TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM: CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES AND EXAMPLES - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

A terrestrial ecosystem is that space in which all the organisms that develop both on the surface of the Earth and in the air can develop. There is a great variety of terrestrial ecosystems, and the characteristics of each type of ecosystem will depend on the type of vegetation they contain and the climate that characterizes them.

Within the concept of ecosystem, both living or biotic elements and non-living or abiotic elements are included, because all the interactions that exist, between beings and elements, are taken into account to develop and maintain life in a given space..

Although the terrestrial ecosystem is not the largest ecosystem on the planet, because it has a smaller extension than the aquatic ecosystem, it has a large amount of biodiversity.

The elements that make up a terrestrial ecosystem are very varied, and factors such as temperatures, soil quality, rainfall, atmospheric pressure, and even the activities carried out by man influence.

A large part of the terrestrial ecosystems have been affected by actions carried out by humans, such as deforestation, pollution, the generation of communities in spaces not completely conditioned for it, and other economic activities.

However, there are some tasks that are being carried out to prevent the disappearance of several terrestrial ecosystems.

For example, despite the fact that there has been a sharp reduction in the world's forests, in 2015 the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations indicated that the net rate of deforestation has decreased by 50% during the last 25 years.

Types of terrestrial ecosystems and their characteristics

Prairies

This ecosystem is characterized by having few large trees. They receive enough rainfall to be able to conserve large amounts of grass and small grasses, but not enough to generate more extensive vegetation.

Within the prairie ecosystem are savannas and steppes. In the prairies the temperature is more or less constant throughout the year.

This ecosystem has been strongly affected by agriculture and livestock, because its spaces have been used for livestock and for cultivation, in some cases invasive.

This misuse of the prairie ecosystem has caused the loss of a large amount of biodiversity and the deterioration of the soils, which has implied fewer possibilities of generating the characteristic vegetation of said ecosystem.

Deserts

Deserts are characterized by receiving very little rainfall, and by having a very warm temperature during the day and very cold at night.

The plants that exist in deserts must be adapted to the extreme conditions that this ecosystem presents.

For this reason, plants such as cacti can be found in deserts, which are programmed to withstand extreme climatic conditions, are capable of accumulating a large amount of water inside and retain it as much as possible, since they reduce the chances of evaporation.

You can also find fauna such as dromedaries, animals that are capable of surviving even when they lose 30% of the water in their body; Because of this, they can go a long time without drinking water.

You may be interested Desert relief: main characteristics.

Forests

This ecosystem is characterized by rainfall throughout the year, and has large amounts of trees of different sizes.

It is considered that one third of the planet's surface is made up of forests. There are different types of forests, and this classification will depend on the type of vegetation they contain and the climate that characterizes them.

According to these factors, several types of forest can be distinguished: tropical, deciduous, dry, humid, oceanic, continental, boreal coniferous or taiga, among others.

Deforestation has affected this ecosystem over the years. According to figures from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, some 13 million hectares are lost annually as a result of deforestation.

In general, forests contain a large amount of biodiversity, since they receive constant rainfall, which favors the generation of different organisms.

Tundras

The tundra is the coldest ecosystem on Earth. It has no trees, only some small bushes. The vegetation is very limited given the extreme cold conditions that define this ecosystem.

The soil of the tundra is characterized by being frozen. Even in times of slightly warmer temperatures, the ground remains frozen, except for the top layer, which can melt a bit.

You may be interested The 9 Most Important Characteristics of the Tundra.

Jungles

Jungles are warm ecosystems that are characterized by hosting 50% of the planet's biodiversity.

They have constant rains, their foliage is dense and their vegetation is distributed in layers, in which different types of organisms develop.

This ecosystem is one of the most widespread because they can be found in different parts of the world. Except for Antarctica, jungle ecosystems can be found all over the planet.

Mountains

Mountain ecosystems are considered to cover one fifth of the planet's surface. They have considerable reliefs and can have different types of ecosystems inside.

Its fundamental value has to do with being the point of origin of a large number of rivers, from the largest to the smallest.

Mountains also actively participate in the water cycle: they constitute the space in which snow is stored, which melts in warmer times, and can reach communities in the form of water.

This ecosystem also has great biodiversity; A reflection of this is that many mountainous areas have been declared protected areas.

You may be interested The 6 Main Characteristics of Mountains.

Mangroves

The mangrove ecosystem is located near river beds and is characterized by its vegetation that is widely tolerant of salty environments.

Mangroves, trees that make up mangroves for the most part, are small, their roots are twisted and they have the ability to remain submerged in water for long periods.

One of the primary functions of mangroves is to protect the coasts from flooding. They also work as a sieve that retains elements that come from other ecosystems and allows the waters to remain in a pure state.

Mediterranean scrub

This type of scrub is found in places where the climate has constant rainfall in spring and autumn, a dry period in summer and a mild temperature in winter.

