Classification of Ecosystems

Deserts

• less than 100mm rainfall per year

• widely spaced vegetation/very little ground cover

• xerophytes (plants adapted to dry conditions: cacti) & ephemerals (plants with short lifespans) only grow when there is moisture

Grasslands

• mainly hummocks & tussocks (grasses)

• some small trees

• less than 30% ground cover

• grasses adapted to drought

Scrublands

• consists of many shrubs and small/moderately sized trees

• plants adapted to drought, fire and low rainfall

• has low to moderate vegetation cover

Woodlands

• eucalyptus dominate

• widely spaced canopy cover (10-30%)

• well-developed shrubs and grasses

• fewer and more scattered trees compared to forests

Alpine Forest

• found in cold, mountainous regions

• rocky landscapes

• may have ice/snow cover

• continuous ground cover

Open (Sclerophyll) Forest

• dominated by Eucalyptus

• less arid than woodlands (can have dry/damp ground)

• tall forests (25-35m high)

• fairly open canopy cover: 30-70%

• good under storey and ground cover (shrubs and grasses)

Closed Forests (Rainforest)

• high average rainfall per year, high humidity

• evergreen trees

• dense canopy (70-100%)

• tropical rainforests found near equator

• temperate forests found in cold regions

• high biodiversity

• rich soils

Reefs and Marshes/Wetlands

• water covers most of the ecosystem most of the year

• found near bodies of water or inside bodies of water (coral reefs)

• dense vegetation growth

• vulnerable to eutrophication