FOREST

TYPE OF
GRASSLA
AQUATIC ECOSYST ND
EM

DESSERT
 FOREST

 An area of land spanning more than 0.05 hectares

with tree crown cover (or equivalent stocking level)
of more than 10 percent with trees with the potential
to reach a minimum height of 2-5 meters at maturity
in situ. Actual definitions can vary from country to
country as the Kyoto Protocol permits countries to
specify the precise definition within these
parameters to be used for national accounting of
emissions
FOREST
 TYPES OF FOREST
Tropical Forests : Tropical forests generally lie between 23.50 N and 23.50 S latitudes. The
temperature that prevails in this forest is around 680 and 770 Fahrenheit throughout the
year. They normally experience 100 inches of rainfall every year and thus do not have
any winter season. This type of forest avails broad leaves trees that are in majority in this
forest and they normally grow 82 to 115 feet tall. Vines, ferns, mosses, orchids, and
palms are the alternative variations that are found here. The various categories of
tropical forests are evergreen, seasonal, dry, montane, tropical and subtropical,
coniferous, and subtropical

Boreal Forests : Boreal forests are also known as taiga forests, better found between 50
and 60 degrees north latitude. Siberia, Canada, North Asia, and Scandinavia are a few of
the areas that have boreal forests. About 65% of the boreal forests are concentrated in
Scandinavia. These forests are characterized by very long winters and very short
summers. They receive between 15 and 40 inches of precipitation annually, most of
which is snow. They have an undermined rate of decomposition and a very thin layer of
soil because of the very cold temperature. The trees that are found in these forests are
mostly evergreen trees. Some of the examples of these trees are pine, spruce, and fir.
Due to its very dense canopy, it has very limited vegetation.
 Features of a Forest
 1. Habitat and Ecosystem Services: Forests provide habitats for a wide
range of species, supporting biodiversity. They also offer ecosystem
services such as soil stabilization, pollination, and natural pest control.
 2. Recreation and Tourism: Forests are popular destinations for outdoor
activities such as hiking, camping, and wildlife watching. They also
attract tourists, contributing to local economies.
 3. Resource Provision: Forests are a source of various resources such as
timber, medicinal plants, fruits, and nuts. Sustainable forest
management is essential to ensure the long-term availability of these
resources.
 4. Cultural and Spiritual Significance: Forests hold cultural and spiritual
importance for many communities around the world. They are often
associated with traditional practices, folklore, and spiritual beliefs .
 Functions of Forest
 Protective function - the forest has a stabilising effect onthe natural
environment (water circulation, precipitation, aircirculation, temperature,
global and micro-climate, soil erosion prevention). It creates the conditions
sustaining biodiversity and enhances the conditions of agricultural production.
 Productive function - timber is obviously a basic raw material coming from
the forest and should be sourced carefully not to threaten its existence.
Currently, timber has more than 30,000 applications worldwide. Other
products that people harvest in the forest are: forest fruit, mushrooms, many
species of herbs used in medicine and the meat of game animals.
 Social function - the forest creates the environment favourable to the health
and recreation of society, enhances the labour market, strengthens national
defence, improves environmental awareness and culture of society. It is
extremely difficult to measure the economic value of the non-productive
functions of the forest, which is reflected by major discrepancies between
different estimates. However, it is generally agreed that their aggregate value
considerably exceeds the value of the productive function.
 GRASSLAND

 Grasslands are vast areas of open land covered primarily by grasses, with
few trees or large shrubs. They are one of the major terrestrial biomes on
Earth, occupying around 25% of the Earth's land surface. Grasslands are
found on every continent except Antarctica and are often referred to by
different names depending on their location, such as prairies in North
America, steppes in Eurasia, savannas in Africa, and pampas in South
America.
GRASSLAND
 Types of Grassland
 Tropical Grasslands : Tropical Grasslands are the ones which receive 50 cm to 130
cm rain. Furthermore, they have both rainy and dry days. As a result, they are warm
all year round. Moreover, tropical grasslands are also called Savanna. These
grasslands contain shrubs and small trees that are dry in nature. Also, the tropical
grasslands contain quite short plants which makes it an excellent hunting ground.
For instance, the African savanna is one of the tropical grasslands. In conclusion, the
tropical grassland is a home for elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, zebras, and
other spectacular species.

