Answer to Question #173945 in Ecology for Abhishek Gaurav

Question

Write the characteristic features of a terrestrial or an aquatic ecosystem. (10)

Answer 1

Terrestrial ecosystem Characteristics:

1) Lower availability of water (as compared to aquatic ecosystems) and the consequent    importance of   water as a limiting factor.

2) Greater temperature fluctuations on both a diurnal and seasonal basis.

3) There is greater availability of light favored by a transparent atmosphere.

4) Availability of gases is more. Carbon dioxide serves as a substrate for photosynthesis, Oxygen serves as a substrate in aerobic respiration and Nitrogen serves as a substrate for nitrogen fixation.

5) Organisms in the terrestrial ecosystem are adapted to factors like acquisition of water, prevention of evaporation of water from body surface, traits providing body support in the atmosphere as well as traits to withstand extremes of temperatures. They also have evolved many methods of transporting gametes in the environment.

The most productive ecosystems are the temperate and tropical forests and the least productive are deserts and tundra.

The smallest land areas are occupied by tundra and temperate grassland ecosystems and the largest land area is occupied by tropical forest.

 

Aquatic ecosystem Characteristics:

1)     The environment is dominated by waters – Water ecosystems are ecosystems whose habitat is dominated by water. Nevertheless, there are still parts of this ecosystem that are not in the form of waters but with a very small number or percentage. An example is the surface of the water, although this part is still included in the water ecosystem but has mixed with air.

 

2)     Inhabited by creatures that live in water or amphibians – This water ecosystem is inhabited by creatures that live in water, as well as in two realms (water and land). So from that, in this water ecosystem, we will meet animals and plants like that.

 

3)     Limited sunlight – Unlike terrestrial ecosystems that are exposed to much sunlight, in this aquatic ecosystem, we will find limited or less sunlight because this sunlight can only penetrate a few meters in the water. So, this ecosystem only gets limited sunlight.

 

4)     Temperature changes are not too extreme – In contrast to land ecosystems that have extreme temperature differences between day and night, these aquatic ecosystems do not have extreme differences between the two conditions. Terrestrial ecosystems have extreme temperatures because they get a lot of sunlight during the day and are exposed to lots of wind so that this causes a very noticeable temperature difference while this water ecosystem only gets limited sunlight and is not too much exposed to the wind. So, the temperature difference is not too extreme.

 

5)     There are consumers and producers – Just like terrestrial ecosystems, these aquatic ecosystems also have creatures that act as consumers and also producers. If on land acting as a producer are plants, then in the water which acts as a producer is phytoplankton. While those who act as consumers are animals and also water predators.