams and rivers.

- Wetlands:

Places in which the soil is inundated or saturated for some lengthy

period of time.

The ecosystems are habitats to reptiles, amphibians and around 41% of

the world’s fish species. The faster moving turbulent waters typically
contain a greater concentrations of dissolved oxygen, supporting greater
biodiversity than slow moving waters in pools.
 Importance of Ecosystem :

An ecosystem is a complex web of interactions between living

organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) and their physical
environment (air, water, soil, and climate). Its importance lies in several
key areas:

1. Biodiversity Support: Ecosystems provide habitats for a wide

range of species, promoting biodiversity, which is essential for the
resilience of life on Earth.

2. Regulation of Natural Processes: Ecosystems regulate essential

natural processes, such as water cycles, carbon storage, and nutrient
recycling, which help maintain environmental balance.

3. Provision of Ecosystem Services:

- Provisioning Services: Ecosystems provide resources such as food,

fresh water, raw materials (like timber), and medicinal resources.
- Regulating Services: Ecosystems help regulate climate, air quality,
and water quality. Forests, for example, absorb carbon dioxide, reducing
the impacts of climate change.
- Supporting Services: These include pollination, soil formation, and
nutrient cycling, which are fundamental for agricultural productivity and
food security.
- Cultural Services: Many ecosystems have cultural, spiritual, and
recreational significance. National parks, forests, and coastlines
contribute to tourism and cultural heritage.

4. Climate Regulation: Ecosystems like forests and oceans play a

significant role in climate regulation by absorbing greenhouse gases and
maintaining weather patterns.

5. Sustainability and Human Well-Being: Healthy ecosystems are

critical for sustainable development, as they provide resources and
services that are essential for human survival and economic prosperity.

6. Resilience Against Natural Disasters: Healthy ecosystems, such as

wetlands and mangroves, act as buffers against natural disasters like
floods, hurricanes, and tsunamis, protecting human communities.
7. Food and Agriculture: Ecosystems support agriculture by providing
fertile soils, water, and pollinators for crops, all of which are essential for
food production.

In essence, the health of ecosystems is directly linked to the health of

the planet and human societies. Degradation of ecosystems leads to
biodiversity loss, climate change, and reduced quality of life for all living
organisms