MAJOR TYPES OF ECOSYSTEMS q TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS q

MAJOR TYPES OF ECOSYSTEMS q TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS q AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS A terrestrial ecosystem is an ecosystem found only on landforms. Six primary terrestrial ecosystems exist: • tundra, • taiga, • temperate deciduous forest, • tropical rain forest, • grassland; and • desert. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

TUNDRA v v An ecosystem situated near the North Pole in the Arctic Circle; thus, the coldest and driest of all terrestrial ecosystems. Winters are extremely cold with temperatures typically below -34° C. The summers last only about two months and the temperatures are still very cold ranging from 3° to 12° C. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

TUNDRA v v v The word tundra comes from the Finnish word tunturia which means treeless land. There are two types of tundra - arctic tundra and alpine tundra. The arctic tundra is located within the Arctic Circle while the alpine tundra is the area high in the mountains above trees. The largest animal that lives in the tundra ecosystem is the polar bear. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

TUNDRA Arctic Tundra Alpine Tundra Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

Tundra in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

Tundra Animals Polar bears Beetle Long-tailed weasel Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

TAIGA v v v The largest terrestrial ecosystem and extends across Europe, North America and Asia. It is also known as coniferous forest or boreal forest. It has short, wet summers and long, cold winters. It gets plenty of snow during the winter and plenty of rainfall during the summer. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

Taiga Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

Taiga Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST v v It experiences all four seasonswinter, spring, summer, and fall. The four seasons are easily recognizable and each lasts about 3 months. It is located in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Japan and some parts of Russia. Its soil is very fertile and rich with nutrients. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST v v v Black bears and wolves are very common animals that live in the temperate deciduous forest ecosystem. The growing season of the temperate deciduous forest lasts about six months. The leaves of deciduous trees change color in the fall because the plant or tree stops producing chlorophyll which is what gives them their green color. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST v v An ecosystem that covers about 7% of the Earth’s surface. Majority of the tropical rain forests lies in South America in Brazil. Tropical rainforests are one of the oldest ecosystems on Earth. It is responsible for the majority of the oxygen production in the air that we breathe. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

Amazon Rainforest Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

GRASSLAND v v Grasslands are also known as prairies and savannas. Grasslands are normally situated between a forest and a desert. In fact, grasslands surround every desert in Asia. Twenty-five percent of the Earth is covered by the grassland ecosystem. There is a grassland on each continent with the exception of Antarctica. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

GRASSLAND v v Tropical and temperate are the two kinds of grasslands. Tropical grasslands experience warm weather all year long while temperate grasslands are warm part of the year and very cold during the other part. Grasslands are perfect for cropping and pasturing because its soil runs deep and is extremely fertile. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

GRASSLAND v v v Tropical grasslands are located in the Southern Hemisphere while temperate grasslands are located in the Northern Hemisphere. Animals that you can expect to find in a grassland ecosystem are zebras, lions, wolves, prairie dogs, and foxes. The grasslands in the United States are known as prairies and are considered to be temperate grasslands. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

A grassland west of Coalinga, California. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

Savanna in the Samburu Game Preserve, Kenya. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

Colorado prairie Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

DESERT v v Deserts cover about 20% of the Earth. The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the desert ecosystem. It covers over 300 million square miles. Many desert animals tend to be nocturnal, sleeping during the day and coming out at night when the temperatures are more tolerable. Because there is hardly any standing water in the desert, animals either store water in their bodies or get their water needs met by the foods they eat. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

DESERT v v v Dust storms occur when the wind picks up dust from the surface. These storms can be up to 1 mile high and travel over a hundred miles. The desert ecosystem can be found on every continent except Europe. Because body fat retains heat, most desert animals have an adaptation that allows them to store all their body fat in one area of their body. The camel stores all its body fat in its hump. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

DESERT v v The plants that are able to grow in the desert biome store water in their stem. They normally grow spaced out so that their roots can extend and find water. Cacti have many adaptions to survive in the desert. Their spines protect them from being eaten by animals and their waxy outer covering keeps moisture from escaping. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

Sahara Desert Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem located in a body of water. Two major aquatic ecosystems exist: • Marine ecosystem; and • Freshwater ecosystem Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

MARINE ECOSYSTEMS v v v The largest ecosystem with coverage of nearly 71% of the Earth’s surface and containing 97% of the planet’s water. The water in marine ecosystems has salts and minerals dissolved in them in high amounts. There are two common and major types of marine ecosystems: ocean and coral reef ecosystems. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

OCEAN v v There are five ocean ecosystems Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean. At 36, 200 feet deep, the Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the ocean ecosystem. The largest ocean of the ocean ecosystems is the Pacific Ocean. The ocean ecosystem is home to the largest known mammal of the world = the blue whale. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

Atlantic Ocean Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

CORAL REEF v v v It is located in a shallow, clear portion of the ocean in mostly tropical areas. These areas include the coasts of East Africa, South India, Australia, Florida, the Caribbean, and Brazil. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef ecosystem and is located in Australia. It can actually be seen from outer space. The Great Barrier Reef covers more than 1, 200 miles and contains 400 species of coral. Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS Covers only 0. 8% of the Earth’s surface and contain 0. 009% of its total water. v There are two basic types of freshwater ecosystems: lentic, and lotic. v Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

LENTIC ECOSYSTEMS Lentic ecosystems are also called standing waters. v It includes lakes, ponds, swamps, marshes, and vernal pools. v Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

Manzanita Lake toward Mt. Lassen, California Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

LOTIC ECOSYSTEMS Lotic ecosystems are also called flowing waters. v It includes rivers, streams, creeks, brooks, and springs. v Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

Agusan River Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)

Ms. Catherine T. Añano (Fulltime Lecturer)