Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems: Formation, Biomes, and Biodiversity

Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems

On Earth, there are terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Both share the following characteristics:

• Solar energy is essential for the development of life.
• They have the same trophic levels: producers, consumers, and decomposers.
• Matter and energy flow continuously.
• Living creatures adapt to their environment.

Differences Between Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems

• In aquatic environments, nutrients and gases are dissolved in water.
• Temperature changes are minimal in aquatic environments.
• Light is a limiting factor for production in aquatic environments because there is little light below 100 meters in depth.
• Pressure has a greater effect in aquatic environments.

Formation of Terrestrial Ecosystems

Ecological succession refers to the changes that occur in an ecosystem where biological species are replaced over time.

Stages of Ecological Succession

1. Soil Preparation: Pioneer species, such as bacteria, transform the soil through chemical reactions.
2. Establishment of Simple Plants: Once the soil is prepared, simple plants like mosses, ferns, and some insects begin to settle.
3. Settlement of Herbaceous Species: Herbaceous species enrich the soil.
4. Settlement of Shrubs and Trees: The first shrubs and trees appear.

Not all ecosystems go through all stages of succession. Some ecosystems achieve greater complexity with plant species through shrubs. A climax community is the maximum degree of complexity of plant and animal species reached in an ecosystem.

Stratum: Refers to the different levels of vegetation, from grasses to trees.

Stratified Ecosystem: An ecosystem that presents all strata.

Ecological Balance: A condition where the number of producers, consumers, and decomposers is balanced.

Biomes

A biome is a set of ecosystems that share a type of fauna and flora due to similar climate and soil. Living organisms are conditioned by the latitude and altitude at which they are found; higher altitude and latitude result in lower temperatures. Two ecosystems located in different parts of the Earth at similar latitudes and altitudes may have similar characteristics.

Types of Biomes

• Forests: The dominant plant species are trees.
• Savannas, Grasslands, and Steppes: The dominant plant species are herbaceous.
• Tundra and Desert: Sparse vegetation.

The Taiga

• Plants: Conifers, mosses, lichens.
• Animals: Marmots, brown bears, wolves, deer.
• Climate: Cold winters and warm summers.

Temperate Deciduous Forest

• Plants: Oaks, beeches, ferns, shrubs.
• Animals: Wildcats, genets, wild boars, deer.
• Climate: Temperate regions with wet, humid, and long summers, and mild winters with abundant rainfall.

Tropical Rainforest

• Plants: Deciduous trees and shrubs of great magnitude.
• Animals: Panthers, anteaters, toucans.
• This biome has the greatest biodiversity on the planet.

Mediterranean Forest in the Iberian Peninsula

• Plants: Oaks, cork trees, bushes, mastic, asparagus, rose bushes, brambles.
• Animals: Wild boars, deer, rodents, reptiles.
• Climate: Hot, dry summers and cool winters with rainfall.
• Monfragüe National Park is predominantly Mediterranean forest.

The Dehesa

The dehesa is a unique ecosystem, particularly common in the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula. Dehesas have been created by humans from Mediterranean forests through selective logging and controlled grazing of oak trees and other shrubs. Oak trees are well-suited for pasture formation because they are adapted to the Mediterranean climate. They also resist fire well, and their lower branches have sclerophyllous leaves, meaning they are hard and thus less palatable to grazing animals. Cattle, beef, and pigs are raised in the dehesa.