What are the different types of ecosystems and explain their main characteristics?
Answers
All types of ecosystems fall into one of two categories: terrestrial or aquatic. Terrestrial ecosystems are land-based, while aquatic are water-based. The major types of ecosystems are forests, grasslands, deserts, tundra, freshwater and marine. The word “biome” may also be used to describe terrestrial ecosystems which extend across a large geographic area, such as tundra. Keep in mind, however, that within any ecosystem, specific features vary widely – for instance, an oceanic ecosystem in the Caribbean Sea will contain vastly different sForest Ecosystems .
forest ecosystem
Forest ecosystems are classified according to their climate type as tropical, temperate or boreal. In the tropics, rainforest ecosystems contain more diverse flora and fauna than ecosystems in any other region on earth. In these warm, moisture-laden environments, trees grow tall and foliage is lush and dense, with species inhabiting the forest floor all the way up to the canopy. In temperate zones, forest ecosystems may be deciduous, coniferous or oftentimes a mixture of both, in which some trees shed their leaves each fall, while others remain evergreen year-round. pecies than an oceanic ecosystem in the Gulf of Alaska.
grassland ecosystem
Grassland ecosystems are typically found in tropical or temperate regions, although they can exist in colder areas as well, as is the case with the well-known Siberian steppe. Grasslands share the common climactic characteristic of semi-aridity. Trees are sparse or nonexistent, but flowers may be interspersed with the grasses. Grasslands provide an ideal environment for grazing animals.
desert ecosystem
he common defining feature among desert ecosystems is low precipitation, generally less than 25 centimeters, or 10 inches, per year. Not all deserts are hot – desert ecosystems can exist from the tropics to the arctic, but regardless of latitude, deserts are often windy. Some deserts contain sand dunes, while others feature mostly rock. Vegetation is sparse or nonexistent, and any animal species, such as insects, reptiles and birds, must be highly adapted to the dry conditions.
Tundra Ecosystems
As with deserts, a harsh environment characterizes ecosystems in the tundra. In the snow-covered, windswept, treeless tundra, the soil may be frozen year-round, a condition known as permafrost. During the brief spring and summer, snows melt, producing shallow ponds which attract migrating waterfowl. Lichens and small flowers may become visible during this time of year. The term “tundra” most commonly denotes polar areas, but at lower latitudes, tundra-like communities known as alpine tundra may be found at high elevations.v
The ecosystem is divided based on the vegetation and animals living in it. The following ecosystems are six types of ecosystem. They are:
1. Forest ecosystem:
This ecosystem contains more flora and fauna than other types of ecosystem. According to the animals and vegetation, the forest ecosystem is further divided into Tropical evergreen forest, Tropical deciduous forest, Temperate evergreen forest, Temperate evergreen forest, Taiga.
2. Desert ecosystem:
This ecosystem has high temperature and low rainfall. The plants and animals in this ecosystem are adapted to water scarcity and acute sunlight.
3. Grassland ecosystem:
This ecosystem has grasses, trees, and plants. This ecosystem is mainly composed of the herbivores. There are two types of the grassland ecosystem. They are savanna and prairies.
4. Mountain ecosystem:
This ecosystem is found in higher altitude or mountain region. This ecosystem has animals that can withstand low temperature during winter. This ecosystem has coniferous trees and treeless alpine.
5. Aquatic ecosystem:
This ecosystem is found underwater. This ecosystem comprises aquatic animals and plants. This ecosystem is of two types. They are the freshwater and marine ecosystem.
6. Freshwater ecosystem:
This type of ecosystem has the higher oxygen concentration and contains all amphibians and aquatic animals that can live in freshwater. The three types of freshwater ecosystem according to the movement of water. They are lentic, lotic and wetlands (saturated water).
7. Marine ecosystem:
This is a vast ecosystem and this type of ecosystem is found in the ocean. This ecosystem has aquatic animals living in salt water. The water in this ecosystem has minerals dissolved in it. This ecosystem is of many divisions according to the structure and properties of the ocean.