ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY.pptxfghyfhkdrxtgrfhb
- 2. What is an ECOSYSTEM? Ecosystem diversity is the variety of habitats, the communities found in a geographic location, the beneficial services they provide, and the processes that support the ecosystem. An ecosystem is a chain of interactions between organisms and their environment.
- 3. What is an ECOSYSTEM? They vary in biological communities due to differences in the abiotic factors present there. Each ecosystem is connected to the other because certain biotic and abiotic factors can move between ecosystems, like nutrients, organisms, water, and air. As a result, changes to one ecosystem can lead to changes in another. This is similar to the impact of the loss of a species in a community.
- 5. types of ecosystem Terrestrial Aquatic An ecosystem can be as small as an oasis in a desert, or as big as an ocean, spanning thousands of miles. 1 2
- 6. 1 A terrestrial ecosystem is a land-based community of organisms and the interactions of biotic and abiotic components in a given area. They are as follows: FOREST . GRASSLAND . TUNDRA . DESERT TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM
- 7. Forest ECOSYSTEM A forest is an area of land dominated by trees and animals that live in coordination with the abiotic factors of the environment.
- 8. There are three main types of forest ecosystems: Tropical forests exist close to the equator, where exposure to sunlight and rainfall are at their highest, and are some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet. Also known as “the lungs of our planet,” they cover 7% of the land and provide 20% of the whole planet’s oxygen. Temperate forests are found between the tropics and the polar regions of our planet. They are exposed to warm and cold air temperatures, which create the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Boreal forests cover 33% of the land, circle the Northern Hemisphere, and sit just south of the Arctic Circle. The biodiversity found here is exposed to cold temperatures for most of the year. The boreal forests of Canada contain 300 billion tons of carbon, both above and below ground, which is the amount the world emits over a 36-year period.
- 10. In a grassland ecosystem, the vegetation is dominated by grasses and herbs. G r a s s l a n d E C O S Y S T E M
- 11. Savannas are found closer to the equator than temperate grassland; they experience seasonal rainfall creating wet seasons during summer and dry seasons in the winter. The African savannah covers 50% of the continent and is a vital resource for the millions of people who live there. Temperate grasslands offer flat land with fertile soil. Such conditions are perfect for farming, which has led to almost 80% of grassland being converted to agricultural lands. Native prairie grasses have extremely long roots that can reach up to 10 feet deep, which are specially designed to protect them from winds, drought, and fires.
- 13. In physical geography, tundra is a type of biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons Tundra ECOSYSTEM
- 14. Alpine tundra ecosystems are found above 11,000 feet on mountain ranges easily identified by the tree line of forests. Cold winds and minimal rainfall, along with thin layers of soil, restrict trees from becoming established. Small depressions, exposure to the sun, and the presence of soil create microhabitats where different species can become established in the same ecosystem. Plants are low-growing, contain hairs for insulation, and even change color to control the amount of sunlight they can absorb.
- 15. Arctic tundra ecosystems are found between the taiga forests in the northern hemisphere and the polar ice caps. The most extreme temperatures recorded here are 61°F (16°C) in summer and -94°F (-70°C) in winter. Winters can last up to 10 months. These conditions limit the levels of biodiversity present; however, almost 2,000 plant species have found a way to live in this place. Migratory birds and caribou come here in the summer months and leave before winter. Few animal species make the arctic tundra their permanent home. It is a vital ecosystem for carbon storage, which impacts every person on the planet.
- 17. A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. Desert ECOSYSTEM
- 18. Arid deserts are mostly found around the equator due to the high level of sun exposure. They are hot and dry places containing sand dunes and occasional hospitable oases that can support any animals that inhabit the area. The Great Sandy Desert of Australia is a huge resource for minerals and metals due to the concentrated deposits left from water evaporation. It contains lead, uranium, iron ore, gold, and silver, all of which have multiple purposes and applications.
- 19. Semi-arid deserts are less hostile than the conditions of arid deserts. Daytime temperatures rarely exceed 100°F (38°C) and evenings cool to around 50°F (10°C). The cool nights create condensation from the day, adding to the moisture content of the land and allowing for more biodiversity to grow. Deserts can be climatically hot, as we all think of the deserts of Africa or Australia, for example, or climatically cooler like those found mostly in the Nearctic regions (North America, Greenland, Europe, Newfoundland, Russia, and northern Asia). They are excellent indicators for tracking climate change and desertification.
