Grassland and Tundra Ecosystem

Grassland and Tundra Ecosystems

An ecosystem is a system consisting of living and non-living elements. Living organisms interact with each other while maintaining equilibrium within an ecosystem. A. G. Tansley coined the word ‘ecosystem’ in 1935.

Terrestrial ecosystems include deserts, grasslands, forests, tundra, swamps, etc. Aquatic ecosystems include oceans, lakes, rivers, wetlands, etc. Both of them are divided into different types depending on their surroundings.

Types of Terrestrial Ecosystems

Grassland Ecosystem

Grasslands cover 10% of the earth’s surface. Rainfall is too low to support forests, but more than that is required for deserts. Temperate climate grasslands are found in temperate regions. These are called steppes in Europe, Pampas in South America and downs in Australia. High Himalayan grasslands are also included under  this category. Other Indian grasslands are mostly made up of savanna and steppes.

• The steppes of (in) Asia and Europe
• The Prairies of (in) the USA and Canada
• The Velds of (in) Africa
• The Pampas of (in) South America

The prominent difference between steppes and savanna is that all the forage in the steppe is provided only during the brief wet season; however, in the savannas, forage is primarily derived from grasses that emerge not only during the wet season but also from the limited regrowth that occurs during the dry season.

Climate

Grasslands are found in areas having well-defined hot and dry, warm, and rainy seasons. Natural grasslands generally have precipitation of 500-900 mm per year. The temperature has a wide spectrum of distribution throughout the world, and the average temperature of the grassland stays in the range of 20 °C to 30 °C.

Flora and fauna

Grasses are the dominant plants in tropical grasslands, with a few drought-resistant thorny trees strewn around. Fox, badgers, zebra, ass, antelope, to name a few species that are found grazing on grasslands supporting the dairy and leather industries. Grasslands also support a large population of insects, rodents, and reptiles.

Functions 

Functions of the grassland ecosystem include productivity, protection, conservation of soil and water, providing a habitat for wildlife, and contributing to the attractiveness of the land. There are two functional aspects of grasslands:

1. An ecosystem is made up of many levels of living things. Each level feeds off the next higher level. This is called a food chain. The food chain doesn’t follow a straight line, but there are many links in the chain. For example, a fish might eat a worm, a worm might eat a grasshopper, a grasshopper might eat a butterfly, and a butterfly might eat a flower. All these creatures make up the food chain.
2. Nutrient cycle in an ecosystem: A healthy ecosystem requires that nutrients flow in a cyclical manner. Green plants take up minerals from the soil and air and convert them into organic matter. This organic matter passes through various trophic levels until it returns to the soil and air.

Tundra Ecosystem

Since they are located in areas of the world where environmental conditions are extremely harsh, the term tundra literally means “barren land”. Tundras are divided into two types: Arctic and Alpine. 

This type of ecosystem is found in low altitude areas and are characterized by severe weather conditions. These ecosystems are usually covered in snow during the winter months. During the summer months, the snow melts and forms shallow lakes. There are very few flowering plants and lichen species in this region.

Distribution

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Arctic tundra spreads as a continuous belt below the polar ice cap and above the tree line. It includes the northernmost regions of European Russia, Canada, Siberia, Alaska, and the Arctic Ocean’s island group. Since the majority of the Antarctica tundra is covered by the ocean, it is very thin. Alpine tundra can be found high up in the mountains above the treeline. Since mountains can be located at all latitudes, the alpine tundra experiences day and night temperature changes.

Flora and fauna

The typical vegetation of the arctic tundra is sedges, cotton grass, dwarf birches, heath, lichens, and willows. Tundra is the cold-most biome, and the animals there are mostly herbivores, carnivorous or omnivorous. Wolves, foxes, hares, Columbas, muskrats, reindeers, moose, elks, sheep, etc. are some of the most notable animals in this biome.

A majority of the flora and fauna has a long lifespan, like the Arctic willow or Salix Arctica, which can live for 150-300 years. Animals show the following adaptations:

1. To keep them warm, their body is covered in fur.
2. Epidermal hair and thick cuticles protect them from the chill.
3. Tundra mammals have a large body size and a short tail and ears to prevent heat loss from the soil.
4. Insects have brief life cycles that are finished at the most favourable time of year.

Climate 

There are two types of tundra ecosystems. 

Arctic: This tundra is mainly situated in the Northern Hemisphere, surrounding the North Pole and extending toward the south. This tundra is known for its cold, desert-like conditions. During winters, temperatures range from 3-120 degrees Celsius during daytime and -340 degrees Celsius at night. This temperature allows biomes to survive in this condition. Approximately 1,700 species of plants are found in this region, with good adaptability. Some common plant species include low shrubs, sedge, reindeer moss, liverwort, and lichens

Alpines: Alpine regions are cold and dry. There are many types of plants and animals living there. Grouse-like birds are found in these regions. Pikas, marmots and other animals adapt well to this environment.

Functions 

The tundra ecosystem is mostly covered with snow during winter. There are lots of wind currents in this ecosystem. Nitrogen and Phosphorus are two important nutrients found in this ecosystem. A chemical process helps produce nitrogen, while precipitation is responsible for producing phosphorus. Cotton grass, dwarf heath, sphagnum moss, birches, crustose heath, dryland sedge, rushes, and dwarf willow are some of the known plants which grow in this region.

Conclusion 

Tundra and grassland ecosystems are different because of their geography. Grasslands are located in areas with less precipitation than the tundra. Tundra is found in regions with more precipitation than grasslands.