Terrestrial and Aquatic Ms. Ross Ecosystems Terrestrial and Aquatic Ms. Ross

Ecosystem Definition All of the living and non-living factors in an area. Some of these factors are considered biotic or living. Examples: populations and communities of organisms Some of these factors are considered abiotic or non-living. Examples: the temperature, water, soil, air, and sunlight

Populations & Communities The living things in an environment can be grouped in two ways: Populations: All members of one kind of organism in a particular area. Examples: all of the white-tailed deer in a forest, all rainbow trout in a stream, or all of the bald cypress trees in the swamp Communities: A group of different populations of organisms. Examples: All of the squirrels, oak trees, and grass in a park; all of the microorganisms in a pond; or all of the cacti, rattlesnakes and scorpions in the desert.

Terrestrial or Aquatic Ecosystems are either terrestrial, land-based or Aquatic, water-based. Terrestrial Ecosystems Forests Grasslands Aquatic Ecosystems Lakes Ponds Oceans Estuaries Salt Water Marshes

Forests A forest is a type of terrestrial ecosystem. Forests have many trees, including conifers and deciduous trees, shrubs, grasses, ferns, and a variety of animals. Some types of forests are rain forests and deciduous forests. Forests usually get more rain than grasslands. The amount of rain varies depending on location. (Tropical rain forest and Sumter National Forest)

Forests Temperatures in the forests vary depending on where the forest is located. The canopy (top layer of the forest) receives many hours of sunlight. This makes the trees’ leaves grow thickest at the top of the trees. The understory of the forest receives filtered sunlight. Small shrubs and trees that don’t need much light grow in the understory.

Forests The temperature in the different types of forests ranges from -30 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius. (-22 to 86 degrees F) The soil in a forest depends on the type of forest it is. For example, forests near us have decaying leaves which add nutrients to the soil.

Grasslands There are many types of grasslands, including prairies, steppes, and savannahs. Grasslands have fertile soil and are covered with tall grasses. They usually get a medium amount of rain, but less than forests. Because there is not a lot of rain, few trees grow in the grasslands. With few trees, grasslands get full sun all day long.

Grasslands Temperatures may also vary depending on where the grassland is located. Examples: The Great Plains of the US, Africa. Temperatures range from -40 degrees Celsius to over 38 degrees Celsius. (-40 to 100 degrees F) Animals that may live in grasslands include prairie dogs, bison, and grasshoppers in the US. In Africa, they may include lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras.

Lakes and Ponds Lakes and ponds are bodies of freshwater surrounded by land. Lakes are usually deeper than ponds. The temperature of the water in ponds usually stays about the same from top to bottom. Plants and algae usually grow along the edges where the water is shallow. Examples of animals found in lakes and ponds are: different types of fish, amphibians, ducks, turtles, and beavers.

Pond Ecosystem Lake Ecosystem

Oceans Oceans are large bodies of saltwater divided by continents. Oceans may have many types of ecosystems depending on the conditions, such as sunlight, temperatures, depth, and salinity of that part of the water is different in each ocean because of the depth and amount of rain.

Shallow Ocean Water From the Shoreline to the Continental Shelf Most organisms live where the ocean is shallow because the sunlight can reach deep in this shallow water. Sunlight warms the water, so there is plenty of food. Shallow water animals include: drifters like jellyfish and seaweed ,swimmers like fish, crawlers like crabs, and those anchored to the ocean floor like corals.

Open Ocean Down Deep Some organisms live in the open ocean, near the surface or down to the deep ocean bottom. Deep ocean water is colder than shallow water because there is little sunlight. Some organisms like whales, turtles, and sharks swim to the surface to find food and for air. Others live closer to the bottom like certain fish, octopus, and tubeworms.

Estuaries and Salt Marshes Estuaries are found where the freshwater rivers meet the oceans. They are saltier than a river, but not as salty as the ocean. The salinity changes as the tides come in and out. Estuaries contain salt marshes with grasses and marsh plants adapted to this changing water. Examples of animals living here include: crabs, shrimp, blue heron, egrets, and muskrats.