It is common to find this type of scrub on the coasts, and its characteristics have developed in such a way that these organisms are adapted to the wind, heat and salt typical of coastal settings.

The plant organisms of this ecosystem are usually small in size and have soft leaves.

It is possible to find representatives of this ecosystem is the entire planet. France, Italy, Chile, Greece, South Africa, Spain, Australia and the United States are some of the countries that host Mediterranean scrub within their terrestrial ecosystems.

Xerophilous scrub

It is also known as a semi-desert, which allows us to presume that this ecosystem is located in areas with little rainfall and a lot of aridity.

The vegetation that abounds in this ecosystem is of the xerophilous type, since they are those that adapt to the arid conditions of the place.

The World Wide Fund for Nature has combined this ecosystem with that of deserts into a single biome, since they have very similar characteristics.

A distinctive characteristic of xerophilous shrubs is that they have shrubs and woody plants typical of the area, which have evolved to improve their level of adaptation.

Xerophilous bushes can be found all over the world: Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Spain are some of the places where it is possible to find this ecosystem.

Paramo

The moors are ecosystems in which scrub can also be found. For this reason they are also called mountain thickets.

This ecosystem is found at a certain height: from about 2,700 meters above sea level to even 5,000 meters above sea level.

The characteristic flora of the páramos is that which adapts to arid and cold spaces, such as frailejones, mosses, lichens, grasslands and other small trees.

There are different subtypes of moorlands, among which the sub-moor and super-moor stand out.

The sub-moor is the one with the highest temperatures (10 ° C on average), and the super-moor can have the lowest temperatures, which are around 2 ° C on average.

Alpine meadow

It is also known as alpine pasture. Characteristics similar to those of the moorland ecosystem have been found, although the moorlands are located higher.

In this ecosystem, annually blooms and herbs are born. One of the most characteristic plants of this type of meadow is known as edelwiss, or the snow flower.

The cold in the alpine meadows responds to the characteristic climate of the Alps, the Rocky Mountains and the Andes. These meadows function as a separating element between forests and places with constant snow presence.

Indlansis

Indlansis are large ice sheets that arose centuries ago and still remain. The origin of this word is Danish, and it means "inner ice".

They are located in Antarctica and in the Arctic, and are characterized by being large, as large as a continent. The ice sheets that form the indlansis can measure up to 2,000 meters wide.

It is said that the Indlandsis of Antarctica is the largest in the world, and that its melting would bring definite consequences for many cities and countries, which would be completely flooded.

Taigas

It is the largest of the terrestrial ecosystems. They are tree forests that are also known as boreal forests.

They are characterized by their density and permanent green dominated by conifers higher than 40 meters, highlighting species such as larches, firs, spruces and pines.

Its fauna does not have a great variety of species given the long and cold winters. Herbivorous species are the most abundant, such as reindeer, deer and elk. There are also carnivorous species such as lynx, fox, wolf, mink and bear, among others.

In the taigas live a great variety of birds and rodents such as mice, and lagomorphs such as rabbits or hare.

Taigas are located south of the tundra in northern Europe, Asia, and North America. Winter in the taigas is very cold and snowy, with average temperatures below freezing being the average temperature of 19 ° C in summer, and -30 ° C during winter.

Bed sheets

Savannas are grassland biomes located in tropical and subtropical areas, especially with dry tropical climates. They are transition zones between jungles and semi-deserts. The best known is the African savanna.

They present open forests and soils with grasslands characterized by shrubby grasslands and few widely scattered trees. Animals vary according to the type of savanna.

Hoofed mammals such as zebras, antelopes, and deer abound, as are large predators, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, and crocodiles. It is also inhabited by elephants, hippos and migratory birds.

Carnivorous and herbivorous species coexist in the savannah, balancing the food chain of this ecosystem.

Examples of terrestrial ecosystems in the world

Sahara Desert

It is the largest desert in the world with its more than 9 thousand square kilometers. In this desert live peculiar animals, such as the desert fox, the smallest type of fox that exists on the planet.

Among the most characteristic plants, the rose of Jericho stands out, which contracts its branches to shrink and protect itself from drought, and opens them again when it perceives humidity.

The Amazon

It is the largest tropical forest on the planet. It has an area of ​​about 7,000 square kilometers and covers the territories of Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Guyana, Ecuador, Suriname and Bolivia.

Its biodiversity is such that it is believed that there are still unknown species to be discovered. The vegetation is lush and thick, and it is possible to find anacondas, piranhas and jaguars.

Despite the great biodiversity, the deforestation that this ecosystem has suffered has caused many species to become extinct or are in danger of extinction.

Sweatbans

Sudarbans National Park is the largest mangrove forest in the world. It occupies spaces in the territories of Bangladesh and India and has an area of ​​almost 140 thousand hectares.

Deer, Bengal tigers, crocodiles and many more species can be found in this setting. It is believed that 260 different types of birds and about 120 species of fish can be found in this park.

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