UNIT 11.

ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY
1. TYPES OF ECOSYSTEMS AND SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THEM
On planet Earth there are two very different environmental media:
the terrestrial environment.
the aquatic environment.
But establishing ecosystems are arranged in the same way:
there are producers, consumers and decomposers.
The energy source is the sun.
The material flows and energy flows.
Connections are drawn between the different species of living beings.
These living beings undergo adaptations.
2. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC
ECOSYSTEMS

TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM

AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM

The nutrients are in the soil and the The nutrients and gases dissolved in
gases necessary for photosynthesis the water.
and cellular respiration in the air.
The climate is very varied and there No changes in temperature.
are changes in temperature.
The energy cost is higher because Energy cost is reduced because the
apparently heavier.
movements are easier.
The pressure varies very little.

The pressure increases rapidly

The light is distributed very easily.

The light is distributed only on the

surface.
3. ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION, CLIMAX COMMUNITY and ECOLOGICAL
BALANCE
It is called ecological succession to all the communities occupying a
biotope in succession on the establishment of an ecosystem.
Climax community is called the community ecosystem that is stable
over time.
The ecosystem continues to evolve, but no new species, but the number
of individuals of the population becomes stable when the number of
births equal to the dying. This is called ecological balance.
4. BIOMES
A biome is the set of ecosystems that have reached the ecological
balance, are characterized by a specific flora and fauna, because they
have a similar soil and climate.
9 types of terrestrial biomes can be differenciated, influenced by latitude
and altitude. These are:

Although you can find several biomes while in mountainous areas, as the
temperature varies with altitude about 1 C per 180 m. Therefore biomes
are arctic alpine areas.

4.1. THE TAIGA

They occur in cold regions with long winters and heavy snow under warm,
humid summers. The dominant trees are conifers, shrubs and without
development of mosses and lichens soils form very slowly as the action of
decomposers is hampered by the temperatures and the hardness of the leaves

of the firs. The animals that inhabit these areas are bears, wolves, hares, small
rodents, etc..
4.2. THE FOREST TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS
It occurs in wet climates and mild, wet summers and winters long and not too
hard. With high rainfall. Dominated by deciduous trees to adapt to
environmental conditions, as do many animals migrate or hibernate.
4.3. THE RAINY RAINFOREST
It extends from Ecuador to the tropics, and corresponds with the most rainfall
in the world, and has high temperatures all year round. It is believed that half
of the animal and plant species found in this type of biome.
4.4. MEDITERRANEAN FOREST
Is distributed around the Mediterranean and the coasts of California and Chile,
South Australia and South Africa. The forest is called esclerfico due to the
hardness of their leaves, are adapted to arid climates presents hot dry
summers and mild winters, with spring and autumn and rainy seasons.
4.5. SAVANNAH
It occurs in tropical Africa. It features a summer long, dry and warm, alternating
with a short warm rainy season. Shrubs are abundant and rare trees such as
acacia or baobab.
The fauna are lions hyenas, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, elephants, etc..
4.6. THE STEPPE
It occurs in continental areas with cold winters and hot summers and dry. In
Spain, the steppe is very important in the two plateaus. There are plenty of low
shrubs and grasses such as oats. The fauna are partridges, quails, and raptors
such as kestrel.
4.7. THE PRAIRIE
It occurs in inland areas with long summers and rainy winters. It spans North
America, Asia and Europe. In South America called the Pampa.
Grasses are abundant where grazing large herbivores such as bison, antelope,
coyotes or prairie dog.
4.8. THE TUNDRA
Its climate is subpolar, with long and very cold winters and short summers. In
winter the ground is frozen, and in summer, it melts the surface, but
underneath is a layer called permafrost permanently frozen. Thus, only mosses
and lichens grow. Animals are living reindeer, wolf, polar fox, etc.
4.9. DESERTS
They form 20% of land area, the largest are in Australia, Asia and North Africa.
Have poor or no vegetation due to lack of rainfall plants and animals that live in
deserts have large adjustments as leaves transformed into spines to prevent
water loss, dromedaries that transform fat into water, etc..
5. THE AQUATIC BIOMES
We can speak of two main aquatic biomes: the marine biome and the biome of
inland waters.
Marine biomes: in these organisms are adapted to live in salt water and tend
to live near the surface and the sunlight penetrates only the upper layers. Also
the water pressure increases with depth and temperature decreases, so that
living things do not usually survive more than 200 meters depth.
These factors distinguish marine bioregions calls:
* Coastal zone: An area of coastline that reaches the continental
shelf.
* Neritic zone: shallow areas located on the continental shelf.

* Pelagic zone: located between the continental shelf and deep.

* Abyssal zone: corresponds to the great depths.
Inland water biomes: We talk about two biomes within this type:
* Biome stagnant waters: are lakes, ponds and reservoirs where
there is a stratification similar to that of the marine areas (surface, medium
and deep)
* Biome running waters: are rivers, streams and springs. Are colder
and contain more oxygen, so that species develop in them, and when moving
water, required to have cleats on the floor or be good swimmers.