LESSON 6: TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM (TERRESTRIAL & AQUATIC) during winter. Dominant trees are maple, oak, peach, etc.

All types of ecosystem fall into two categories: 5. Taiga/Boreal: Situated just south of the Tundra, Taiga is
1. Terrestrial ecosystem is land-based. characterised by evergreen conifers. The average temperature is
Major type of land-based ecosystem below the freezing point for almost half of the year.
● forests
● desert
CHARACTERISTICS OF FOREST ECOSYSTEM
● grassland
● tundra 1. Warm temperatures and sufficient rainfall are characteristics of
2. Aquatic ecosystem is water-based. forests, resulting in the formation of numerous ponds, lakes, etc.
major type of water-based ecosystem
● ocean 2. The forest maintains climate and rainfall.
● lakes
● rivers 3. The forest supports many wild animals and protects biodiversity.

TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM 4. The soil is rich in organic matter and nutrients, which support the
- lower availability of water and consequent importance of growth of trees.
water as a limiting factor.
A forest ecosystem is a natural woodland unit consisting of
- availability of light is greater than in aquatic ecosystems
biotic components (plants, animals, and microorganisms) in that area
because the atmosphere is more transparent than water.
functioning together with abiotic factors of the environment. There are
- gases are more available
six layers withing a forest consisting of:
Carbon Dioxide - serves as a substrate for photosynthesis.
Oxygen - serves as substrate is aerobic respiration 1. Upper canopy
Nitrogen - serves as substrate for nitrogen fixation - 100-130 feet above the forest floor, penetrated by scattered
emergent trees, 130 feet or higher, that make up the level
FOREST ECOSYSTEM known as the overstory
Forest ecosystems are classified according to the climate 2. Low-tree layer
type as tropical, temperate, or boreal. In the tropics located in the - dwarf fruit trees: apples, peaches etc
equatorial and subequatorial regions, rainforest ecosystems contain 3. Shrub under story
more diverse flora and fauna than ecosystems in any other region - currants and berries
of the earth. In these warm, moisture-laden environments, trees grow 4. Ground layer of herbaceous plants
tall and foliage is lush and dense with species inhabiting the forest floor - comfreys ,beets herbs
all the way up to the canopy. In temperate zones which include veldts 5. Forest floor
of Africa, Hungary, Argentina, Russia, America and Eurasia, forest - darkest, receives very little sunlight. Humid layer that hosts
ecosystem may be deciduous, coniferous, or oftentimes a mixture of insects and giant animals
both in which some trees shed their leaves each fall while others 6. Root layer (rhizosphere)
remain evergreen all year round. In the Arctic, boreal forests (Taiga) - the underground area of a plant habitat
feature abundant coniferous trees. (Harris, 2010). - It consists of the plants' roots and related elements such as
Forest ecosystems are areas of the landscape that are rhizomes, bulbs and tubers.
dominated by trees and consist of biologically integrated communities
of plants, animals and microbes, together with the local soils Each layer receives a different amount of sunlight and
(substrates) and atmospheres (climates) with which they interact. rainfall, so different types of animals and plants are found in each
Forests are much more than the present population or community of layer.
trees. Forests that have been recently killed or altered by fire, insects,
disease, wind or logging are still forests because of the biological and Distribution. Tropical forest occurs in the equatorial and
physical legacies from the previous forest - legacies of forest soil, sub-equatorial regions.
organic matter, microbes, minor vegetation and animals. Under a
regime of sustainable forest management, many or most of these Precipitation. In tropical rainforests, rainfall is relatively
legacies persist during the period between forest disturbance and the constant about 200-400cm annually. In tropical dry forest, precipitation
redevelopment of tree cover. is highly seasonal about 150-200cm annually with a six to seven
months dry season.
TYPES OF FOREST ECOSYSTEM
Temperature. High year-round averaging 25-29°C with little
1. Tropical Evergreen Rainforest: Only a small percentage of tropical seasonal variation.
forests are rainforests where average rainfall is 80-400 inches in a
year. This forest is characterised by deep and dense vegetation Plants. Tropical forests are vertically layered and
consisting of tall trees reaching different levels. competition for light is intense. Layer in rainforest include trees that
2. Tropical Deciduous Rainforest: The main characteristic of tropical grow above a closed canopy, layers of shrubs and herbs. There are
deciduous rainforest are broad-leaved trees along with dense generally fewer layers in tropical dry forests. Broadleaf evergreen trees
bushes, shrubs, etc. Two main seasons – summer and winter – are are dominant in tropical rainforests whereas many tropical dry forest
distinctly visible there. This type of forest is found in many parts of the trees drop their leaves during dry season. Epiphytes such as
world. A large variety of flora and fauna are found here. bromeliads and orchids generally cover tropical forest trees but are
less abundant in dry forests. Thorny shrubs and succulents are
common in some tropical dry forest.
3. Temperate Evergreen Forest: Temperate evergreen forest is a
type of forest that is characterised by a smaller number of trees but an Animals. Earth’s tropical forests are home to millions of
adequate number of ferns and mosses. species including an estimated 5-30 million still undescribed species of
insects, spiders, and other arthropods. In fact, animal diversity is
4. Temperate Deciduous Forest: Temperate deciduous forest higher in tropical forests than in any other terrestrial biomes. The
evolves in the moist temperate region with sufficient rainfall. Here animals including amphibians, birds, and other reptiles, mammals, and
also, winter and summer are well defined, and trees shed their leaves arthropods are adapted to the vertically layered environment.
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 Plants. Deserts are dominated by low, widely scattered
vegetation; the proportion of bare ground is high compared with other
biomes. The plants include succulents such as cacti or euphorbs,
deeply rooted shrubs, and herbs that grow during the infrequent moist
IMPORTANCE OF FOREST TO THE ENVIRONMENT periods. Desert plant adaptations include tolerance of heat and
desiccation, water storage, and chemical defenses, such as toxins in
Forests form a third of all land on earth providing vital
the leaves of shrubs, are common. Many of the plants exhibit C 4 or
organic infrastructure for some of plant’s densest and most diverse
CAM photosynthesis.
collections of life.
Animals. Common desert animals include snakes and
1. Forest support countless species as well as 1.6 billion
lizards, scorpions, ants, beetles, migratory and resident birds, and
human livelihoods.
seed-eating rodents. Many species are nocturnal. Water conservation
2. Forest products are used in daily life. The fruits, paper,
is a common adaptation, with some species surviving solely on water
and wood from trees go into daily manufacturing of
obtained from breaking down carbohydrates in seeds.
goods. Forest by-products like medicine, cosmetics,
and detergents are also used daily. Reference: Desert Ecosystem
3. Forests are very important in biodiversity and livelihood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbi4wW7ojXs
for humans.
4. Forests provide habitat to diverse species.
5. Forests offer water shed protection, provide timber and
non-timber products, and recreational venue.
6. Forest prevent soil erosion; help maintain the water
cycle and check global warming by using carbon
dioxide in photosynthesis.

