Terrestrial ecosystems are vital segments of the Earth's biosphere, providing habitat for diverse life forms and facilitating essential processes like nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. These ecosystems include forests, grasslands, deserts, and tundras, each of which supports a unique assemblage of species adapted to particular climatic conditions and geographical features.

Terrestrial Ecosystems

Earth's biosphere

Diverse life forms

Nutrient cycling is the continuous movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter, ensuring ecosystem sustainability. This process involves the transformation of nutrients through various forms and pathways, connecting biological, geological, and chemical aspects of the environment.

Nutrient Cycling

Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide to mitigate or defer global warming and climate change. This can occur naturally through biological processes or be achieved artificially through engineered solutions, with the goal of reducing the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Carbon Sequestration

Forests

Grasslands

Deserts are arid regions receiving less than 250 millimeters of precipitation annually, characterized by extreme temperature variations and unique ecosystems adapted to water scarcity. They play a crucial role in Earth's climate system and are home to diverse species and geological formations that offer insights into adaptation and survival strategies in harsh environments.

Deserts

Tundras

Unique assemblage of species

Particular climatic conditions

Geographical features are natural or artificial elements of the Earth's surface that define and distinguish different areas, influencing both the environment and human activities. They range from mountains, rivers, and lakes to urban landscapes and infrastructure, playing a crucial role in ecosystems, climate patterns, and cultural development.

Concepts

Relevant Degrees

Your Lessons