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Home > Articles > Terrestrial Ecosystem: Definitions, Examples, Types, Characteristics, Impact, and Fun Facts
Updated on 09th March, 2023 , 7 min read
Terrestrial ecosystems differ from aquatic ecosystems in that soil rather than water is present at the surface, and plants extend above this soil/water surface in terrestrial ecosystems. Water availability varies greatly throughout terrestrial habitats (including water shortages in certain circumstances), but water is rarely a limiting factor for life in aquatic environments. Terrestrial ecosystems often endure higher diurnal and seasonal temperature changes than aquatic ecosystems in similar regions because water cushions temperature swings. Terrestrial ecosystems are especially important in attaining SDG 15, which calls for the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
An ecosystem is made up of all the species that interact with their physical surroundings (or ecological system). Nutrient cycles and energy fluxes connect these biotic and abiotic components. A.G. Tansley created the word "ecosystem" in 1935. It is derived from the Greek word oikos, which means "home." An ecosystem is a population of living species in a specific place that coexist with non-living components. An ecosystem might be as small as a desert oasis or as large as the ocean.
A terrestrial ecosystem is a population of creatures on land that includes the interplay of biotic and abiotic components in a specific location. The kind of terrestrial ecosystem present in a specific location is determined by the temperature range, average precipitation, soil type, and quantity of light received.
Examples of terrestrial ecosystems include the tundra, taigas, temperate deciduous forests, tropical rainforests, grasslands, and deserts.
Life on the tundra is difficult. The Arctic contains nearly all of the tundras of the Northern Hemisphere. Antarctica, which is located in the Southern Hemisphere, has small tundra-like regions. The tundra is a vast, treeless area. It accounts for around 20% of the Earth's surface. Trees cannot grow in the ground because it is regularly and permanently frozen. The Arctic tundra is home to polar bears, foxes, and reindeer.
The following are some of the characteristics of terrestrial ecosystems-
There are several types of terrestrial ecosystems that are found throughout the geological zones. The following table gives details about the various types of terrestrial ecosystems-
Types |
Description |
Examples |
Common Animals Found |
Common Vegetation |
Desert |
The desert is a desolate section of the terrain with harsh temperatures and little flora. Deserts are divided into hot and cold deserts based on their climate and temperature. There are numerous people who have adapted to living in the desert. |
The Sahara Desert is an example of a hot desert, characterized by high temperatures, limited rainfall, and a challenging existence for both plants and animals. Ladakh is a chilly desert located on the eastern border of Jammu and Kashmir, near the Great Himalayas. |
Camels, foxes, hyenas, jackals, scorpions, and a few snakes and lizards are among the animals. |
Acacia, cactus, and date palms are common vegetation. |
Forest |
They provide a natural environment for a diverse range of living creatures and have the highest species diversity. Forests encompass roughly 30 to 35 million square kilometers of the earth's surface and are home to over 300 million plant and animal species. |
Temperate deciduous forests, plantation forests, and tropical rainforests are all examples of these ecosystems. |
Rabbits, foxes, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, and badgers are all common. |
The primary vegetation in this environment is trees. |
Grasslands |
Grasslands are the most common form of vegetation, and they may be found naturally in many places around the world. These terrestrial environments are home to a diverse range of animal species. |
Temperate grasslands, including the Eurasian steppes, the North American prairies, and the Argentine pampas. The scorching savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa and northern Australia are examples of tropical grasslands. |
Insects, Rodents, and Reptiles |
The principal crops farmed on plantations are areca nut (betel nut), cardamom, cashew, cocoa, coconut, coffee, oil palm, rubber, and tea. |
Tundra |
Tundra refers to arctic regions that have extreme climatic conditions akin to deserts and are typically windy, snow-covered, and treeless. In comparison to deserts, this type of environment is totally covered with frozen soil all year, and in the summer, the snow melts, and small ponds form. |
Tundra ecosystems can be found in polar locations. |
The tundra is home to small animals such as Norway lemmings, arctic hares, and arctic ground squirrels, as well as big mammals such as caribou (Rangifer tarandus) |
This produces lichens and a few plants with tiny, bright blooms. |
Organisms in terrestrial habitats have adaptations that allow them to receive water when the entire body is no longer bathed in that fluid, as well as mechanisms for conveying water from limited acquisition sites to the rest of the body and limiting the evaporation of water from body surfaces. They also have characteristics that offer body support in the atmosphere, which is a far less buoyant medium than water, and other characteristics that allow them to tolerate the temperature, wind, and humidity extremes that define terrestrial environments. Finally, species in terrestrial habitats have developed a variety of strategies for delivering gametes in situations where fluid movement is ineffective as a transport medium. This is an example of a terrestrial ecosystem.
Terrestrial animals are creatures that typically dwell on land. These animals often acquire characteristics based on where they reside in the wild. These characteristics are as follows-
Animals like camels and rodents, have thick skin and water-storing organs in their bodies.
They have bent bodies and muscular chests that allow them to climb and move between branches. Arboreal creatures include squirrels and chameleons.
They are creatures that dwell in subterranean burrows. Their front legs are short, and their heads resemble thick sticks. Animals that dig holes include rats and rabbits.
These animals usually dwell or move on hard, open ground and have powerful legs. For instance, horses and deer.
These animals' forelimbs are frequently streamlined and formed into wings.
A plant that grows on or from the ground is known as a "terrestrial habitat plant." Most of the time, these plants are classified based on their appearance.
A plant that can thrive with a little water. It also maintained a healthy plant's root, shoot, and vascular structure.
The majority of xerophytes are found in deserts, where the temperature is dry and the environment is hot. The thick, fleshy section of their stems held water. It has tiny leaves that aid in the slowing of water loss.
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By - Nikita Parmar 2024-09-06 10:59:22 , 6 min readAns. Grasslands are the world’s biggest terrestrial ecosystems in their widest sense.
Ans. Yes, the ecology may have been created by humans. For example, zoos, national parks, sanctuaries, and so on might be called artificial or man-made ecosystems.
Ans. Terrestrial ecosystems provide several advantages, such as habitat for wildlife and plants, food, fiber, fuel, and shelter. Carbon, water, and other nutrients are captured, converted, and released.
Ans. A terrestrial ecosystem is a species-rich community on land that involves both biotic and abiotic interactions. Terrestrial habitats include tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous woods, tropical rainforests, grasslands, and deserts.
Ans. Human activity is drastically changing the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems. For example, we are changing the chemical composition of the atmosphere, converting natural landscapes into urban areas, and relocating floral and faunal species far beyond their original ranges.
Ans. The terrestrial ecosystem is the habitat that supports animal life on land. Mountains, deserts, forests, and grasslands are only a few examples.
Ans. Giraffes, spiders, snakes, monkeys, flies, cows, and dogs are among the terrestrial creatures.