Terrestrial Ecosystem

Module 3
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM
Terrestrial Ecosystem
A terrestrial ecosystem is a type of ecosystem found only on biomes.
Biomes are the earth’s major communities of the world. Six primary terrestrial
ecosystems exist: tropical rain forest, deciduous forest, taiga, grassland, tundra, and
desert. The plant type determines the kind of animals.
Each biome characterized by distinct animals, plants, climate, temperature, soil,
rainfall, and adaptation. Large ecosystems in different parts of the world which occur
on the land masses of continents and islands.
Learning Outcome:
1. Characterize the different terrestrial ecosystems of the world
1. Describe the organisms and physical environment that exist in each biome.
Tropical rainforest
Found in warm, wet areas near the equator. Rainforests are rich in plants and
animal species. They are the most diversified of the biomes, the most exploited and
endangered too.
Forest biomes develop where the temperature is not too hot in the summer and not too
cold in the winter. There are three main types of forest biomes: temperature deciduous
forest, coniferous forest, and tropical rain forest.
Climate: Rainfall occurs almost daily; much sunshine.
Temperature: Fairly constant throughout the year and does not fluctuate very much
during the day and night. Annual average temperature is greater than the 17 ̊C; mean
temperature is 28 C
̊ .
Soil: Lacks mineral and contains little remains of dead animals and plants. When these
organisms die and fall to the ground, automatically the huge number of fungi and
bacteria attacked them. Decomposition is fast on warm wet soil. Minerals excreted by
the decomposers are absorbed by the plants.
Rainfall: the average rainfall is 240 cm it occurs almost daily
Plants: Numerous species of trees grow about 50 to 60 meter tall.; Some have broad
and leathery leaves. The shorter trees branch widely at the top forming a canopy layer.
Deciduous Forest
Has a long growing season of 4 to 6 months: natural predators like foxes are
largely eliminated due to hunting and destruction of habitats; changes in the color of the
leaves occur before they fall. Green leaves turn to yellow and red.
Climate: Seasonal
Temperature: Below freezing during winter but not below 12 ̊ C.
Soil: Rich and grayish brown in color with plenty of decomposing leaves and organic
matter.
Rainfall: 75-100 cm annually
Plants: Trees shed their leaves on the floor during fall and grow them again in spring;
lichens; mosses, and shrubs also grow
Animals: Rodents, deer, rabbits, squirrels, birds, snakes, frogs, salamanders are
abundant: bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms abound in the soil. Adaptation:
During the cold months many of the animals are hibernate, migrate, or become inactive.
The falling of the leaves prevent loss of water.
Location: Deciduous forest of countries where there are four seasons.
Taiga or Coniferous Forest
Abundant in conifers, which are cone-bearing trees with needlelike structure.
Taiga is a belt of coniferous forest found in the northern hemisphere, close to Arctic
Tundra. Coniferous trees are needle-leaved trees that are usually evergreen and
shallow rooted and usually bear cones.
Climate: Very long cold winter lasting to about half a year; precipitation is in the form of
snow of about 60 cm.
Temperature: Below20 -̊C in winter and about 15 ̊C in summer.

Soil: soil is not fertile. It takes a very long for needlelike leaves to decompose and
decomposition is very slow in cold weather. Soil beneath the snow is a grayish on top
and brown below, locks minerals needed by plants to grow.
Plants: Evergreen plants like pine, fir, and spruce
Animals: Bears, moose, deer, mice, porcupines, squirrel, mosquitoes during summer.
Adaptation: The needlelike leaves of plants have protective covering that keeps the
plants from drying out or freezing. The animals depend on the trees for food and shelter
Location: Northern parts of North America, Europe and Asia
Grasslands
It occurs in all continents. They are called in different name plains or prairies in
North America pampas in Argentina, steppes in Soviet Union, and veldt in South Africa.
Climate: Seasonal, between that of a desert and a forest, not as dry as the desert but
drier than a forest.
Temperature: Moderate to hot summers; cold winter with subfreezing temperatures,
usually ranging from hot to cold; distinct seasons of the year
Rainfall: 40 t0 80 cm per year
Plants: Short grasses growing in a dry grassland areas, tall grasses growing in wetter
areas. Grasslands do not have adequate water to support trees hence, the trees are
scarce and grow along the streams of grasslands
Animals: Mostly herbivores, rodents, dogs, snakes, are also found.
Adaptations: The animals are adapted to eating grasses and roots, burrow into the soil
as there homes. others feed on herbivores.

