Types of Eco System

Forest Ecosystem
The terrestrial system in which living things such as trees, insects, animals, and people
interact is referred to as a forest ecosystem. It is the smaller classification of the ecosystem
as a whole, which is the biggest functional unit comprising all the geographical features and
living organisms on Earth. There are many different kinds of forest ecosystems, and they are
categorised according to the local climate, including the amount of rainfall and temperature.
Characteristics of Forest Ecosystem

1. Warm temperatures and sufficient rainfall are characteristics of forests, resulting in
the formation of numerous ponds, lakes, etc.
2. The forest maintains climate and rainfall.
3. The forest supports many wild animals and protects biodiversity.
4. The soil is rich in organic matter and nutrients, which support the growth of trees.
Functions of Forest Ecosystem

1. Goods Obtained from Forests: There are various types of food products such as
honey, wild meat, fruits, mushrooms, palm oil and wine, and medicinal plants obtained
from forests. Other than edible parts, we can obtain timber, wood biomass, cork, etc.
from forests. The fuel can be extracted from old trees that are buried under the soil.
2. Ecological Functions: Forests play an important role in maintaining ecological factors
such as climate, carbon storage, nutrient cycling, and rainfall.
3. Culture and Social Benefits: The tribal people who live in the forests treat forests as
nature goddesses. The traditional beliefs and spirituality save wild animals from hunters
and cutting down of trees by urban people. A few modern people visit forests for
recreation.
Grassland Ecosystems
Grassland Ecosystem is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other
herbaceous (non-woody) plants. It is also called transitional landscape because grassland
ecosystems are dominated by the grass with few or no trees in the area where there is not
enough for a forest and too much of a forest.
Functions of the Grassland Ecosystem

The primary function of an ecosystem is productivity. The producers fix the solar energy
and produce the complex organic matter with the help of minerals. It provides forage for
livestock, protection and conservation of soil and water resources, furnishing a habitat for
wildlife, both flora and fauna and (contribution to the attractiveness of the landscape. The
functional aspects of the Grassland can be studied by two means:
1. Food Chain in an ecosystem: There is an important feature of the ecosystem that one level
of an organism serves as food for another level of the organism. A series is formed which is
known as Food Chain. In an ecosystem, the food chain does not follow the linear pattern,
but an organism may feed upon more than one organism in the same food chain or upon
organisms of different food chains. Thus interconnected food chain system is formed known
as a food web.
2. Nutrient cycle in an ecosystem: For any ecosystem to be successful, it is important that
the constituent materials move in a cyclic manner. The producers (green plant) takes up the
mineral elements from the soil and air, convert them into organic form and after passing
through the different trophic levels, are again returned to the soil and air.
Economic Importance of Grasslands

 Grasslands are the grazing areas of many rural communities.
 Farmers who keep cattle or goats, as well as shepherds who keep sheep, are highly
dependent on grasslands.
 Domestic animals are grazed in the ‘common’ land of the village.
 Fodder is collected and stored to feed cattle when there is no grass left for them to
graze in summer.
 The grass is also used to thatch houses and farm sheds.
 The thorny bushes and branches of the few trees that are seen in grasslands are used
as a major source of fuelwood.
 Overgrazing by huge herds of domestic livestock has degraded many grasslands.
 Grasslands have diverse species of insects that pollinate crops.
 There are also predators of these insects such as small mammals like shrews, reptiles
like lizards, birds of prey, and amphibia such as frogs and toads.
 All these carnivorous animals help to control insect pests in adjoining agricultural
lands
Desert Ecosystem
Desert is one of the most dried land areas on this planet that receives very little precipitation
annually. It is a land with very less rainfall throughout the year measured less than 50 cm a
year.
Characteristics of Desert Ecosystem

1. Aridity: It is the common characteristic of all the deserts on the earth. Aridity simply
implies the deficiency of moisture’s or dryness. Desert experience very less rainfall
and thus result in aridity.
2. Less rainfall/ precipitation: Less precipitation is one of the major features of deserts
and also the reason behind the dryness. The rainfall in deserts is seasonal and occurs
only for a limited duration. The annual rainfall that a desert receives every year is
just 25-30 centimetres.
3. Extreme temperature- Desert ecosystems experience extreme temperatures during
day and night. The days are very hot and the nights can be extremely cold. It is the
sole characteristic of all the desert ecosystems either hot or cold all lacks moisture.
4. Velocity of wind- It tends to be very high in a desert ecosystem. This is the reason
deserts experience sandstorms/ dust storms of high intensity resulting in the
formation of huge sand dunes.
5. Scarcity of water- Due to less rainfall, there is a shortage of water in a desert
ecosystem. Due to the scarcity of water deserts have to face the situation of drought
half of the year.
6. Humidity- The humidity level in a desert ecosystem is very low in the daytime and
relatively high at night.
7. The quality of the soil- In deserts is very low to grow vegetation. It is dry, rocky,
thin, sandy, mainly grey in colour and has no organic contents like nitrogen,
phosphorus etc which are essential for the growth of plants.
8. Biodiversity in a desert ecosystem – However, the survival in a desert ecosystem is
very hard but despite the fact, deserts are home to various plants and animals. The
plants and animals have adapted to survive in the harsh and extreme conditions of the
desert.
9. The population density- Density Is very low in deserts and nearby areas as there is
there a scarcity of water, food and climatic conditioner are too harsh.
Aquatic ecosystem
An aquatic ecosystem includes freshwater habitats like lakes, ponds, rivers, oceans and
streams, wetlands, swamp, etc. and marine habitats include oceans, intertidal zone, reefs,
seabed and so on. The aquatic ecosystem is the habitat for water-dependent living species
including animals, plants, and microbes.
The aquatic ecosystem definition states it is a water-based environment, wherein, living
organisms interact with both physical and chemical features of the environment. These
living creatures whose food, shelter, reproduction, and other essential activities depend on a
water-based environment are known as aquatic organisms.
Features of Aquatic Ecosystem

Salient features of the aquatic ecosystem are-
- Freshwater or saltwater can be used to make them.
- They serve as a home for a variety of aquatic animals.
- The majority of the vegetation is made up of algae and corals.
- They have a lot of biological diversity, which makes them the most productive and
wealthiest ecosystems on the planet.
- They help regulate the hydrological cycle and act as a pollution filter, among other
things.
Functions of Aquatic Ecosystem

- Facilitates recycling of nutrients
- Helps to purify water
- Recharges groundwater
- Is a habitat for aquatic flora and flora
- Prevents flood

Types of Eco System

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Types of Eco System

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Types of Eco System

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Forest Ecosystem

Characteristics of Forest Ecosystem

Functions of Forest Ecosystem

Functions of the Grassland Ecosystem

Economic Importance of Grasslands

Characteristics of Desert Ecosystem

Features of Aquatic Ecosystem

Functions of Aquatic Ecosystem

You might also like