Unit 5 ECOSYSTEMS SUMMARY

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ELEMENTS

LIVING THINGS - Plants (flora) - Animals (fauna) - Other organisms, such as fungi and

microorganisms. Those living things that belong to the same species form a POPULATION. Populations interact with each other forming a COMMUNITY.

PHYSISCAL ENVIRONMENT - SOIL (with rocks and minerals) - AIR - WATER - SUNLIGHT - TEMPERATURE - CLIMATE

DEFINITION An ecosystem includes all the living and non-living things (physical

environment) in a specific area and the interaction that occurs between them.

Unit 5 ECOSYSTEMS SUMMARY

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ECOSYSTEMS

TERRESTRIAL

AQUATIC

DESERT - They are the driest and hottest places on Earth. - Temperatures are high during the day but low at night. - Plants and animals here have adapted to dry conditions. - Cacti, small bushes, lizards, snakes, camels and

scorpions.

FORESTS - Coniferous forests: located in cold areas, are home to evergreen

trees, such as pines and fir trees, and animals including brown bears, deer, foxes and weasels.

- Temperate deciduous forests: dominated by trees which lose their leaves every winter, such as oak, beech and maple and animals like squirrels, rodents and wild boar.

- Mediterranean forest is found surrounding areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Cork oaks, holm oaks, thyme and rosemary are typical flora. Eagles, foxes, lynx, hawks and rodents.

TROPICAL RAINFOREST - Forests in tropical areas are warm and wet all year long. - Evergreen trees, orchids, ferns, snakes, monkeys, jaguars, insects

and many kinds of birds, such as parrots and toucans.

GRASSLANDS - Flat areas dominated by grasses. - Two types: savannahs (in tropical areas) and temperate grasslands

(steppes, prairies, pampa) ... located in colder climate regions. - Elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, gazelles and antelopes in

savannahs, and bison, prairie dogs, wolves and coyotes in prairies.

TUNDRA - It is the coldest ecosystem on Earth and it is also very dry. - Located in the land areas near the North Pole. - Absence of trees. Lichens, mosses and some grasses. - Fauna: reindeer, caribou, artic foxes, polar bears and white wolves.

MARINE - Coral reefs: Great number of species. - Shoreline: It is the place where sea and land meet.

Animals and plants have adapted to the strong tides and waves. Ex. Limpets.

- Open ocean: it is the largest ecosystem on Earth. Sharks, fish, whales, dolphins

FRESHWATER - Flowing water: Rivers and streams. Fish, crocodiles,

turtles and frogs. - Standing water: Lakes and ponds. Ponds are smaller

than lakes and don’t have waves. Fish, tadpoles, ducks. Wetlands: Areas where freshwater covers the soil. Many bird species.

NATURAL

ARTIFICIAL TERRESTRIAL: Farmlands for food production with domesticated animals . Gardens, parks, greenhouses, orchards, zoos and terrariums.