2.1.3 Global Ecosystems

1. The climate in an area determines what type of ecosystem forms. So different parts of the world have different ecosystems because they have different climates.
2. The map below shows the global distribution of the global ecosystems.

Global Ecosystems

Tundra

• Found at high latitudes.
• Winters are very cold, summers are brief and have little rainfall.
• Few trees; vegetation is mainly moss and grass.
• There is a layer of permanent frozen ground called permafrost.

Grassland

• Two types of grassland:
• Savannah Grasslands: Found between the tropics. These are dry with wet seasons with trees and grass.
• Temperate Grasslands: Found at higher latitudes with more variation in temperature and less rainfall. No trees, just grass.

Tropical Rainforest

• Found around the equator, between the tropics.
• Hot and wet all year round.
• Convectional rainfall and sun make it ideal for vegetation growth.

Temperate Deciduous Forest

• Found mainly in the mid-latitudes where there are four main seasons.
• Summers are warm, winters are mild, and it rains all year.
• Deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter to cope with cold weather.

Hot Deserts

• Found between 15 and 35 degrees north and south of the equator where there is little rainfall.
• Very hot during the day and very cold at night, resulting in extreme temperatures.
• Shrubs and cacti are sparsely distributed in the sandy soil.

Polar

• Found around the north and south poles.
• Very cold, icy, and dry.
• Not much grows at all.
• They remain dark for several months each year, so the growing season is very short – about 2 months.