 Flooded Grasslands : The flooded grasslands are having water all year-round.
Furthermore, these grasslands contain numerous vegetation that grows in water.
Various water birds migrate to these areas while some are residents of it. Most
Noteworthy the Everglades is the world’s largest flooded grasslands. Furthermore, it
features various types of birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, seed-bearing plants,
amphibians, and butterflies, etc.

 Montane Grasslands : Montane means ‘ high altitude’ therefore these are the
grasslands that are high altitude shrublands. These are called high altitude because
they are above the tree line level of the ground. Moreover, the plants found here
 Features of Grassland
 1. Biodiversity: Adapted Flora and Fauna - Grasslands support a wide variety of life, including
large herbivores such as bison, antelope, zebras, and wildebeests, which graze on the abundant
grasses. - Predators such as lions, cheetahs, wolves, and birds of prey thrive in grasslands,
relying on the large populations of herbivores for food. - Grasslands also support numerous
insects, particularly pollinators like bees and butterflies, which play a crucial role in maintaining
the ecosystem. - The plant species in grasslands are often drought-resistant, with deep root
systems that help them survive in the variable and sometimes harsh climate.

 2. Open Landscape - Grasslands are characterized by vast, open landscapes with few trees or
large shrubs. This openness allows for large migrations of animals and extensive grazing. -
The flat to gently rolling terrain is typical, though some grasslands, particularly montane
grasslands, can be found in hilly or mountainous regions.

 3. Seasonal Variations - Grasslands experience significant seasonal changes, particularly in

temperate regions. These changes affect the availability of water, food, and habitat for many
species. - In tropical grasslands, the wet and dry seasons dictate the growth cycles of
vegetation and the movement patterns of animals.
 Functions of Grassland
 Carbon Sequestration : Grasslands act as significant carbon sinks, capturing
and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
The deep root systems of grasses store carbon in the soil, helping to mitigate
climate change by reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

 Biodiversity Support : Grasslands are home to a wide variety of plant and

animal species, many of which are specifically adapted to this ecosystem. -
They provide habitat for large herbivores like bison, zebras, and antelope, as
well as predators such as lions, wolves, and birds of prey. Grasslands also
support a rich diversity of insects, especially pollinators like bees and
butterflies, which are essential for maintaining plant diversity and agricultural
productivity.

 Soil Formation and Protection : Grasslands contribute to soil formation and

maintenance through the decomposition of organic matter, particularly from
grasses and herbaceous plants. The extensive root systems of grasses help to
bind the soil, reducing erosion by wind and water, and maintaining soil
structure and fertility . These soils are often rich in organic matter, making
them some of the most fertile lands on Earth, crucial for agriculture.
 Desert

 Deserts are hot, dry places made up mostly of sand, rock, and
mountains. In general, deserts are defined as areas where the amount of
water that evaporates in the air is greater than the amount that falls to
the ground as rain.
 In the desert, temperatures can soar as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit
(50 degrees Celsius) in some areas; but because there is no cloud cover
to keep warmth in, deserts can also get very cold at night, with
temperatures plunging as low as –4 degrees Fahrenheit (–20 degrees
Celsius) in places. Deserts can also be very windy, which can stir up
violent sandstorms. Examples of deserts are the Namib and Kalahari
deserts in Africa, the Arabian Desert in the Arabian Peninsula, the Great
Victoria Desert in Australia, and the Mojave and Sonora deserts in the
U.S.
Desert
 Types of deserts

The hot and dry desert – Sahara : The Sahara is known as the world’s largest desert,
covering over 8.54 million square kilometres . It is the largest, and the hottest desert in the
world.

 Sahara desert is located in tropical regions, which are 1,000 m above sea level. It covers
a huge part of North Africa, and eleven other countries – Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Mali,
Chad, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, Mauritania, Libya and Morocco.

 The total area actually measures about 8,600,000 square kilometres , which is 4,800 km
approximately from east to west, and between 800 and 1,200 km from north to south.

 The climate in this region is extremely hot, sizzling, and dry, and often receives small
quantities of precipitation throughout the year.

