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.
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 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.
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.
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 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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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