Classification of Ecosystem

Classification of
Ecosystem
By: Joseph Benedict M. Algarne
Table of Content
 Ecosystem
 Types of Natural Ecosystem(Diagram)
 Biotic (Living Components)
 Abiotic (Non-living Components)
 Aquatic Ecosystem
 Marine Ecosystem
 Freshwater Ecosystem
 Terrestrial Ecosystem
(Sub topic)
 Biogeographic region
 Life zone
 Biomes
 Ecoregion
Ecosystem
 Ecosystem is a part of natural environment
consisting of a community of living beings
and the physical environment both
constantly interchanging materials and
energy between them. It is the sum total of
the environment or a part of nature.
Types of Natural Ecosystem
Biotic (Living Components)
 Biotic (Living Components)

Biotic components in ecosystems include organisms such as
plants, animals, and microorganisms. The biotic components
of ecosystem comprise −
Producers or Autotrophs
Consumers or Heterotrophs
Decomposers or Detritus
Abiotic (Non-living Components)
 Abiotic (Non-living Components)

Abiotic components consist of climate or factors of climate
such as temperature, light, humidity, precipitation, gases,
wind, water, soil, salinity, substratum, mineral, topography,
and habitat. The flow of energy and the cycling of water and
nutrients are critical to each ecosystem on the earth. Non-
living components set the stage for ecosystem operation.
Aquatic Ecosystem
 An ecosystem which is located in a body of water is known
as an aquatic ecosystem. The nature and characteristics of
the communities of living or biotic organisms and non-
living or abiotic factors which interact with and
interrelate to one another are determined by the aquatic
surroundings of their environment they are dependent
upon.
 Aquatic ecosystem can be broadly classified into Marine
Ecosystem and Freshwater Ecosystem.
Marine Ecosystem
 These ecosystems are the biggest of all ecosystems as all
oceans and their parts are included in them. They contain
salt marshes, intertidal zones, estuaries, lagoons,
mangroves, coral reefs, the deep sea, and the sea floor.
 Marine ecosystem has a unique flora and fauna, and
supports a vast kingdom of species. These ecosystems are
essential for the overall health of both marine and
terrestrial environments.
 Saltmarshes, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests are
among the most productive ecosystem. Coral reef provides
food and shelter to the highest number of marine
inhabitants in the world. Marine ecosystem has a large
biodiversity.
Freshwater Ecosystem
 Freshwater ecosystem includes lakes, rivers, streams, and
ponds. Lakes are large bodies of freshwater surrounded by
land.
 Plants and algae are important to freshwater ecosystem
because they provide oxygen through photosynthesis and
food for animals in this ecosystem. Estuaries house plant
life with the unique adaptation of being able to survive in
fresh and salty environments. Mangroves and pickle weed
are examples of estuarine plants.
 Many animals live in freshwater ecosystem. Freshwater
ecosystem is very important for people as they provide
them water for drinking, energy and transportation,
recreation, etc
Terrestrial Ecosystem
 Terrestrial ecosystems are those ecosystems that exist on land. Water
may be present in a terrestrial ecosystem but these ecosystems are
primarily situated on land. These ecosystems are of different types
such as forest ecosystem, desert ecosystem, grassland and mountain
ecosystems.
 Terrestrial ecosystems are distinguished from aquatic ecosystems by
the lower availability of water and the consequent importance of
water as a limiting factor. These are characterized by greater
temperature fluctuations on both diurnal and seasonal basis, than in
aquatic ecosystems in similar climates.
 Availability of light is greater in terrestrial ecosystems than in aquatic
ecosystems because the atmosphere is more transparent on land than
in water. Differences in temperature and light in terrestrial
ecosystems reflect a completely different flora and fauna.
Biogeographic region
 Biogeographic region, area of animal and plant
distribution having similar or shared characteristics
throughout. It is a matter of general experience that the
plants and animals of the land and inland waters differ to a
greater or lesser degree from one part of the world to
another. Why should this be? Why should the same species
not exist wherever suitable environmental conditions for
them prevail?
Life zone
 The life zone concept was developed by C. Hart Merriam in 1889 as a means of
describing areas with similar plant and animal communities. Merriam observed that
the changes in these communities with an increase in latitude at a constant elevation
are similar to the changes seen with an increase in elevation at a constant latitude.
The life zones that Merriam identified, along with characteristic plants, are as follows:
 Lower Sonoran (low, hot desert): creosote bush, Joshua tree
 Upper Sonoran (desert steppe or chaparral): sagebrush, scrub oak, Colorado pinyon,
Utah juniper
 Transition (open woodlands): ponderosa pine
 Canadian (fir forest): Rocky Mountain Douglas fir, quaking aspen
 Hudsonian (spruce forest): Engelmann spruce, Rocky Mountains bristlecone pine
 Arctic-Alpine (alpine meadows or tundra): lichen, grass
Biomes
 A biome is a large area characterized by its vegetation, soil, climate, and

wildlife. There are five major types of
biomes: aquatic, grassland, forest, desert, and tundra, though some of these
biomes can be further divided into more specific categories, such
as freshwater, marine, savanna, tropical rainforest, temperate rainforest, and
taiga.
Ecoregion
 An ecoregion (ecological region) or ecozone (ecological zone) is an ecologically and
geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller
than a biogeographic realm. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water,
and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural communities
and species.
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Classification of

 Biotic (Living Components)

 Abiotic (Non-living Components)

 A biome is a large area characterized by its vegetation, soil, climate, and

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