References
1. Exploring Ecosystem: Tropical Rainforest Diversity
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHPuo0rwM1w
2. 25 Facts About the Amazon Rainforest
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgU7gsBOhUI
3. https://www.slideshare.net/kainexah_05/major-types-of-ecosystems

DESERT ECOSYSTEM

A desert ecosystem is defined by interactions between organism, the

climate in which they live and any other non-living influences on the
habitat.

Desert are large, extremely dry area of land with sparse vegetation. It
is one of the earth’s major type of ecosystem supporting a community
of distinctive plants and animals specially adapted to harsh
environments. The dry condition of deserts helps promote the
formation and concentration of important minerals. Gypsum, borates,
nitrates, potassium, and other salts build up in deserts when water
carrying these minerals evaporate. Desert regions also hold 75% of
known oil reserve in the world.

Lesson Presentation

Deserts are arid region which are generally associated with

warm temperatures, however cold deserts also exist. These areas are
covered by sand, rock, snow, or ice. They do not have a lot of plant like
covering the land. Desert ecosystems cover approximately 25-30% of
the land on earth. The dry condition of deserts helps promote the
formation of important minerals. Gypsum, borates, nitrates, potassium
and other salts build up in deserts when water carrying these minerals
evaporate. High temperature during daytime and persistent wind
accelerate water evaporation and transpiration in plants. High
evapotranspiration and low rainfall are the chief characteristic of desert
ecosystem, thus producing sparse perennial vegetation of widely
spaced shrubs.

Distribution. Deserts occur in bands near 30° north and

south latitude or at other latitudes in the interior of continents (for
instance, the Gobi Desert of north-central Asia).

Precipitation. Precipitation is low and highly variable,

generally less than 30cm per year.

Temperature. Temperature is variable seasonally and daily.

Maximum air temperature in hot deserts may exceed 50°C; in cold
deserts air temperature may fall below -30°C.
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