 In this hot desert, the days are scorching. During the day, temperatures will rise as high
as 45° C to 50° C, heating the bare rocks and the sand. The nights can be extremely
cold, with temperatures going below 0° C, sometimes.
 Types of deserts
The cold and dry desert of Ladakh : Ladakh is famously known as the cold
desert of India. It is found in the high altitudes of the temperate regions, which lie in
the Great Himalayas within the eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir and located in
the western Himalayas region, within Himachal Pradesh in North India.

 The altitude in Ladakh ranges from about 3,000 m in Kargil to 8,000 m in

Karakoram. Due to its high altitude, the climate remains extremely cold and dry.
The day temperatures in summer are just above 0° C and the night temperatures
go below –30° C.

 The Gangotri glacier along with several other glaciers are found here, along with
different rivers flowing through Ladakh. Among the rivers, Indus is the most
important river that flows through Ladakh.

 In Ladakh, there are very few, tiny patches of grasses and shrubs for animals to
graze on. Many poplars, groves of willows and shrubs of the genus Salix are seen
in the valleys.
 FEATURES OF DESERT
Aridity :
Aridity implies a deficiency of dry moisture. As it experiences less rainfall, it
results in aridity
Wind Velocity :
Wind velocity is high in this ecosystem. That’s why deserts experience dust
storms or sandstorms of higher intensity, forming sand dunes.
Extreme temperature :
This type of ecosystem experiences extreme hot or cold temperatures during
night and day! The days happen to be hot, while nights are extremely cold.
 Functions of Desert
 It serves as a habitat to multiple species of animals and plants and. These animals
and plants have adapted, and they survive in extreme environments.

 It acts as the carbon sink. That means the bacteria in sands help in storing CO 2 or
carbon dioxide in order to prevent it from getting into the atmosphere.

 The ecosystem is a huge source of natural gas, oil, and minerals and.
 Desert ecosystem contributes to the production of salt.

 It’s a perfect ecosystem for preserving the historical belongings of Mother Nature.
So, deserts have huge significance in archaeological discoveries.

 They have unusual landscapes & oases. People get attracted to its scenic beauty
due to its natural formation. Thus, deserts have become a tourist’s favorite location.

 Desert sands act as the carbon sink. Scientists found that bacteria that are living in
Africa’s Kalahari Desert helps store the carbon dioxide and CO 2 from the air.
 AQUATIC
 The aquatic ecosystem definition states it is a water-based environment,
wherein, living organisms interact with both physical and chemical features
of the environment. These living creatures whose food, shelter,
reproduction, and other essential activities depend on a water-based
environment are known as aquatic organisms. Water plays a significant role
in the management of world-scale ecosystem processes in aquatic systems,
connecting the atmosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere by transferring
material between them and allowing chemical reactions to occur. Water has
unique physicochemical features that reflect the water body's quality. The
physicochemical characteristics of an aquatic ecosystem determine how
well it functions and how long it can support life forms. In the same way as
sediments in terrestrial ecosystems provide substrate, nutrients, and a
home for live aquatic resources, sediments in aquatic ecosystems are
equivalent to the soil in terrestrial ecosystems. Sediments are significant
catalysts in environmental food cycles and the two water quality dynamics.
AQUATIC
 TYPE OF AQUATIC

 Freshwater : include rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands. These habitats

have low salinity and support species adapted to less salty conditions.
Freshwater environments are crucial for providing drinking water,
supporting agriculture, and hosting a wide range of biodiversity.
 Marine : consist of oceans, seas, coral reefs, and coastal areas. These
environments have high salinity and cover about 70% of the Earth's
surface. Marine ecosystems are vital for global climate regulation, support
a vast diversity of life, and are key sources of food and resources for
humans.
 Features OF Aquatic
Aquatic features refer to the characteristics that define water-based
environments. These include salinity, where freshwater has low salt content
and marine water has high salt levels. Temperature varies with depth and
location, influencing the types of species that can thrive. Pressure increases
with depth, particularly in deep-sea environments, where organisms are
adapted to extreme conditions. Light availability is another key feature, with
the photic zone receiving sunlight to support photosynthesis, while deeper
areas remain dark, relying on other energy sources. These features shape
the diversity and adaptation of life in aquatic ecosystems.
 Functions OF Aquatic
Facilitates recycling of
nutrients
Helps to purify water
Recharges groundwater
Is a habitat for aquatic flora
and flora
Mitigates flood