Ecosystem

The special system in which the organisms of a habitat form a stable system or unit through mutual interaction with each other and with inorganic and organic components in the environment is called an ecosystem.

Types of Ecosystem

In ecology, ecosystems are classified into different types based on the region or on the basis of the environment like land or water. It can also be grouped based on the amount of energy the Ecosystem consumes.

Classification in basic ecosystem are :

1. Terrestrial Ecosystem

2. Aquatic Ecosystem

Terrestrial Ecosystem

A community of living organisms of a particular region living in conjunction with non-living components is called an ecosystem. An ecosystem can be as small as an oasis in a desert, or as big as an ocean.

Types Of Terrestrial Ecosystems

There are different types of terrestrial ecosystems, which are widely distributed around the geological zones.

They include:

Desert
Forest
Grassland
Taiga
Tundra

Desert:

The Desert is a barren region of the landscape, which has extremely high or low temperatures and has scarce vegetation. Depending on the climate and temperature, deserts can be classified into hot deserts and cold deserts. There are many lives that are well-adapted to life in the desert. Animals include – Camels, foxes, hyenas, jackals, scorpions, a few varieties of snakes and lizards. The common plants are acacia, cactus and date palms.

A hot desert, like Sahara, exhibits high temperatures, minimal rainfall, and poses challenges for both plants and animals.

The eastern side of Jammu and Kashmir near the Great Himalayas hosts Ladakh, which exemplifies a cold desert.

Forest:

These types of ecosystems include both temperate deciduous forest, plantation forests and tropical rain forests. They serve as a natural habitat for a vast range of living species and also comprise the highest species diversity. Forests cover nearly 30 to 35 million square kilometres of the earth’s surface and more than 300 million species of plants and animals live in forests.

Grasslands:

Grasslands are the most dominant type of vegetation and these types of environments occur naturally in several parts of the world. These types of terrestrial ecosystems serve as a home for a wide diversity of animal species, such as elephants, giraffes, hyenas, jackrabbits, lions, rhinos, warthogs and zebras. Other types of grasslands include|:

Tropical Grasslands
Temperate Grasslands

Taiga Ecosystem:

The taiga, commonly known as northern coniferous forest or boreal forest, is another type of forest environment. It extends across a wide area of land in the northern hemisphere. It has a low level of biodiversity, with only a few species. Short growing seasons, cold temperatures, and poor soil characterize Taiga habitats. The taiga is a cold-climate subarctic woodland.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the subarctic zone is located slightly south of the Arctic Circle. The taiga is located between the tundra and temperate forests to the north and south, respectively. Summer days are long and winter days are shorter in this terrestrial environment. Lynx, moose, wolves, bears, and burrowing rodents are among the animals that live in the taiga. Animals like foxes and bears in Taiga have always been a threat to traditional hunters for their skin and fur. For thousands of years, their warm fur and tough skin, which has been transformed into leather, have helped people survive in difficult weather.

Tundra Ecosystem:

The absence of trees is a distinguishing aspect of the tundra. There are several reasons why trees do not grow in this area. The permafrost prevents them from taking root, and those that do succeed have shallow root systems that aren’t strong enough to endure heavy winds. Finally, low precipitation indicates that there is insufficient water to sustain trees.

There are two types of tundra: arctic and alpine. The Arctic tundra, located north of the boreal woods in the Arctic Circle, constitutes one type. Alpine tundras, on the other hand, can be found on mountain peaks. Animals in the tundra have evolved to harsh environments and exploit the short growing season, taking advantage of the transient boom of plant and insect life. Small mammals like Norway lemmings (Lemmus lemmus), arctic hares (Lepus arcticus), and arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) live on the tundra, as do large mammals like caribou (Rangifer tarandus).

These animals accumulate fat in order to survive and insulate themselves during the winter. Climate change has the potential to destabilize the cold tundra habitat and its inhabitants, as well as thaw the underlying permafrost, releasing greenhouse gases that will hasten global warming.

Aquatic Ecosystem

A functional unit, where all living organisms interact with their surroundings and each other to sustain themselves in the environment, defines an ecosystem. Broadly speaking, one can categorize an ecosystem as a land/terrestrial ecosystem or a water/aquatic ecosystem.

Many lives are undoubtedly supported by water. Furthermore, aquatic creatures are those that can thrive in water. They also rely on water for food, shelter, reproduction, and a variety of other life functions. This particular article will offer you a fair idea of the types of aquatic ecosystems and their importance in brief!

Types of Aquatic Ecosystem

Freshwater Aquatic Ecosystem

They cover only a small portion of earth nearly 0.8 per cent. Freshwater involves lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, wetlands, swamp, bog and temporary pools. Freshwater habitats are classified into lotic and lentic habitats. Water bodies such as lakes, ponds, pools, bogs, and other reservoirs are standing water and known as lentic habitats. Whereas lotic habitats represent flowing water bodies such as rivers, streams.

Ocean Ecosystem
Estuaries
Coral Reefs
Coastal Ecosystem

Marine Aquatic Ecosystem

Marine ecosystem covers the largest surface area of the earth. Two third of earth is covered by water and they constitute of oceans, seas, intertidal zone, reefs, seabed, estuaries, hydrothermal vents and rock pools. Each life form is unique and native to its habitat. This is because they have adaptations according to their habitat. In the case of aquatic animals, they can’t survive outside of water. Exceptional cases are still there which shows another example of adaptations (e.g. mudskippers). The marine ecosystem is more concentrated with salts which make it difficult for freshwater organisms to live in. Also, marine animals cannot survive in freshwater. Their body is adapted to live in saltwater; if they are placed in less salty water, their body will swell (osmosis).

Wetlands
Lentic Ecosystems
Lotic Ecosystems

Frequently Asked Questions about Ecosystem

Q1: What is an ecosystem?

A1: An ecosystem is a special system in which organisms in a habitat form a stable unit through mutual interactions with each other and with the inorganic and organic components of the environment. It includes both living organisms and their physical surroundings.

Q2: What are the types of ecosystems?

A2: Ecosystems can be classified into terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems. Terrestrial ecosystems include deserts, forests, grasslands, taiga (boreal forests), and tundra. Aquatic ecosystems include freshwater ecosystems (such as lakes, rivers, and wetlands) and marine ecosystems (including oceans, estuaries, coral reefs, and coastal areas).

Q3: What are some examples of terrestrial ecosystems?

A3: Examples of terrestrial ecosystems include deserts, forests (such as tropical rainforests and temperate deciduous forests), grasslands, taiga (boreal forests), and tundra. Each of these ecosystems has distinct characteristics and supports a unique range of plant and animal species.

Q4: What is a desert ecosystem?

A4: Extreme high or low temperatures and limited vegetation characterize a desert ecosystem. Hot deserts (e.g., Sahara Desert) or cold deserts (e.g., Ladakh) classify deserts. Organisms well-adapted to arid conditions, like cacti, acacia trees, camels, foxes, and reptiles, inhabit desert ecosystems.

Q5: What is a forest ecosystem?

A5: A forest ecosystem refers to a terrestrial ecosystem dominated by trees. Forests can be categorized into different types, such as tropical rainforests, temperate deciduous forests, and coniferous forests (taiga). Forests are rich in biodiversity and provide habitats for a wide variety of plant and animal species.

Read also:- Biomes of the World