Terrestrial ecosystem: what is it and types

Terrestrial ecosystems are portions of land inhabited by a set of living beings that interact with the region's own environmental characteristics.

The ecosystem is the set of living organisms and their physical and chemical environments, that is, the integration between biotic and abiotic factors.

Examples

The main types of terrestrial ecosystems are forests, deserts, grasslands and savannas.

Forests

rainforest ecosystem — The fauna, flora and abiotic factors of tropical forests form complex ecosystems

Forests are environments with large amounts of trees, in which the crowns intersect and form a green "roof".

At tropical florests are the richest terrestrial ecosystems in biodiversity of the planet. Therefore, they represent highly complex ecosystems due to the numerous existing ecological relationships.

In Brazil, the Amazon rainforest and the Atlantic forest.

deserts

Sahara desert image — Deserts are home to different forms of life adapted to the dry environment

You deserts they are dry environments, with low rainfall and a hot and arid climate.

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The vegetation of this ecosystem consists of grasses and shrubs, spaced apart. Many desert plants are xerophytes, adapted to a dry environment and able to prevent water loss.

Among the fauna elements are reptiles, insects and some rodents.

Prairies and Savannas

prairie environment — The prairie is an environment covered by undergrowth

At prairies they are ecosystems existing in plains and covered by herbaceous vegetation. The tallest plants can reach up to 2 meters in height.

The prairie fauna is composed of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects.

In Brazil, an example of prairie is the pampa that takes place in the south of the country.

thick — The Brazilian Cerrado represents an example of a savanna

Savannas are ecosystems that occur in a tropical climate, with a dry and a wet season.

The vegetation is predominantly herbaceous and the existing trees are far apart.

An example of a Brazilian savannah is the thick.

Learn more about ecosystems:

ecosystem
aquatic ecosystem
Biotic and abiotic factors
ecological relationships
Ecological succession
What is Ecology?

terrestrial food chain

THE food chain represents the path of matter and energy in the ecosystem.

In a terrestrial food chain we have the following sequence: producer beings, consumers and decomposing beings.

Producer: photosynthetic beings, like the tree.
Primary consumer: herbivorous animals, such as insects.
Secondary Consumer: animals that feed on herbivores, such as the anteater.
Tertiary Consumer: larger animals that feed on other carnivores, such as the jaguar.
Decomposers: beings that feed on decaying organic matter, such as fungi and bacteria