An ecosystem includes all living organisms in a particular area, as well as the physical components with which they interact. Ecosystems can be terrestrial or aquatic, and include diverse environments such as deserts, forests, grasslands, tundra, marine, and freshwater. Terrestrial ecosystems include deserts with adapted cacti and small mammals, various forest types containing different flora and fauna, grasslands that can be savannahs or prairies, and the coldest tundra near the North Pole. Aquatic ecosystems contain diverse marine life in coral reefs and the open ocean, as well as an array of freshwater organisms in rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Ecosystems can also be

1. Unit 5 ECOSYSTEMS SUMMARY
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ELEMENTS
LIVING THINGS
- Plants (flora)
- Animals (fauna)
- Other organisms, such as fungi and
microorganisms.
Those living things that belong to the
same species form a POPULATION.
Populations interact with each other
forming a COMMUNITY.
PHYSISCAL ENVIRONMENT
- SOIL (with rocks and minerals)
- AIR
- WATER
- SUNLIGHT
- TEMPERATURE
- CLIMATE
DEFINITION
An ecosystem includes all the living and non-living things (physical
environment) in a specific area and the interaction that occurs between
them.

2. Unit 5 ECOSYSTEMS SUMMARY
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ECOSYSTEMS
TERRESTRIAL
AQUATIC
DESERT
- They are the driest and hottest places on Earth.
- Temperatures are high during the day but low at night.
- Plants and animals here have adapted to dry conditions.
- Cacti, small bushes, lizards, snakes, camels and
scorpions.
FORESTS
- Coniferous forests: located in cold areas, are home to evergreen
trees, such as pines and fir trees, and animals including brown
bears, deer, foxes and weasels.
- Temperate deciduous forests: dominated by trees which lose their
leaves every winter, such as oak, beech and maple and animals
like squirrels, rodents and wild boar.
- Mediterranean forest is found surrounding areas of the
Mediterranean Sea. Cork oaks, holm oaks, thyme and rosemary are
typical flora. Eagles, foxes, lynx, hawks and rodents.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST
- Forests in tropical areas are warm and wet all year long.
- Evergreen trees, orchids, ferns, snakes, monkeys, jaguars, insects
and many kinds of birds, such as parrots and toucans.
GRASSLANDS
- Flat areas dominated by grasses.
- Two types: savannahs (in tropical areas) and temperate grasslands
(steppes, prairies, pampa) ... located in colder climate regions.
- Elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, gazelles and antelopes in
savannahs, and bison, prairie dogs, wolves and coyotes in prairies.
TUNDRA
- It is the coldest ecosystem on Earth and it is also very dry.
- Located in the land areas near the North Pole.
- Absence of trees. Lichens, mosses and some grasses.
- Fauna: reindeer, caribou, artic foxes, polar bears and white wolves.
MARINE
- Coral reefs: Great number of species.
- Shoreline: It is the place where sea and land meet.
Animals and plants have adapted to the strong tides and
waves. Ex. Limpets.
- Open ocean: it is the largest ecosystem on Earth. Sharks,
fish, whales, dolphins
FRESHWATER
- Flowing water: Rivers and streams. Fish, crocodiles,
turtles and frogs.
- Standing water: Lakes and ponds. Ponds are smaller
than lakes and don’t have waves. Fish, tadpoles, ducks.
Wetlands: Areas where freshwater covers the soil. Many
bird species.
NATURAL
ARTIFICIAL TERRESTRIAL: Farmlands for food
production with domesticated
animals . Gardens, parks,
greenhouses, orchards, zoos and
terrariums.