The document compares and contrasts two terrestrial ecosystems: tundra and grasslands. The tundra ecosystem is characterized by permanently frozen soil, short summers, long winters with temperatures below 0°C, and vegetation consisting of lichens, mosses, herbs and shrubs. In contrast, the grassland ecosystem has fertile soil, a warmer climate with rainy and dry seasons, and is dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants. Some key differences are that tundra occurs in Arctic and alpine regions with little precipitation, while grasslands cover 20% of the earth's surface in temperate regions receiving 500-900mm of rain annually. Tundra has a barren

1. Comparison Of Two
Terrestrial Ecosystems
BY Habib Ur Rehman

2. What is ecosystem ?
A biological community of interacting organisms and their
physical environment.
A terrestrial ecosystem is a type of ecosystem found only on
land forms. Six primary terrestrial ecosystems exist: tundra,
taiga, temperate deciduous forest, tropical rain forest,
grassland, deserts.

3. Tundra and Grassland
Ecosystems

4. Tundra and Grassland Ecosystems
Tundra
 A barren land characterized with
black-messy soil permanently
frozen dominated with vegetation
of lichens, mosses, herbs &
shrubs is known as tundra
ecosystem.
 In the tundra region, there are
two distinct seasons – the long
winter season and the short
summer season.
Grassland Ecosystem
 Grassland Ecosystem is an area
where the vegetation is dominated by
grasses and other herbaceous plants.
 It is also called transitional landscape
because grassland ecosystems are
dominated by the grass with few or
no trees in the area where there is not
enough for a forest and too much of a
forest.

5. Geography
Tundra
 Tundra ecosystems are
treeless regions found in the
Arctic and on the tops of
mountains, where the climate
is cold and windy, and rainfall
is scant.
 Tundra lands are covered with
snow for much of the year,
Situated in high latitude areas.
Grassland Ecosystem
 About 20% of the earth’s surface is
covered by grassland.
 Grassland ecosystems have
developed mainly in temperate
regions in the central part of the
continent where the average annual
rainfall is 70 to 100 cm

6. Climate
Tundra
 Tundra environments are very
cold with very little precipitation,
which falls mainly as snow.
 Temperatures remain below 0°C
most of the year. Average annual
temperatures are approximately -
28°C and temperatures can
plummet to as low as -70°C.
 There is a broad temperature
range as temperatures can rise to
12°C during the summer months .
Grassland
 Grassland ecosystem have dry
climate that allows very little .
 The climate of the
tropical grasslands ecosystem is
known to be warm throughout
the year.
 It receives mainly two seasons,
i.e. rainy and dry.
 Grass land receives around 500
to 900 millimeters of rain per
year.

7. Soil type
Tundra
 A barren land characterized with
black-messy soil permanently
frozen dominated with vegetation
of lichens, mosses, herbs &
shrubs.
 Tundra is very low in nutrients
and minerals except for when the
soil can obtain nutrients from
animal droppings.
Grassland
 The soil of this ecosystem is very fertile
as it contains carbon, nitrogen, oxygen,
phosphorus, etc. temperate grassland
soils are rich in organic matter.
 The soil of the temperate grasslands is
deep and dark, with fertile upper layers.
It is nutrient-rich from the growth and
decay of deep, many-
branched grass roots.
 The rotted roots hold the soil together
and provide a food source for living
plants.

8. Tundra Grassland

9. Fauna
Tundra
 Several birds and sea animals.
 Fauna of tundra mostly consists of
mammals.
 Animals have special adaptations to
survive.
 These animals include penguins,
seals, and a variety of fish species.
 Polar bears, yaks, mountain goats,
snowy owls, and arctic foxes are just
a few of the unique animals found
in the tundra biome.
Grassland
 High number of invertebrates.
 Most reptiles and amphibians are
predators.
 Few bird species inhibit.
 Small mammals like moles, shrews,
squirrels, are present in North
American grassland.
 Wide variety of decomposers like
bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes .

10. Polar Bears Arctic Fox

11. Shrews Mole

12. Flora
Tundra
 Flora of tundra consists of
shrubs , sedges , and mosses.
 Bearberry
 Diamond leaf plant
 Arctic moss
 Arctic willow
 Scattered tree grow in some
region
Grassland
 Treeless plants
 Grasses long and short
including needle grass, wild
oats, foxtail, ryegrass and
buffalo grass.
 Sunflowers
 Wildflowers
 Acacia tree

13. Acacia tree Diamond leaf plant

14. In Pakistan
Tundra
 Mountain of Karakoram
 Mountain of Koh Hindu Kash
Grassland
 Gilgit
 Kashmir
 Waziristan
 Lower Chitral
 North Kallat
 Kaghan

15. Koh Hindu Kash Karakoram

16. Gilgit Kashmir