We begin by speaking about the TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS. I´m going to talk about them as a concept and THEN we can move on to the material... Reviewing most of the terrestrial ecosystems in the world, classified by temperature, and determining if hamsters can live in them. But before that, as I said, we have to know what EXACTLY are terrestrial ecosystems.
The terrestrial ecosystems are the zones where terrestrial organisms live and develop in the soil and air that surrounds the space that conforms the ecosystem. The ecosystems in this category develop on the surface of the Earth called the Biosphere. Now that we are talking about the Biosphere, it´s worth to say that the Earth itself can be considered an ecosystem, with the Biosphere and forms of life being the Biocoenosis and the atmosphere, hydrosphere, etc. being the Biotope. It´s not important, but it may help you understand better the concept of these words.
More things. The most wide individuals in the terrestrial ecosystems are insects, of which there are 900.000 species. That´s a lot... The second place is occupied by the birds, of which there are about 8.500 species. That´s a lot too. Then, the third place is conformed by the mammals, of which there are 4.100 species. Then there´s the reptiles, etc...
Unlike the aquatic ecosystems, the terrestrial offer much more variety of characteristics, due to the numerous factors that condition the species. A few examples would be temperature, light, nutrients, water, etc... Actually, one of the most important needs that differentiates the terrestrial ecosystems from the aquatic ecosystems is the water. Both vegetables and animals need water to survive, and if an ecosystem works, there´s got to be a way to get it. The aquatic ecosystems don´t have this need because... yes, they ARE water.
The terrestrial ecosystems are the zones where terrestrial organisms live and develop in the soil and air that surrounds the space that conforms the ecosystem. The ecosystems in this category develop on the surface of the Earth called the Biosphere. Now that we are talking about the Biosphere, it´s worth to say that the Earth itself can be considered an ecosystem, with the Biosphere and forms of life being the Biocoenosis and the atmosphere, hydrosphere, etc. being the Biotope. It´s not important, but it may help you understand better the concept of these words.
More things. The most wide individuals in the terrestrial ecosystems are insects, of which there are 900.000 species. That´s a lot... The second place is occupied by the birds, of which there are about 8.500 species. That´s a lot too. Then, the third place is conformed by the mammals, of which there are 4.100 species. Then there´s the reptiles, etc...
Unlike the aquatic ecosystems, the terrestrial offer much more variety of characteristics, due to the numerous factors that condition the species. A few examples would be temperature, light, nutrients, water, etc... Actually, one of the most important needs that differentiates the terrestrial ecosystems from the aquatic ecosystems is the water. Both vegetables and animals need water to survive, and if an ecosystem works, there´s got to be a way to get it. The aquatic ecosystems don´t have this need because... yes, they ARE water.