An ecosystem is a biological system consisting of all the living organisms or biotic components in a particular area and the nonliving

or abiotic component with which the organisms interact, such as air, mineral soil, water and sunlight. Ecosystem, basically, is of 2 types: Aquatic and terrestrial.

Terrestrial-Ecosystem It is found in every place except water-bodies. Terrestrial ecosystems are distinguished from aquatic ecosystems by
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the lower availability of wate greater temperature fluctuations on both a diurnal and seasonal basis The availability of light is greater in terrestrial ecosystems than in aquatic ecosystems because the atmosphere is more transparent than water. Gases are more available in terrestrial ecosystems than in aquatic ecosystems.

It is classified broadly into following sub-parts:

Forest-ecosystem Desert-ecosystem Grassland-ecosystem Mountain-ecosystem

Forest-ecosystem

A forest ecosystem is a terrestrial unit of living organisms (plants, animals and microorganisms), all interacting among themselves and with the environment (soil, climate, water and light) in which they live. The environmental "common denominator" of that forest ecological community is a tree, who most faithfully obeys the ecological cycles of energy, water, carbon and nutrients. A forest ecosystem would be considered having boundaries and would include a forest of trees out to the limit of tree growth. Remember that forests are not the

only ecosystems. There are hundreds of thousands of defined and undefined ecosystems that can cover the broadest to the tiniest of areas. An ecosystem can be as small as a pond or a dead tree, or as large as the Earth itself. Forest ecosystem is further divided into following forests:

Tropical-evergreen It receives rainfall at an average varying from inches 80400 yearly. Vegetation is very dense having trees of different lengths. Tropical-deciduous Has dense shrubs and bushes as well as trees with levels broad. Temperature-evergreen Have fewer trees with leaves spiked for minimizing transpiration. Temperature-deciduous Found in regions where temperature is moist with enough rainfall.

Desert-ecosystem
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A desert ecosystem must exist where there is little rainfall and the climate is extreme in harshness. Plants have leaves having spines for conserving water. To xeric conditions, animals found here are also adapted. Trees are very rare here. Temperature is very high during day and very low at night. Vegetations known as xerophytes have modifications like pulpy stem to store water and wax covered thorny leaves to reduce transpiration. The roots are very long to reach the water table. Animals such as reptiles, rodents, wolves etc hide themselves in daylight and come out at night. Two types HOT DESERT covered by sand & COLD DESERT covered by ice

Grassland-ecosystem A wide range of landscapes in which the vegetation is mainly formed by grasses and small annual plants are adapted to Indias various climatic conditions. These form a variety of grassland ecosystems with their specific plants and animals What is a grassland ecosystem? Grasslands cover areas where rainfall is usually low and/or the soil depth and quality is poor. The low rainfall prevents the growth of a large number of trees and shrubs, but is sufficient to support the growth of grass cover during the monsoon. Many of the grasses and other small herbs become dry and the part above the ground dies during the summer months. In the next monsoon the grass cover grows back from the root stock and the seeds of the previous year. This change gives grasslands a highly seasonal appearance with periods of increased growth followed by a dormant phase.

mountain ecosystem, complex of living organisms in mountainous areas. Mountain lands provide a scattered but diverse array of habitats in which a large range of plants and animals can be found. At higher altitudes harsh environmental conditions generally prevail, and a treeless alpine vegetation, upon which the present account is focused, is supported. Lower slopes commonly are covered by montane forests Here wide variety of animals and plants are available. Higher slopes have treeless vegetation and lower region is covered of coniferous-forest. Mountain ecosystems are very vulnerable. They are increasingly sensitive to soil erosion, landslide and rapid loss of habitat and genetic diversity. Widespread poverty and an increase in the numbers of mountain inhabitants lead to deforestation, cultivation of marginal lands, excessive livestock grazing, loss of biomass cover and other forms of environmental degradation.

Aquatic Ecosystem

An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem in a body of water. Communities of organisms that are dependent on each other and on their environment live in aquatic ecosystems. The 2 main types of aquatic ecosystems are marine eco & freshwater eco. Marine-ecosystem Marine ecosystems cover approximately 71% of the Earth's surface and contain approximately 97% of the planet's water. They generate 32% of the world's net primary production.[1] They are distinguished from freshwater ecosystems by the presence of dissolved compounds, especially salts, in the water. Approximately 85% of the dissolved materials in seawater are sodium and chlorine. Seawater has an average salinity of 35 parts per thousand (ppt) of water. Actual salinity varies among different marine ecosystems organisms found in marine ecosystems include brown algae, corals, cephalopods, echinoderms, and sharks. Fishes caught in marine ecosystems are the biggest source of commercial foods obtained from wild populations Freshwater-ecosystem Freshwater ecosystems cover 0.80% of the Earth's surface and inhabit 0.009% of its total water. They generate nearly 3% of its net primary production.[1] Freshwater ecosystems contain 41% of the world's known fish species.[3] There are three basic types of freshwater ecosystems:

Lentic: slow-moving water, including pools, ponds, and lakes. Lotic: rapidly-moving water, for example streams and rivers.

Wetlands: areas where the soil is saturated or inundated for at least part of the time