TIPOS de ECOSISTEMAS y sus CARACTERÍSTICAS 🏔️🏝️ (Terrestres, Acuáticos, Mixtos y Artificiales)

Ecosystems: Types and Characteristics

Introduction to Terrestrial Ecosystems

• The video introduces the four types of ecosystems, starting with terrestrial ecosystems, which encompass a variety of habitats across the globe.

• Terrestrial ecosystems are characterized by organisms (flora and fauna) that develop on or below the soil, adapting to specific conditions like water availability and sunlight.

Factors Influencing Terrestrial Ecosystems

• The characteristics of terrestrial ecosystems depend on abiotic factors (physical and chemical elements) and biotic factors (living organisms).

• Key abiotic factors include climate, soil type, humidity, relief, altitude, latitude, and nutrient availability.

• Biotic factors range from unicellular organisms to large animals; all require oxygen for survival.

Adaptations in Flora and Fauna

• Animal morphology is adapted for movement within their specific environments—through crawling, running, or flying.

• Animals can be classified based on diet as herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.

Classification of Terrestrial Ecosystems

• There are various terrestrial ecosystems classified by dominant abiotic factors affecting vegetation types.

• Biodiversity is highest in forests and decreases towards deserts; forests are defined by dense tree populations.

Types of Terrestrial Ecosystems

• Forest types include tropical rainforests, Mediterranean forests, and subtropical forests.

• Shrublands consist mainly of low-growing vegetation like bushes. Grasslands are dominated by grasses found in semi-arid climates.

• Tundras lack trees but have mosses and lichens; they exist in cold climates with frozen subsoil.

• Deserts have minimal flora and fauna due to harsh conditions; they can be hot or polar.

Aquatic Ecosystems: Characteristics

Overview of Aquatic Ecosystems

• Aquatic ecosystems primarily consist of water as a physical component; they support diverse species both aquatic and those that interact with land or air.

Importance of Aquatic Ecosystems

• These ecosystems play vital roles such as regulating the water cycle globally and filtering pollution while providing habitats for numerous species.

Classification of Aquatic Ecosystems

• Aquatic systems can be divided into marine (saltwater), covering 70% of Earth's surface, and freshwater systems.

• Marine ecosystems include oceans which host vast biodiversity yet remain largely unexplored.

Understanding Coastal and Aquatic Ecosystems

The Importance of Coastal Areas

• Coastal zones are more populated than the inhospitable deep sea, largely due to the food chain starting with plankton that requires sunlight for growth.

• A quiz question is posed regarding the percentage of freshwater on Earth, hinting at its scarcity compared to saltwater.

Freshwater Ecosystems

• Freshwater ecosystems include rivers, groundwater, ponds, swamps, lagoons, and lakes which have low salinity levels.

• Factors like climate and terrain significantly influence habitat characteristics; for instance, flora and fauna differ between shallow lakes in northern mountains versus tropical regions.

• Aquatic flora mainly consists of aquatic plants and algae such as water lilies, reeds, water lettuce, diatoms, and dinoflagellates.

Aquatic Fauna Diversity

• Freshwater ecosystems host a wide variety of animals including fish, amphibians, marine mammals, aquatic birds, and reptiles. Examples include sharks, whales, dolphins, starfish, river crabs, seagulls, swans, frogs, and turtles.

• The correct answer to the earlier quiz is revealed: only about 2.5% of Earth's water is freshwater; out of this small percentage only around 1% is potable.

Mixed Ecosystems Overview

• Mixed ecosystems combine features from both terrestrial and aquatic environments resulting in hybrid habitats where land-based and marine species coexist.

• These ecosystems serve as transitional zones between aquatic systems (like rivers or oceans) and terrestrial areas.

Types of Mixed Ecosystems

• There are various types of mixed ecosystems including savannas or jungles during flooding events; they can be classified into coastal zones or wetlands.

• Wetlands act as a transition between continental water ecosystems and terrestrial ones; they form in areas where soil is saturated with water at least once a year.

Importance of Wetlands

• Wetlands are crucial for biodiversity as they support numerous plant and animal species while also being vital for human survival according to international conservation agreements like Ramsar.

Coastal Zones Characteristics

• Coasts represent the interface between land (continents or islands) and large bodies of water; their landscapes are shaped by wind patterns, waves, tides as well as biological activity.

Types of Coastlines

• Various coastline types exist based on structural directions: Pacific (longitudinal), Dalmation (parallel folds), Atlantic (transversal), volcanic coasts among others.

Coastal Ecosystems and Artificial Ecosystems

Coastal Accumulation Types

• Coastal accumulation includes barrier islands, marshes, mangroves, deltaic coasts, dune systems, reefs, estuaries, and glacial accumulations. These landscapes are shaped by sedimentation and erosion processes that alter coastal continuity.

• Coastal formations can be categorized as protruding (capes, points, deltas) or recessed (gulfs, estuaries, fjords, bays).

Understanding Artificial Ecosystems

• An artificial ecosystem is defined as a specific environment where living organisms interact with each other and non-living elements.

• Ecosystems are divided into natural ecosystems and artificial (or humanized) ecosystems. In artificial ecosystems, humans control environmental conditions significantly.

Characteristics of Humanized vs Natural Ecosystems

• Humanized ecosystems are created by human intervention; their conditions are consciously managed. In contrast, modified natural ecosystems have been influenced by humans but still retain some natural characteristics.

• Modified natural ecosystems can be considered a type of artificial ecosystem since they cannot exist without human influence.

Components of Artificial Ecosystems

• Artificial ecosystems consist of biotic factors (plants and animals) and abiotic factors (non-living elements). Biotic components include living organisms while abiotic components encompass structures built by humans.

Types of Artificial Ecosystems

Urban Ecosystems

• Urban ecosystems develop around cities and typically have a negative impact on surrounding natural habitats. Cities serve as prime examples of urban artificial ecosystems.

Agricultural Ecosystems

• Agricultural or agroecosystems provide food for humans and rely on sedentary lifestyles. They can be managed ecologically or conventionally:

• Ecological management aims to minimize environmental impact using natural products.

• Conventional management focuses on intensive cultivation using chemicals for short-term yield maximization.

Reservoir or Dam Ecosystems

• Reservoir or dam ecosystems involve significant alterations to the environment by creating large water bodies where none existed before. This transformation leads to new forms of flora and fauna emerging in these modified habitats.