Types of ecosystems

Ecosystems, worth the redundancy, are systems that include biotic factors (organisms) as well as abiotic factors (physical environment) that work together as a unit. Below we will provide you with a more precise definition of this term followed by a list of the different types of existing ecosystems.

What are ecosystems?

An ecosystem can be defined as a group of living organisms that interact together with non-living environmental components . Living and non-living organisms are closely related to energy flows and nutrient cycling.

There are many different types on our planet. Intact ecosystems are crucial to our environmental system, as they provide suitable living conditions for all types of living organisms.

Types of ecosystems

Grassland ecosystems

The pastures , also known as plains or grasslands , are areas where vegetation is dominated by grasses. These can be found on almost every continent except Antarctica.

Grasslands can be found mainly in areas with annual temperatures ranging between -5 and 20 degrees Celsius and annual rainfall between 600 and 1500 mm. These can only be recognized as partial natural, as there is often human intervention for agricultural and similar purposes.

Through the use of excessive amounts of fertilizers and pesticides , the variety of species in these ecosystems decreased substantially during the last century.

Forest ecosystems

Forest ecosystems contain various types of trees, including conifers and leafy ones. Forest ecosystems provide a habitat for many animal and plant species , although, compared to tropical rainforests, the variety of animals and plants is quite limited. Although these can be found on many continents, they are especially prevalent in Europe and America.

Rainforest ecosystems

Rainforest ecosystems can be characterized by abundant and constant rainfall . These can be found mainly in South America and Asia. The most prominent example of a rainforest ecosystem is the Amazon rainforest. Rainforests often provide habitats for a wide variety of animal and plant species , many of which are estimated to have yet to be explored by humans.

Desert ecosystems

Desert ecosystems are generally characterized by low amounts of rainfall and warm climatic conditions . Since water is crucial for all life on earth, deserts often only have a low variety of animals and plants , as the living conditions for organisms are quite bad in these areas.

Savanna ecosystems

Savanna ecosystems are mixed grassland and forest ecosystems that are often characterized by widely spaced trees. Through the spread of the tree canopy, enough sun can reach the ground and thus lead to the growth of various types of grasses. These provide a habitat for many animals , including lions, elephants, and giraffes.

Taiga ecosystems

Taiga ecosystems , also known as snow forest , describe an area that is mainly characterized by coniferous forests. Many lakes, rivers and unspoiled nature are also often included.

These are found in the northern hemisphere of North America, as well as in Europe and Asia. Since the average temperatures are usually quite low, the number of species that live in the Taiga ecosystems is quite limited.

Tundra ecosystems

Tundra ecosystems can be divided into alpine tundra, Arctic tundra, and Antarctic tundra . This is even more extreme in terms of low temperatures compared to the Taiga ecosystems and therefore only contains a very limited number of animals and plants.

Lake ecosystems

Lake ecosystems are fairly common on all continents and provide habitat for a variety of animals and plants. Depending on the eutrophication and level of acidity of lake environments, the number of species that live in these environments can vary significantly.

For example, a lake ecosystem will have low eutrophication and therefore high oxygen levels will be populated by more and also different types of fish than one with low oxygen levels.

River ecosystems

River ecosystems are characterized by, worth the redundancy, the flow of water . These can reach thousands of kilometers and provide a habitat for a wide variety of animals, plants and other microorganisms. Since river ecosystems differ in average temperature and also in oxygen levels, the number of living organisms can vary significantly between the different types.

Marine ecosystems

Marine ecosystems are the largest aquatic ecosystems on our planet . They provide a home for many marine animals, plants, corals, and microorganisms. Some parts of our oceans have yet to be touched by humans, leading many scientists to believe that there are many marine animals that have yet to be explored.

Why are ecosystems important?

Natural habitat for animals and plants.

Our ecosystems are a natural habitat for a wide variety of animal and plant species . Without the natural environment, plants could not grow as they need nutrients from the soil and other components to continue to exist. Animals also need certain living conditions, including the right climate and also a sufficient water supply.

Ecological balance

Our planet is a large environmental system that is characterized by many different ecosystems . However, these ecosystems interact with each other . I ven small changes in an ecosystem can cause large effects through chain reactions. For example, if a predatory animal goes extinct, the respective prey is likely to increase in number. In turn, these prey will consume more plant material, which in turn leads to a decline in plant populations.

This cycle continues and it is hardly possible to estimate the final state. Therefore, to ensure ecological balance, we must ensure that we do not intervene too much in our ecological systems so that nature can develop in an original way.

Food chain

The food chain is a complex process that often involves many different species. For example, a cow consumes grass, the cow or products such as milk are consumed by humans, and fecal waste from the cows is used as fertilizer to grow grass again.

Therefore, throughout the food chain, it is essential to keep ecological systems intact to ensure sufficient food for the human population and also for a variety of animals.

sightseeing

Many developing countries depend on tourism as their main source of income since their most important resource is their nature . Many tourists travel each year to remote parts of the world to see ecosystems and their respective animals and plants. Therefore, an intact ecosystem is crucial for the livelihoods of many people who depend on tourism.

Air purification

Our ecosystems are a natural tool for air purification . This is especially true for areas that contain a large fraction of forest. Since trees filter harmful substances of all kinds, they contribute to better air quality. Also, particulate pollution is much lower in areas with a large number of trees.

Natural carbon dioxide storage

Trees are a natural storage space for harmful gases such as carbon dioxide. Through photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen . Therefore, on the one hand, animals and humans receive oxygen.

On the other hand, by absorbing carbon dioxide, global warming is slowed down. Therefore, our ecosystems are crucial to mitigate the problem of global warming and also provide essential amounts of oxygen.

Crop pollination

Ecosystems and related species are also crucial for crop pollination. This is especially important when it comes to agriculture . Without insects to pollinate crops, farmers would suffer substantial losses in yields.

Therefore, intact ecosystems with a variety of insects are crucial to support agriculture and therefore to ensure the supply of basic food.

Economic benefits

Our ecosystems provide us with a wealth of precious resources every day. Without our ecosystems, we would not be able to produce large amounts of material goods and we would not be able to meet our daily demand for food and beverages. Our ecosystems also provide many resources that can be used in industrial processes.

Therefore, countries with intact ecosystems tend to also have an economic advantage since they can harvest more resources, which in turn means an advantage in the production of material goods.