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FOREST ECOSYSTEM

BY: HAMZA SHAMS

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Ecosystem & forest-ecosystem

 An ecosystem is a biological community of

interacting organisms and their physical
environment.
 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.

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Factors of forest ecosystem

Biotic (living)

 Includes plants, animals, micro-

organisms (producers, consumers,
decomposers)

Abiotic (non-living)

 Rocks, mountain, soil, sunlight,

water, air..

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Forests food web..

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Generally..

 Has three main layers:

 canopy
 Understory
 forest floor
 In rainforests, coniferous,
coastal, mangrove
forests.

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Types of forests

 Generally we have;

1. Deciduous forests
2. Rainforests
1. Tropical rain forests
2. Temperate rain forests
3. Coastal forests
4. Coniferous forests
5. Broad leaves forests
6. Thorn forests
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7. Mangrove forests
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Deciduous forests

 Trees here have large, flat leaves that drop off in the fall and new leaves grow
in spring.
 These grow in places with hot, wet summers and cool, dry winters.
 Light can penetrate easily onto the forest floor.
 Trees include oak, maple, teak and hickory etc.

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A glance on deciduous forests

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Trees are very tall and leaves are always green.

Ample amount of rain occurs.
Tropical rainforests Temperate rainforests

 located near the equator.  found along some coasts in

 One third of the world's tropical rainforests
are in Brazil.
 located in Southeast Asia and the Pacific
Islands (25% of the world's tropical
rainforests) and West Africa (18%).
temperate zones.
 largest temperate rainforests are
found on the Pacific coast of North
America.
 Norway, Japan, New Zealand, and
southern Australia

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Continued

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Coastal forests
 • Grows in places where
there is lots of rain.
 • Temperature is not too
hot or too cold, just cool.

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Eastern hemlock & beech tree

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Coniferous forests

 Grow in the Himalayan mountain region

 Temperature is low.
 Have tall trees with needle-like leaves and downward sloping branches so that
the snow can slip off the branches.
 Have cones instead of seeds and are called gymnosperms

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Different plants in coniferous forests

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A glance of coniferous
forest..

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Broad leaves
forests
Broad leaved forests have large
leaves of various shapes and have
several types.
Examples are Silver birch, Ulmus
glabra etc

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Trees and shrubs found in broad leaves forests..

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Thorn forests
• are found in the semi- arid regions.
• Trees are scattered and are surrounded
by open grassy areas.
• can conserve water.
• Have long and fibrous roots to reach
water at great depths.
• reduce loss of water – some species have
small leaves and some have thick waxy
leaves.
• have thorns – protect plants from
herbivores.

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Flora and fauna of thorn forests..

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Mangrove forests

• grow along the coast especially in

the river deltas.
• are able to grow in a mix and
saline and fresh water, in muddy
areas.

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Flora and fauna of mangrove forests..

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Forests map of Pakistan..

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Uses of forests
ecosystem

Fruits, flowers, food,

medicines, wood, fodder etc

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Services of forest
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• Control flow of water

• Watershed protection
• Help increase ground Water level
• Prevent soil erosion
• Control temperature
• Absorb CO2

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ecosystems
• Deforestation
• Poaching
• Overexploitation of
resources
• Development activities
(mining, dams)
• Changing land use
patterns
• Fragmentation
• Habitat degradation

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CONSERVATION OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

 Use resources carefully

 Alternate source of energy for fuel wood
 Afforestation
 NP and Wildlife Sanctuaries
 Control population

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BE A PART TO KEEP THE BALANCE OF
FORESTS ECOSYSTEM..

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