- 20. Coastal deserts are located near large water sources, such as oceans and seas. They are the most hospitable deserts due to their less extreme average temperatures of 75°F (24°C) in summer and 41°F(5°C) in winter. Mountain ranges restrict rainfall to the area, but the soils are better at holding water from the fog that rolls in from the water bodies. The Namib Desert of Africa is the world’s oldest at 55 million years old. It is a vital economic resource for tungsten, salt, and diamonds, as well as home to two of Earth’s 36 biodiversity hotspots.
- 22. 2 Aquatic ecosystems are ecosystems present in a body of water. These can be further divided into two types, namely: Freshwater & Marine Aquatic ecosystem
- 23. FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM The freshwater ecosystem is an aquatic ecosystem that includes lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and wetlands. These have no salt content in contrast with the marine ecosystem.
- 24. Ponds and lakes are still bodies of water, unlike rivers and streams, which transport water from mountains to the ocean connecting lakes and ponds above and below ground. Their size can vary from small backyard ponds to the Great Lakes of North America, which provide essential drinking water, resources for food production, and support for the ecosystem processes needed to keep our planet healthy.
- 25. Streams and rivers are constantly moving bodies of water that are continuously fed by the hydrological cycle transporting water vapor through the air in clouds which are released on land. In the mountains, water collects and travels down forming streams, carrying minerals and nutrients from the rocks to lakes, ponds, and wetlands habitats along the way. Ultimately, it ends up in the ocean, where the cycle continues.
- 26. Wetlands, as the name suggests, are areas of land covered in or saturated by water from nearby water sources or underground aquifers. Due to the high amounts of water and soil available, these habitats can support an immense variety of terrestrial and aquatic species which, in turn, then support more species in the surrounding ecosystems. Regarded as “the kidneys of our planet,” they contribute hugely to the regulating processes of Earth. The Pantanal wetlands are found in the heart of South America.
- 28. mARINE ECOSYSTEM The marine ecosystem includes seas and oceans. These have a more substantial salt content and greater biodiversity in comparison to the freshwater ecosystem.
- 29. Salt marshes are a type of wetland that experiences flooding from saltwater tides and are generally found near estuaries. They can be found on almost every coast around the world. The saline water limits the diversity of species, but the salt marshes play an important role in protecting land loss from erosion. They act as a protective barrier between inhabitable land and sea.
- 30. Estuaries are found at the mouths of rivers where freshwater meets seawater to create brackish water. Brackish water has more salinity (salt) than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. It is somewhere in between. Landforms protect the estuary from ocean waves, providing a safe habitat for many marine species that use this place as a nursery. It is also an integral part of many commercial marine species’ life cycles. Due to the influx of nutrients from rivers and the constant change in salinity from the tides, many species inhabit these ecosystems.
- 31. Mangroves are coastal ecosystems that are found in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. They are characterized by mangrove trees, which can thrive in saline waters. This irreplaceable habitat provides shoreline protection, offers a nursery for many marine species, and acts as a nesting site for birds.
- 33. STRUCTURE OF THE ECOSYSTEM? The structure of an ecosystem is characterised by the organisation of both biotic and abiotic components. This includes the distribution of energy in our environment. It also includes the climatic conditions prevailing in that particular environment. Biotic Components Abiotic Components
- 34. ECOSYSTEM ABIOTIC BIOTIC PRODUCERS CONSUMERS DECOMPOSERS PRIMARY SECONDARY TERTIARY
- 35. FUNCTIONS OF THE ECOSYSTEM It regulates the essential ecological processes, supports life systems and renders stability. It is also responsible for the cycling of nutrients between biotic and abiotic components. It maintains a balance among the various trophic levels in the ecosystem. It cycles the minerals through the biosphere. The abiotic components help in the synthesis of organic components that involves the exchange of energy.
- 36. the food chain During this biological process, light energy is converted into chemical energy and is passed on through successive levels. The flow of energy from a producer, to a consumer and eventually, to an apex predator or a detritivore is called the food chain. 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 - The grasshoppers eat the grass 2 - The mice eats the grasshoppers 3 - The snake eats the mice 4 - The eagle eats the snake 5 - When the hawk die, fungi breaks the bodies down and turns into nutrients 6 - The nutrients, along with sun and water, cause the grass to grow
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