Tundra
Found in arctic regions; cold and lack of water; trees do not grow.
Climate: Cold and limited sunlight
Temperature: Average temperature is – 5 ̊C
Soil: Ground covered with little snow. Below the surface soil is permanently frozen
(permafrost) decomposition is very slow because of the extreme cold.
Rainfall: Less than 25 cm annually
Plants: Lichens, mosses, grasses, and dwarf shrubs, trees cannot grow because of
extreme and frozen ground.
Animals: Reindeers, oxen, rabbits, caribou, and foxes
Adaptations: The animals survive by moving to other places when foods become
scarce. The oxen are protected from cold by thick coats. The smaller animals like
rabbits and foxes burrow into the snow and feed on tiny bits of plants. Tundra
inhabitants have white coats in winter and brown coats in summer. This change in
coloration enables them to adapt to the season protecting them in winter and summer
Location: Northern Hemisphere
Desert
About 1/6 of the earth’s land surface covered by desert. Deserts are characterized by
lack of moisture. There are only few living organisms that can survive.
Climate: Very dry
Temperature: Hot during the day and cold during the night. The air becomes quickly hot
during the day and cools rapidly during the night because the air contains little or no
moisture to modify the temperature. Strong winds often occur in the desert, carrying
dust and wind.
Soil: Sandy, dry, and loose; contains minerals like calcite
Rainfall: Less than 10 cm in a year
Plants: Bushes and shrubs are widely scattered; cacti and small flowers cover the
desert usually after every occasional rains.
Animals: Lizards, snakes, eagles, owls, toads, insects, and small birds
Adaptation: Plants have stick stems and leaves that hold water; they grow far apart from
each other to minimize competition for water. Have shallow extensive roots and deep
tap roots to absorb water.
Location: Sahara desert in Africa, Northern Mexico, parts of Middle East, Asia and
Southeast United States

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Module 3

A terrestrial ecosystem is a type of ecosystem found only on biomes.

desert. The plant type determines the kind of animals.

Each biome characterized by distinct animals, plants, climate, temperature, soil,

on the land masses of continents and islands.

1. Characterize the different terrestrial ecosystems of the world

forest, coniferous forest, and tropical rain forest.

Climate: Rainfall occurs almost daily; much sunshine.

the decomposers are absorbed by the plants.

Rainfall: the average rainfall is 240 cm it occurs almost daily

Rainfall: 75-100 cm annually

lichens; mosses, and shrubs also grow

The falling of the leaves prevent loss of water.

Location: Deciduous forest of countries where there are four seasons.

Taiga or Coniferous Forest

Abundant in conifers, which are cone-bearing trees with needlelike structure.

shallow rooted and usually bear cones.

snow of about 60 cm.

Temperature: Below20 -̊C in winter and about 15 ̊C in summer.

and brown below, locks minerals needed by plants to grow.

Plants: Evergreen plants like pine, fir, and spruce

Location: Northern parts of North America, Europe and Asia

drier than a forest.

Temperature: Moderate to hot summers; cold winter with subfreezing temperatures,

usually ranging from hot to cold; distinct seasons of the year

Rainfall: 40 t0 80 cm per year

scarce and grow along the streams of grasslands

Animals: Mostly herbivores, rodents, dogs, snakes, are also found.

as there homes. others feed on herbivores.

Climate: Cold and limited sunlight

Temperature: Average temperature is – 5 ̊C

(permafrost) decomposition is very slow because of the extreme cold.

Rainfall: Less than 25 cm annually

extreme and frozen ground.

Animals: Reindeers, oxen, rabbits, caribou, and foxes

Location: Northern Hemisphere

Climate: Very dry

dust and wind.

Soil: Sandy, dry, and loose; contains minerals like calcite

Rainfall: Less than 10 cm in a year

desert usually after every occasional rains.

tap roots to absorb water.

Southeast United States

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