Terrestrial-ecosystem

Ecosystem

Any ecological unit that includes all the organisms and communities in a given area which interact among themselves and with the physical environment.

Abiotic Components

Non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment.

Biotic Components

Living components of an ecosystem, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Natural Ecosystems

Ecosystems that operate by themselves without major interference by humans.

Artificial Ecosystems

Ecosystems maintained artificially by humans, often disrupting natural balances.

Terrestrial Ecosystem

Ecosystem located on land, covering approximately 28% of the Earth's surface.

Biome

A large community unit characterized by the kinds of plants and animals present.

Tundra

A biome where tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons.

Taiga

The world's largest land biome, dominated by coniferous forests and covering 29% of forest cover.

Deciduous Forests

Forests characterized by broadleaf trees that lose their leaves seasonally.

Savanna

An ecosystem characterized by widely spaced trees and warm temperatures, often supporting large herbivores.

Desert Biome

Regions where annual rainfall is less than 50 cm; can be hot or cold.

Tropical Rainforest

A biome located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn characterized by high rainfall and biodiversity.

Chaparral Biome

A biome characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, featuring drought-resistant plants.

Biogeographic Realms

Regions characterized by similar climate and dominant plant and animal species.

Palearctic Realm

The largest biogeographic realm including Europe and northern Asia, noted for a diverse fauna.

Nearctic Realm

The biogeographic realm that encompasses most of North America, including unique endemic families.

Neotropical Realm

Includes the tropical terrestrial ecosystems of both Americas, noted for many endemic species.

Afrotropic Realm

Includes Africa south of the Sahara and characterized by many endemic bird and mammal families.

Indomalaya Realm

Extends from Afghanistan through the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, characterized by diverse flora and fauna.

Australasia Realm

Encompasses Australia and nearby islands, featuring unique flowering plants and marsupials.

Primary Consumers

Organisms that consume primary producers; also known as herbivores.

Secondary Consumers

Organisms that eat primary consumers; typically carnivores or omnivores.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms, returning nutrients to the ecosystem.

Trophic Structure

The distribution of different levels of consumers and producers in an ecosystem.

Climatic Factors

Weather-related aspects like temperature, wind, and humidity that affect ecosystems.

Edaphic Factors

Soil-related factors such as pH, minerals, and texture influencing ecosystem productivity.